Articles found about the old Railroad 1868-1871

Researched by Sharon M. Kouns

1868*

_IJ July 29, 1868 - Quick Time. - The Special Train with the Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad on board, yesterday made running time from St. Louis to Columbus in 10 hours and 40 minutes - distance 450 miles. Over the Columbus, Chicago and Indiana Central, the running time was four hours and seven minutes - distance 188 miles. Over certain parts of this route the train averaged almost one mile a minute. We believe this is the best time ever made between St. Louis and Columbus. - Columbus Journal.
1869*

_IJ Sept. 15, 1869 - Trains will go to the Fair every fifteen minutes. Admission 10 cents, from Depot to Fair Grounds, or vice versa.

1870*

_IR Jan. 13, 1870 - Messrs. Leete and John Campbell went to Circleville last Monday to attend a Directors' meeting of the Columbus and South Point Railroad Company.

_IR Jan. 13, 1870 - In 1852 some workmen kindled a fire in a Missouri Coal mine to warm themselves, and last week it was found still burning. - Exchange.

At the Tunnel, on the Iron Railroad, there is a fire in a large pile of slack, which has been burning for seventeen years. What makes the incident most curious, is the fact that a stream of water runs through the pile. A few days ago we saw the fire burning brightly.

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - The Iron Railroad track in the vicinity of Three Run bridge, is submerged by the back water, which interferes with the running of the trains. The passenger train failed to go out yesterday afternoon.

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - The Northern Mission. - Mr. John Campbell returned yesterday from a meeting of the corporators of the Columbus and South Point Railroad. He reports that the brightest aspects characterize the entire situation. It was decided to get out a new charter, leaving out some points of minor importance, but retaining the route and scope of the enterprise in all the material phases first fixed. Several more prominent gentlemen have become officially connected with the enterprise, so that it may be considered that we are on the eve of action. - Among those gentlemen, we note Senator Emmitt and Mr. Sifford of Chillicothe, and others of Columbus. Mr. Leete is not yet returned. The books of the company will be presented to the public before the Winter is over. Let every one get ready to do something “handsome” then.

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - RAILROAD INTELLIGENCE
We copy as follows from our exchanges short items, shedding light on the railroad situation:

{From the West Va. Journal.}
C. & O. R. R. - We give below a copy of a letter written by Mr. Huntington, President of the C. & O. R. R. company to B. H. Smith, of this place, which states that the road will be vigorously prosecuted, and that within one year the locomotive will whistle within the limits of our town. This is doubly cheering news to our comparatively isolated people and all who have heretofore entertained doubts about the speedy completion of the road, can now set all such doubts aside, as Mr. Huntington never speaks on a subject of so much importance, except in a knowing manner. Read the following:
OFFICE OF THE C. & O. R. R. CO., N. Y.
December 29th, 1869, to
Col. B. H. Smith:
Dear Sir: - Having many inquiries made from residents in your part of the State, and knowing that you occupy a prominent position there, I beg leave to say to you that it is the intention of the Company to commence work on the western portion of its line within ninety days, and to prosecute it with vigor in the hope that the cars will be running in your vicinity within a year thereafter.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
C. P. Huntington,
President C. & O. R. R. Co.
{From the Chillicothe Advertiser.}

THE SOUTH POINT RAILROAD-
Our Reporter was present at Circleville on yesterday, to witness the "first shovel" on the newly projected Railroad from Columbus to Ironton.

The Incorporators of the C. & S. P. R. R. met at 2 o'clock P. M., in a Jury Room of the Court House, and transacted their business with closed doors. Meanwhile a very large meeting was held in the Court Room at which were present the stamina and wealth of Pickaway, who seemed to be solidly in earnest.
P. C. Smith, of Circleville was called upon to act as President of the meeting. Resolutions were adopted and a General Committee, appointed to solicit funds to defray the expenses of a Survey and to solicit stock. This Committee represented every Township and ward in the county of Pickway.

The meeting was addressed by Ralph Leete, Esq., of Ironton; Wm. Marshall Anderson, Esq., Dr. Wayne Griswold, and others.
Ross county was ably represented by Drs. Wm. Waddle and L. W. Foulks.

We think the matter is becoming serious, and that Chillicothe had better place her "Stack" on the winning card, or pass in her "chips."

