The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-08-11
VANDERBILT rs
BACK FRENCH.
Railway Promoter Now Said to Have
S60,0OO,O0O to Cary Out
His Schemes.
WORK IS TO BEGIN Al ONCE.

According to high official Of the
company, Charles w. French, who has
already gained much notoriety in Ohio
and Pennsylvania as a promoter of
railroad schemes, has at last succeed
ed in financing his roads, says the Ak
ron Beacon-Journal. A man close to
Mr.. French was interviewed by that
paper yesterday and said relative to
Mr.. French's schemes:
There is no longer any doubt as to
the certainty Of the construction of
Mr.. Frenchs roads, as he has now
succeeded in financing his schemes to
the extent Of s6OOOO,OOO and you may
state that actual work of construction
will begin some time next week."
The Beacon-Journal continues:
According to this statement, tho
contract Tor building the Ashland &
Wooster, Akron Belt line and Rich-
land & Mahoning roads has been let
to the Central Electric company of
New York, and this statement was
corroborated by representative of the
construction company now in Akron.
The representative of the construction
company when seen by reporter
said:
CONTRACT CONFIRMED.
"'Yes, Central Electric company has
secured the contracts and has already
shipped large amount Of tools and
teams to this city which 1t is expected
to have on the grounds not later than
next week
1T was stated definitely that the
contractors expect. to start work on
three of the proposed lines at once,
and expect to have the Ashland q
Wooster completed from Ashland to
New London in the next 80 days. The
Ashland 6 Wooster was purchased
frorl H. B. Camp by Mr.. French last
winter, and is now In operation be-
tween Custaloga and Ashland, dis
tance of rs miles. This road is to be
extended 18 miles to New London inn
mediately and thence to Sandusky.
"The Richland G ,Mahoning which
has already been surveyed several
times, between Akron and Youngs-
town Is to be an extension of the
Northern Ohio, to connect with the P.
| & L. z, at Youngstown.
VANDERBILTS AGAIN.
when 1t was asked by whom the
road was being financed. the Official
refused to state, but made the remark
that the p. & L. e. is Vanderbilt
road The Northern Ohio is Vander-
bilt road also. and 1t seems probable
that the Vanderbilts are now backing
Mr. French. inasmuch as his proposed
roads all connect with the Northern
Ohio. 1t has been reported many times
previously that the Vanderbilts were
backing French, but so far little has
been brought out to prove 1t
fact.
1T was stated Wednesday that the
Reighard line between Akron and Mog-
adore would also be built, connecting
with the w. & l.. e. at Mogadore.
Thousands of dollars were spent on the
Reighard line several years ago, and
the road bed is partially built This
road was purchased by Mr.. French
last summer.
COMPLETE IN A YEAR.
1T Is Mr.. French's desire thai the r.
& M. be completed within a year, and
the construction company feels condi-
dent that 1t can accomplish the task.
The company's representative in this
city verified this statement. Some
time ago the Beacon-Journal reported
the extension of the Northern Ohio.
making short route to Chicago. When
seen by reporter Wednesday, T. O.
Baker Of the Northern Ohio, refused
to verify the statement. but said:
"The Northern Ohio is contemplate
ing extensive improvements, but am
not at liberty to state In what direc-
tion.'
with the r. G. M. completed, con-
Meeting with the p. G. L. q. and the
Northern Ohio connecting to Chicago,
there would be secured by far the
shortest road between Pittsburg and
Chicago. 1t is claimed that the max
imum grade on the new roads is TO
be one-half Of one per cent, and the
maximum curvature. one degree.
"The w. & l.. q. is a Gould road.
and the fact that the surveys SO far
completed connect with this road.
casts some doubt over the supposi.ion
that the vanderbilts are backing Mr..
French"