CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1846

Abstracts 1604 - 1606

RAILROADS (Cont'd)

"The opportunity is now afforded to show what we wish, and what we intend. If we are content to stand still; aye, to retograde, why give no heed to rail roads; but if our citizens mean to remain the second city in Ohio they must act promptly and energetically. We hope then to see a large and spirited meeting, and that the rail road project will receive an impetus not to be checked, until the whistles of the engine gives warning to clear the track for the Pittsburgh train."

1604 H July 21:2/1 In a letter to the editor dated July 17, "Geauga" says: "Anything upon the subject of the projected Iron Road from the City of the Lakes to the River is read with interest by the friends of Cleveland and of North Eastern Ohio. And since as yet nothing is certain as to the best route for the Road, any suggestion of a feasible and perhaps better one than that generally talked of, can certainly do no harm and may lead to investigations, the result of which will materially effect the expense of building and better at the least the interests of Cleveland city.

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"Let the commercial arms of the city branch out to all the surroundcountry, and gather in the vast amount of everything which goes in to fill up the business interests of a thriving city."

I offer the following route for consideration: The road from Cleveland near Judge Kingsbury's in Newburgh, southeast through Warrensville, the south part of Orange, Chagrin Falls village, Bainbridge, and then perhaps through the northeast part of Aurora and Streetsboro to Ravenna.

1605 H July 22; ed: 3/1 - We noticed 20 or 30 carriages with delegates to the railroad meeting entered town this morning. Cleveland must do herself credit by extending the right hand of fellowship to these enterprising men.

"Fill the Court House this evening to hear what is to be said, and let not this delegation leave without assurance that Cleveland will do her part."

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1606 H July 23:2/1 - In a letter to the editor, "R" says: If by the immediate consiruction of the Cleveland and Wellsville railroad to the Ohio river the permanent superiority of Cleveland should be established at once over all other ports upon the lake, should not the reasonable demand that is now made upon her citizens be at once granted? By the completion of this road a thoroughfare is opened up between the northeast and the west and southwest, as well as between the southeast and the northwest, which must for all time to come hold pre-eminence over, and bid defiance to all rivalry from other points. Nature has given us the bounty, and it is only necessary for us to do justice to ourselves to secure it forever. But, let Cleveland remain passive let her grasp at more doubtful projects to the exclusion of this, which is wholly within her reach, and rely upon it, she runs great risk of losing all. By this work a communication will be opened up with the cities along the Ohio and Mississippi

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CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1846

Abstracts 1607

RAILROADS (Cont'd)

rivers much cheaper and decidedly more comfortable than any other that
is projected for carrying passengers; and for carrying freight, its
advantages can never be excelled or even equalled, as it is a fact well
known to all who are acquainted with the river trade that when merchan-
dise or produce arrives at Wellsville, it costs no more to carry it from
this place to any point on the Ohio or Mississippi or their tributaries,
than it does from Cincinnati; thus, if a railroad can be built through
the interior to that city, a distance of some 270 miles, upon which
freight can be carried to the river as low as it can to Wellsville, a
distance of 95 miles or less, then the advantages are most eminently in
favor of the Wellsville road, leaving out of view the immense trade and
travel that must seek its way through this channel from the northwest
to the east.

But, say our citizens, this road will be built. Not so fast. Let the efforts now being made not be seconded by our city, and before 12 months a road will be put under contract from Wellsville to Canton, for which a charter is already in existence.

Every dollar for the completion of this road can be procured in six week's time, as it has been proffered from reliable sources. Such being the case, shall we remain quiet, contenting ourselves with the belief that this road will be built, or shall we subscribe the amount required, $250,000 and secure the immediate completion of the road?