{From the Scioto Gazette.}
The counties on the line are abundantly able to build the road. It we take the tax lists of the counties on the line, we find they amount to nearly one hundred million dollars. A very small per cent, on this amount would make the road. Let us then go to work. We believe that our citizens will see and appreciate the advantages of this road and will take hold of the matter in such manner as to show their earnestness. It will conflict no other railroad project that has been inaugurated in our midst, and we have accumulated wealth enough to do our full share in all the enterprises to which we may be called upon to contribute, and if we work as we should we can become in a space of but a few years a great and thriving railroad town of the State. Will we do it?

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - Large tracts of land and improved farms are being purchased by eastern men and New Yorkers in Western Virginia, near the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. - Cabell County Press.

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - The farmers of Ross county, on the completion of the Ironton and South Point Railroad, will find that their wheat will be worth ten cents more per bushel. - Scioto Gazette.

_IR Jan. 20, 1870 - The Iron Trade Circular estimates that at the end of the past year there were laid in the United States, in round numbers, 1,100 miles of steel rails. These rails are in use on more than fifty different railroads.

_IR Jan. 10, 1870 - No regular mail has reached this city, since last Monday. Some bridges have washed away on the M. & C. R. R.

_IJ Feb. 16, 1870 - Columbus & Ironton Railroad. - The stock books for the above road are to be opened on the 24th of this month. A large meeting in favor of the road was held at Chillicothe week before last, and the papers of that city have all shifted their batteries from the defunct Lancaster and Maysville project to the new enterprise. James Emmitt, the wealthy distiller of Pike county, is Chairman, pro tem., of the Board of Incorporation. - Highland News.

_IR Apr. 21, 1870 - Ironton Outdone. - Ironton has subscribed over $160,000 for the Columbus & Ironton R. R., but the Reaper men of Canton have come down with $400,000 for the Pittsburg, Canton and Chicago Railroad. Ironton must try again. - Highland News.

_IR Feb. 24, 1870 - COMMENCED.
Col. Morris, the Engineer on the C. & I. R. R. with a corps of about a dozen surveyors, chain carriers, and axemen, commenced the survey of the road last Monday morning. Their first station was a short distance this side of the Iron Railroad bridge. Thence their line run along the hill up toward Ice Creek. They will go as far as South Point, run lines, fix levels and note bridge sites. Col. Morris has been provided with Grave's survey of the Iron Railroad, and will make that answer, in part, for his estimates on the portion of road from here to Centre.

_IR Mar. 24, 1870 - The Railroad meeting at the Court House last Tuesday night, was a failure. Cause: Less gas and more money wanted.

_IR Mar. 24, 1870 - As a last resort, the subscribers to the C. & I. R. R. can double up on their subscriptions. Why not? The amounts are small.

_IR Mar. 24, 1870 - The Subscription. - Since our last report, about $17,000 have been added to the stock books of the C. & I. R. R. The Belfont Co. sign for $10,000, and the Lawrence Iron Works for $3,000; the balance is made by small subscriptions ranging from $50 to $500. The entire amount subscribed now foots up $153,000, “with several precincts to hear from.” But is it possible that the cream of the crock has been skimmed and we have only $153,000? There is too much laziness in sundry places. Verily, the woodbine will commence in twine unless the strokes are more gallant.

_IR Mar. 24, 1870 - If money for the railroad can’t be raised by subscription, it will be by taxation. That is the programme. - Hurry up with the subscriptions. - That is the only true way to build a railroad.

_IR March 31, 1870 - The high water has submerged portions of the Iron Railroad, so that the running of trains is interfered with. The passenger train did not go out yesterday nor will it to-day.

_IR Apr. 14, 1870 - The Iron Railroad has in contemplation, the building of a ticket office and passenger room on the corner of Second-st. and Gold alley, just above Centre block.

_IR Apr. 14, 1870 - The new locomotive for the Iron Railroad arrived Saturday night. It is a handsome little engine, and is called the Howard. It is the seventh locomotive the road has had.

_IR Apr. 14, 1870 - At the “locomotive raising” last Monday, we noticed at least two or three hundred idle hands. Everybody had their own way of doing it. Truant urchins, luxuriating in bare feet, were abundant.

