Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-06-16

with the Hudson river, and it was
feared that all the traffic originat-
ing along the lakes would 90 that
way. So to divert such a vast traf
fic, it was planned to build canals
I to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio,
using the rivers along the route,
| and thus secure for Ohio this i'm
mense business. The plan was a
good one and it's possibilities unlim-
tied, had it been properly handled
from the start. Politics and the
question of the size of the locks,
etc., delayed the matter until the
people were disgusted Also the
long time spent in construction al
most ruined the salt makers, though
it gave the mill builders time to get
ready for the big trade they were to
enjoy later. Other localities wanted
canals; in fact every little creek
became an embryo canal system.
Railroad companies were granted
charters almost as fast as they
could prepare them The fear Of
competition kept the people in
turmoil and they were afraid to in
vest their money in any of the prof.
ects, regardless of it's worth. Ninety
percent Of the canal and railroad
projects evaporated and left the
stockholder with some nice little
pieces of paper. l have a number
of them among my collection of
Ohioana. Ohio was not the only
state where this boom was taking
the money of the people Hardly a
state could be mentioned but where
you will find this canal and rail.
road boom took lot of the money
of the people.
Finally the Muskingum from Dres-
den to Marietta was improved, 81
miles cost an average of $17,879.-
80 per mile.
If you desire more details about
this railroad building 1 refer you to
very fair account of it, as it relates |
to Morgan county.
After traffic on the river became |
heavy, the federal government de-
cided it wanted to control all the
waters, and so arranged with |
the state to take over the river and |
it's improvements. From time to
time the dams and locks all along
the river have been rebuilt. Today
we have fine river, with all the
equipment to take care of a big
traffic, but all we see on it is a few
pleasure boats and gravel diggers.
Yet the government spends enough
to maintain it to retire the debt Of
nearly all the counties along it.
Within the recollection of the ma
jority Of my readers fine boats have
made regular trips up and down
the river, loaded with freight, and
4 boat trip to Pittsburgh or Cincin-
natl was an event long to be re-
nembered with pleasure, but it
seems as though ''Them days have
gone forever"
After many attempts to have a
'ailroad in Morgan county, success
It last attended those who worked
or it and the old 2. & o. was final
y built. Today we know it as a
,art of the B. & o. system. 1t has
he first train was run into Malta
was but small child but can re-
member riding on the first train go
ng out of Malta. My grandfather | I
vas very much interested in secur-
ng this railroad and spent much
ime and labor in doing so. Dave
IcClain, who most of my readers
,now, is still living among us, and
vas the conductor on the first train (
un on this road.
But times change. Today instead
# the long lines of cars behind pow
rful engines running on this road
many times a day, We see few cars (
low and then pass over the road, s
nd passenger asking for ticket
o ride train would almost scare ;
ur friend Nash out of years
rowth.
But look out at almost any hour
f the day or night and you will see {
reat trucks hauling freight over {
he fine cement roads We have built
D and down the river and over the {
ills. Ia
Maybe within the next decade we i
ill look up into the sky and see 6
reat freight sky liners doing the r
,ork the motor trucks are doing
oday, as they are rapidly taking
he long distance passenger business s
rom the railroads.
Only few years ago and the 1
ound of a plane caused all to run
D the open and look up in amaze
lent at it. II
Today we barely notice them as =
hey go about their trips with as S
reat regularity as the railroads +
sed to.
When the motor car first came to c
ur notice and made 20 miles an r
our it was feared the human body G
ould not stand such rapid travel S
'oday the sky liners make 200I f
lilies an hour as regular schedule
nd speeds as high as 800 and $50
er hour have been attained. I
(No part of these articles may be e
eproduced without the written per- t
lission of the publisher).
Spurrler Ridge $