IR May 26, 1859 – The Ohio Iron and Coal Company – the Company which received its charter from the Ohio Legislature early in the year 1849 -the Company which laid out and established the town of Ironton now ten years ago – had a meeting of its stockholders recently, and voted to wind up its business as speedily as consistent with the interests involved, and to dissolve.
The Company was organized with twenty-four members. Eleven of the number have gone to their “final account” – Andrew Dempsey, Henry S. Willard, George Steece, Henry Blake, Joseph W. Dempsey, Washington Irwin, James W. Means, James A. Richey, James O. Willard, John E. Clarke, and Robert B. Hamilton. Two have disposed of their stock – Smith Ashcraft and Henry C. Rodgers. This leaves the Company with eleven members and the representatives of eleven estates.
The Company’s property is to be sold as soon as it can well be done. We learn that the large tract of land – the old LaGrange Furnace lands – extending some five or six miles north of town to the Tunnel on the Iron Railroad neighborhood is now being surveyed and divided into tracts convenient for sale.
This will throw a large amount of valuable land into the market- some of it valuable for small farms and gardening, being near a very high market, and most of it very valuable for its stone coal, and some of it, perhaps, for its iron ore, which abounds. Also, there will be for sale, and to be sold, many town lots—a public sale of part of LaGrange lands and town lots to be in next October.
For want of time and space, we cannot now speak of the effect these movements have upon the town and country – this we reserve for the future.
One point, however, greatly concerns the town’s interest in this change of affairs, that is, the River Wharf. This still is owned by the Company, which has never yet collected any wharf age from boats or the public unless the wharf boat has paid rent. – The amount of some $3,000 has been expended by the Company on the wharf, and it is still in an unfinished condition, in any part.
Now, if possible, the town should have complete possession and ownership of the wharf on any reasonable considerations. Can it not be accomplished? This is a matter in which every citizen is interested. Let it be considered.
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