_IR Dec. 1, 1870 - Smelling Around. - The Big Sandy Herald says that on last Sunday, President Huntington and several engineers of the Chesapeake and Ohio R. R., who recently arrived at Ceredo, came down to Catlettsburg and examined the ground opposite the survey on the West Virginia bank of the Sandy river. How is this for Symmes Creek?
1871*

_PT Jan. 28, 1871 - Brevities. - Thirty-eight lives have been lost on the Parkersburg bridge since it commenced building.

_PT Jan. 28, 1871 - Brevities. - The new railroad depot at Chillicothe is expected to be ready for occupancy next month.

_IR Feb. 2, 1871 - The right of property, as between J. P. Morris and the O. I. & C. Co., to the western corner of Railroad and Third-sts. exhausted the legal lore of our forum yesterday.

_IR Feb. 2, 1871 - Can’t the O. I. & C. Co. give the city a piece of land whereon to erect the Water Works? They favored some of the churches thus, and cleanliness is next to godliness, you know.

_IR Mar. 9, 1871 - Symmes Creek Valley has contributed for the railroad survey. We are glad to learn that the people out there propose to do their share towards the project. Matters look encouraging. “All aboard, for Arabia and Getaway.”

_I.R. March 16, 1871 - FINE WORK.
Should any of our readers desire to observe fine work in the way of paintings, let them go to the depot and closely scrutinize the effect of our young friend, B. V. Hicks' brush on the locomotive, Olive. In every respect it reflects credit on his skill and taste as a workman, and points to a future thoroughness in the trade he has adopted. They who desire sign, fancy and ornamental painting, graining &c., can call on Mr. Hicks with an assurance that their work will be faithfully attended to.

_IR May 4, 1871 - The I.R.R. is getting its best passenger car repainted in rich style.

_IR May 25, 1871 - Busy. - The Hillsboro News says that Capt. Gore, Engineer of the Southern Ohio R. R. and his assistants are hard at work at the Co.’s office on the maps, profiles and estimates of the line recently surveyed through the Symmes Creek Valley.

•IR Oct. 19, 1871 - The new office of the Railroad Co., is fast assuming a neat and tasty appearance. Too much care can not be exercised in making crossings at this point. “Look Out for the Cars.”

•IR Nov. 23, 1871 - Heavy Shipments. - There were transported to this place, on the Iron Railroad, last Monday, 150 tons pig iron, 270 tons of coal, 57 tons of iron ore and 10 tons of merchandise.

•IR Nov. 30, 1871 - The cars are now running from Huntington to Charleston.

•IR Nov. 30, 1871 - The Symmes Creek survey passes within four miles of Jackson.

•IR Nov. 30, 1871 - It now transpires that Hillsboro is the centre of population in the United States. Of course, then, it ought to have the railroad.

•IR Nov. 30, 1871 - Progress of R. R. Subscriptions. - The Hillsboro News has this to say of the situation of the subscription fund to the Symmes Creek prolongation of the C. & O. R. R. - The subscriptions to the Southern Ohio R. R. have reached nearly $100,000 in this town and vicinity, leaving only about $75,000 still to be raised to make up the quota of our county. Meetings are to be held this week at Marshall, Cynthiana, Sinking Springs, Rainsboro, London, and other points on and near the line, and the work of obtaining stock will be pushed with vigor. We hope to be able to fill our entire quota within the ensuing month. - Col. Trimble, in company with a committee of the leading manufacturers of Dayton, and Prof. Orton, the State geologist, visited the Coal region on the line last week, and the Dayton Committee were delighted to find that the Coal deposits were even richer and more extensive than they had been represented. - The committee returned to Dayton, thoroughly satisfied, and promising to go to work at once, to raise the quota of stock assigned to Dayton and Montgomery county - $250,000. - In Wilmington, the citizens have gone to work with energy and we hope soon to hear that Clinton Co., is well advanced in raising her quota, $150,000. - Altogether the prospect is encouraging, and we anticipate that by the 1st of January, the whole of the $850,000 required on the line will have been subscribed.

•IR Nov. 30, 1871 - The magistrates of Boyd county hold out against the will of the people by refusing to submit the question of subscribing to the Ky. and Great Eastern R. R. to the people. We understand that their grounds are not the worst.