(15)

1607 H July 23; ed: 2/1 The court house was crowded last evening to hear the report of the doings of the company having in charge the building of a railroad from this city to Wellsville. There were in attendance a majority, if not all the directors of the road, and nearly a hundred gentlemen directly and indirectly interested in the work who reside at different points along the line. These men have taken bold of the work in earnest, and they only ask corresponding efforts on the part of our citizens, as being more deeply interested in the completion of this road than any other class. Subscriptions have been made to the stock in the amount of $100,000, less a fraction, and assurances have been made that more stock will be taken by those who have already subscribed. Of this amount, only about $3,000 has as yet been subscribed by our citizens. Mr. Catlett, the efficient secretary of the road, proved conclusively that a heavy amount of business now finding its way through the Erie extension canal, would take this route, and the fine, rich country through which the road must pass is sufficient guarantee for good way freights and travel; railroad statistics showing that the through travel and trade is small in comparison with the way travel and trade, either in amount, or in profit to the road.

We hear that some of our rich men last night promised their aid to the Pittsburgh road, and we trust their ardor will not cool until they have given an earnest of their good wishes in the shape of liberal subscriptions. To property holders, a subscription is a mere loan to be repaid with compound interest. Yes, let one or both of these roads be built, and property doubles in the city of Cleveland. (12)

CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1846

Abstracts 1608 - 1612

RAILROADS (Cont'd)

1608 H July 23:2/2 - Agreeably to previous notice, a meeting of the citizens of Cleveland convened at the court house in this city last evening for the purpose of hearing from the directors of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad, and to make arrangements for a subscription to the capital stock of that company.

The meeting was organized by calling to the chair, Samuel Starkweather, Esq., and appointing D. Baldwin, secretary.

Colonel Catlett of Wellsville, secretary of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad was called on by Thomas Bolton, Esq., to report upon the doings of the directors and the prospects of the road. After a very interesting exposition of the affairs and prospects of the road by the colonel, and spirited addresses from Professor Long of Hudson, John W. Allen, Esq., president of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad, and Thomas Bolton, Esq., a number of resolutions were unanimously adopted, among which were the following: That this is a most favorable time for the construction of this important work, and it is the true interest of Cleveland to embark all her energies and resources for the accomplishment of it; that in the opinion of this meeting, the railroad from Cleveland to Wellsville not only secures the best connection between the lakes and Baltimore and Philadelphia, but also the cheapest and best connection (by means of the Ohio river) between the lakes and the southwest; that the citizens of Cleveland will zealously co-operate with their fellow citizens on the line of this road in their enthusiastic and spirited exertions for its speedy construction; and that P. Scovill, H. Rice, A. D. Cutter, D. Baldwin, W. A. Otis, Samuel Williamson, H. H. Dodge, E. G. Williams, J. Panel, M. C. Younglove, John Barr, G. A. Benedict, and Thomas Bolton be a committee to solicit subscriptions from the citizens of Cleveland to the company's stock.

1609 - H July 24; ed: 2/1 The certain construction of the Pittsburgh and Connellsville railroad should be an incentive to Cleveland to liberally assist in the building of the proposed railroad to the Ohio at Wellsville. "The Ohio will soon be connected with the Atlantic by an iron road, and unless Clevelanders are blind to their best interests they will not let the present opportunity of uniting Lake and River pass unimproved.

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1610 H July 28; ed: 3/1 - Professor Day of Hudson made the railroad speech at the court-house on Wednesday evening, and not Professor Long, as erroneously stated in our notice of the meeting.

1611 H Aug. 19; ed: 3/1

(verbatim)

"Our enterprising Chagrin Falls neighbors are now surveying a route for the Cleveland and Wellsville Railroad to Ravenna, via their flourishing town."

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1612 H Aug. 20:2/2 In a letter to the editor, "X" says: bas just shown us a drawing, illustrating the principles of an

"Mr. Gay

CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1846

Abstracts 1613 - 1615

RAILROADS (Cont'd)

improvement upon the running of the railroad cars. His design is to
overcome the friction and liabilities cars are under while running on
a curved track. Four wheels are used. The drawing shows a centre tim-
ber fastened at either end by a single bolt, which passes through it,
and the centre of the axles. Half way from the wheels, two cross bars,
lying parallel with the axles, are secured to the said timber by an iron
pin, which pin forms their centre of motion....

"The plan is not yet fully perfected."

