Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-23

| of the Chicago Short Line and Rich
land & NIahoning Railway companies.
1t is said that he lost lot of money
in the French schemes and had to
get into other business to save him
self. His promoting the b., A. & e.
and interesting capitalists in the
scheme helped him out admirably,
and II Is said that in addition to re-
placing all the money that he lost, he
now finds himself about $4,000 to the
good.
But the French people were not
| pleased with the act of Mr.. Crouch
in leaving them. Moreover, they be-
gan suit in Common Pleas court
against him to recover damages to the
amount Of $15o000, upon the alleged
grounds that he had wrongfully gain
ed possession of and used for the b.,
A. " Il. certain plans and surveys
made by the French people for their
lines.
Despite their gloomy situation, the
French people went ahead, and finally
one of their number, Mr.. w. w. Pope,
was seen to smile. When asked for an
explanation. he said that the company
had succeeded in placing
large amount of its bonds,
which were taken by a finan-
cial concern, to hold as trustee under
the mortgage. BY means of this, con-
siderable money was obtained, and
the company was soon installed in
spacious offices in the Hamilton build
ing. From this time on, the situation
: began to look better, and soon came
: unmistakable signs that the scheme
was being backed by the Vanderbilts,
who didn't want to see the other
! trunk lines get monopoly Of the
/ tonnage In this section of the state.
1t was noticed that as soon as the
! Barberton, Akron g. Eastern was sold
I to the Pennsylvania and other trunk
Q lines Mr.. French and his com.
0 pany Immediately got busy They
bought right of way, and had plenty
! of money to pay cash on the spot.
II was no trouble at all, for them
, to throw out $4,000 for a piece of
t disputed right of way in East Akron
: moreover, 1t was an easy matter for
: them to give good bond for $4,000
[ as evidence of good faith that they
meant to operate under the franchise
n granted by Council. 1t was also al
!, evidence Of thrift when the secured 9
+ title to the ID. +. Reighard right ol
}, way, extending from the terminus oi
o the Northern Ohio In this city,, through
- East Akron to Mogadore. Anothe
sign that they are backed by syndi
cate that has money Is that II new 10
comotiyc has been bought and is nov
N In this city and that orders are sool
TO bo placed for more.
IT develops that Mr., French coul
Y not he frozen out, and also that til
II Nanderbits mean to get into this tel
g rtory. At least, the City Council
)f satisfied that the French lines Wi
Ii be built, and In operation long befor
a. those of the b., A, & II.
8, Another reason the Council has 70
holding up the franchise of the b.,
III 4 H. Is that It's line crosses those q
I'd the French people just IA times. TIL
IN French people declare that they wi
n bn greatly injured by this and claiI
O. that they have the best right to tn
territory In dispute, because SUI
he yeyed and obtained II first. 1t Is lik,
y " that even If the H., A. & II. shoul
or attempt TO operate under franchis
%. granted by the city, 1t would b
IS, enjoined,
a 1t has long been known that tn
vanderbllts have been anxious for
or line between Chicago and Pittsbml
or and all that's necessary to secure II
Id TO link together u few OF their lin,
ar and buy up or make traffic arrang
mcnts with one or two others.
M Here Is the plan of the Chlcag
m Short Line, as designed by the Frenc
ak people: Over the Nickel Plate roa
en- from Chicago to Fort Wayne; fro
'al Fort Wayne 10 Findlay over the Fin,
en- lay, TT. Wayne n Western; from Fin
vs. lay TO Cairo over the Findlay branc
ag OF the Big Four; from Cairo to Akrc
an over the Northern Ohio; from AkrC
ae, to Youngstown, via Mogadore, ov,
lrs line now under survey, and fro
nd Youngstown TO Plttsburg over the
4 l.. 10, The belt lines are to be zee
ys. ers," and they viii add greatly to Il
er- tonnage Of the main line,