Year: 1872

wish to swindle others. But they
meant business" and were in earnest
about the construction of the road. He
had read in the ItelHgencer last winter
that Wheeling was talking about ren-
dering aid; that paper had spoken,
most approvingly Of the enterprise; and
they had gone to work at once to
raise subscriptions in his neighborhood
for the road. The first night they
raised 5000. The village of Smith
vile had raised $3l 900 and private
citizens had given their bond that it
should be made up to $4,000. Between
Navarro and New London, on an easy
portion of the line and where the road
will cost much less than at this end
they had determined to raise $3l5,0OO
and would accomplish the undertaking.
This was all "solid stock" and sub.
scribed BY responsible parties. With
out the influence Of Wheelings s
example; without this city doing
anything; they had secured
already two thirds of the sum
they started to obtain. He spoke OF
the Wheeling and Tuscarawas Valley
road as beginning nowhere and ending
nowhere; it was a sort of travelling
show" without any fixed abiding place !;
but the Wheeling and Lake Erie road
has two ends. The common interest of
this and the Baltimore and Ohio road
would ultimately compel an alliance
and the Wheeling and Lake Erie road
was destined to be an important part OF
one of the greatest through lines on the
continent. The first twenty miles OF
the road west of the river would be
severe work; it would cost probably
$4,000 per mile; but over the re-
mainder of the road there would be
scarcely any grade OF more than twenty
feet to the mile.


A. NJ. NJ GREGoR, OF sTARKE COUNTY, OHIO,
editor of the Starke county Democrat,
was next introduced:


As an humble representative Of the
county of Starke, in Ohio, | can only
add good word to what has been said.
The road only passes diagonally throug b
one township Of my county, in which is
the town of Navarro. The people of
Navarro have already subscribed $25,-
600, and intend making it $4,000. The
people are alive 10 the necessity Of this
road and will do all in their power to
build it. 1t has been but a few years
since we knew anything about railroads,
but now We will know what great good
they do, and the wealth they bring.
Take the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and
Chicago railroad for an example. 1t
runs through Canton, where l live. 1t
is not a great while since my town was
dead and ought to have been fenced
in. All day long great strings of wag-
ons passed through hauling wheat to
Massillon, on the canal, and the drivers
wouldn't honor us enough to stop while
they might get drink, but the railroad
came along and it is now one Of the
liveliest towns in Ohio, containing lO,-
600 persons, and is rivaling, aye, out
stripping all competitors. The little
town of Letonia, in Columbiana county,
was only laid out four years ago, and
to-day it is one Of the richest and most
important places in that county.


This route will pay. Of that | am
sure. 1t will bring 10 you the lumber
of the northwest that you want, and
develope your vast mineral resources.
You have an eternity OF wealth beneath
YOUR feet that should be made available
An acre of land is of no more use than
an acre of water, if it be not used.
Develope your minerals, expand YOUR
borders and increase your wealth, as
you must do by building this road.


| am anxious to see the day when we
shall have a celebration over the OPEN
| ing of this road. We want to meet you
ali and shake hands in JOY over the
completion of this great work. Let
your friends from Sandusky. Toledo,
Norwalk and Wheeling people come
together, bring your fine Wheeling band
to furnish the music for the occasion.
Then can we say:


| Ho, music, sound gladsome note;
| Ho, workman, clear the way,


The folks will ride in all their pride
| Along the track to-day!


JAMES FARMER, OF CLEVELAND,
was next introduced. He said that
Cleveland had projected q railroad
running up Cuyahoga Valley through
Akron and Canton to connect with the
Wheeling and Lake Erie road at Bow
erstown. They therefore felt a very
deep interest in the success Of the latter
road. Their object was to reach Wheel.
ing and by effecting an eastern connec-
ton here establish the shortest line
between Cleveland and Washington
City. The route of the Valley road is
exceedingly level, much of it having a
grade of not more than ten feet to the
mile. He believed that it would be to
the interest of both roads to have the
track between Wheeling and Bowers.
town owned jointly by the two compa-
nies and he desired to see such an ar
rangement effected.


He said that at the time the river
division of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh
rord was projected it was the intention
OF the company to cross the river at
this place and make running connec-
tions with the Baltimore and Ohio
road. The company, however, thought
it was not able alone to build the
bridge and the city of Wheeling
thought it was not able to afford any
help, and so the road went down the
river to Bellaire, and instead Of con-
Meeting with the Baltimore. and Ohio
road, as was intended, it has been run
in the interest of the Pennsylvania Gem
tral. He hoped that the bridge would
now be built and connection with the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad estab-
lished. The city OF Wheeling would