1613 H Sept. 1:3/3 George E. White, civil engineer, in a letter to the president and directors of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad, says that from the surveys and estimates made, it is believed that a good railroad can be made from Cleveland to Chagrin Falls as cheaply as by any other route of the same length in that vicinity. The grades required will be generally from 30 to 40 feet per mile, and none over 50 feet to the mile.

The entire distance from Cleveland to Chagrin Falls will be 20 and one-quarter miles. There will be no heavy expense for bridging, excavations, or embankments.

"From the best knowledge I have of the country, I believe a good route may be found from Chagrin Falls until it intersects the lines heretofore run to the Ohio River."

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1614 H Sept. 7; ed: 3/1 The rapidly increasing productiveness of
railroads, the power they seem to have to create business resulting
from increased facilities, is most manifest during the present year in
Michigan. The receipts of the Central road are nearly double what they
were last year. The Southern road running west from Monroe has hereto-
fore been out of repair and short of machinery, but the receipts this
year are $38,000 against less than $8,000 last year.

"Who can doubt if the road hence to Columbus were made that the earnings would be large to begin with, and would go on increasing till its maximum capacity was reached? Can a line be found promising better dividends upon its stock?"

1615 H Sept. 16; ed: 2/1 This year's receipts of the Hartford and
New Haven railroad show a gain of $51,000 over that of last year.
We know of no instance of a railroad failing for want of business.
"Let the roads hence to Columbus and to Pittsburgh be made, or either
of them, but especially both, and who is so bold as to undertake in ad-
vance to set limits to the beneficial results to flow to the country
through which they will pass and to this city?

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"These benefits are not to be measured by the number of passengers or the barrels of flour that may be borne upon the roads, but will be shown in a thousand channels not dreamed of in the philosophy of men only accustomed to the slow coaches and Conastoga wagons of twenty years ago."(6)

CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1846

Abstracts 1616 - 1622

RAILROADS (Cont'd)

1616 H Sept. 18; ed: 2/1 - The entire amount of stock ($2,000,000)
of the Michigan Central railroad has been subscribed. The transfer of
the interest of the state to the corporators will take place on Sept.
28, on or before which time 25 per cent of the purchase money must be
paid at Detroit.

"This subscription ensures the prompt completion of the Road across the Peninsula to Lake Michigan."

(2)

1617 H Sept. 19; ed: 2/2 - The Detroit ADVERTISER of yesterday notices the return of George F. Porter, Esq., from the east with the gratifying intelligence that the Central railroad is sold, and that possession will be taken next week. The railroad will now be rebuilt and completed in the best manner, and Michigan will reap a rich harvest in the new impulse it will give to emigration, agriculture, and commerce. (verbatim) (2)

1618 H Sept. 30:2/3 Farmer and Lawson of Wellsville are making an effort to obtain subscriptions to the stock of the contemplated railroad from this city to the Ohio river, and for that purpose have opened books at the banking house of Robertson and Company.

All of the Pittsburgh journals urge the construction of this road.

1619 H Oct. 2; ed: 2/1 - The receipts of the Mad River and Little Miami railroads total $200,000 per year.

A road connecting Cleveland and Pittsburgh would do better than this if the citizens of Cleveland would only buy liberal amounts of stock. "No question of this, for the river people and those interested along the route stand ready to enter upon it at once. Let Cleveland but do her duty."

1620 H Oct. 23; ed: 2/1 We invite the attention to the advertisement for the letting of 40 miles of the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad. The preliminary surveys have been made and the company is determined to commence and prosecute the important work with energy. The route is highly feasible, and the construction of the road will give fresh impetus to the growth and prosperity of our city, as well as to the country connected with the lake by an iron highway. (verbatim)

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1621 H Oct. 28:2/4 - Proposals will be received at the office of the board of public works until Nov. 18, for the purchase of that portion of the Ohio railroad lying between the Pennsylvania state line and the western bank of the Cuyahoga river at Cleveland, according to 0. Follett, president of the board. (2)

1622 H Oct. 30:2/1

The Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad held a meeting at Wellsville on Oct. 19. None of the directors elected were Cleveland men. The president has not yet been chosen.

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