Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 15 of those read), 1881

Gravel Road System

NAY BES the era of plank roads had nearly ended, and public opinion was demanding a system which would guarantee more permanent structures for the roadways over which the products of an exuberant soil were to be transported from the farm to the market, the | | Township." Signed by " Asher Storer, William J. Hurst, W. Cassady, people, in the light of past experience, began to interest themselves in the building of such roads as might be depended upon for the purpose contemplated. Accordingly, the legislature of 1849-50, reflecting the opinions obtaining among the people, amended the laws before in existence, with a view to the adaptation of them to the public want. Such an amendment, meeting the temporary needs, having been passed, was approved by the Governor on the 21st of January, 1850. Under the provisions of this law, which was amendatory of the "General Plank Road Law," a number of individuals interested in the enterprise, associated themselves together for the construction of an improved road or turnpike, under the name of the " Cambridge City, Simons Creek and Muncie Turnpike Company.' This road was to run from Cambridge City, in Wayne County, by the way of MecMullen's Cross Roads, to Muncie, in Delaware County. At the June session, 1852, the company thus organized, with a capital stock of $60,000, divided into 7,400 shares of $35 each - to be increased to any amount necessary to complete the road - was granted the right of way along the route indicated, of the kind constructed, but its influence conduced to the formation of other companies and the construction of other roads in due time. Subsequently, at the March session, 1856, of the Board of Commissioners, it was "Ordered that any company now formed, or hereafter organized, have the privilege, free of cost, of constructing turnpikes or gravel roads on any of the following State roads: Logansport State road, the New Castle State road, on the road leading from Albany to Smithfield, and on any road east or south of Smithfield, to the county line of Delaware County."

Muncie And Middletown

At a special session of the County Board, held on the 28th of July, 1866, James W. Heath, Asher Storer, J. E. Wilcoxon, William J. Hurst, - and James A. Tomlinson, Directors of the Muncie and Middletown Turnpike Company, on their petition for the purpose, were granted the right-of-way along the Pendleton road. This company was organized

County, the place to and from which it is. proposed to construct the road which shall be built from Muncie to the Range line road. The amount

_ number of shares taken by each: Thomas Kirby, 20; James A. Tomlinson, 20, one-half in work; William Hurst, 16; Asher Storer, 12; James Oard, 8, one-half in work; S. G. Sunderland, John W. Heath and Elizabeth Miller, 8 each; Thomas W. Tuttle, 6; Elisha Ogle, 5; John Me- Connell, B. Reynolds, William McConnell, Daniel Miller, John T. Heath, Samuel Clevinger, James W. Heath, Michael Paul, 4 shares each; Aaron

Samuel Coffman, | each. These were unconditional subscribers, while the following were contingent upon there being a sufficient sum subscribed to complete the road: G. H. Baxter, L. Wilcoxon, Jr.2 Bea Haines, Wysor & Kline, Hodge & Sons, A. Kilgore, 4 shares each; J. EK. Wilcoxon, 3; Lemuel King, Thomas J. Matthews, W. Brotherton, P. F. Davis, J. H. Ross, M. Turner and H. C. Klein & Co., one share

Extension. - In 1867, "The Muncie & Middletown Turnpike Company," filed articles of association, for the pdrpose of constructing an extension of its road, as previously located, "commencing at a point at the intersection of the Muncie and Pendleton State road, by the Range line road, being the terminus of the authorized road of said company, between Monroe and Salem Townships; thence southward, on or near the line of the Muncie and Pendletown State road, to or near the present residence of William Sharp; thence southward on the county road to the north line of the land now owned by Mrs. Ann Sharp, in Salem

Connell, Samuel Coffman, James W. Heath, W. J. V. H. Cassady, H. C. Klein & Co., H. Hart, Minus Turner, Thomas Kirby, S. A. Haines, L. Wilcoxon, Thomas J. Matthews, William McConnell, Michael Paul, Elijah Miller, Daniel Miller, Aaron Ross, Elisha Ogle, S. G. Sunderland. The above stockholders agree to said extension of said road, as is described in the above description."

At the June session of the board, 1867, a petition embodying the foregoing facts was presented, asking the right-of-way for such extension. The prayer of the petitioner was granted accordingly, and Asher Storer, J. E. Wilcoxon, William J. Hurst, James A. Tomlinson and James W. Heath were appointed Directors.

Statement Of The Muncie And Middletown Turnpike Company

Delaware County, in the State of Indiana, make the following statement of the condition of said company on the Ist day of July, A. D. 1880, and of its business for the year ending with the 30th day of June, A. D. 1880, viz.:

Cash in hand of Treasurer, Jaly 1 wh Aa Ree ® 328 33 Other assets July 1, 1880, 84 miles of road, Toll-House No. A; with quarter-acre of land; 4 interest in Toll-House No. 2, with quarter acre of land. Accounts due............6.. 625 00 Total liabilities of the company, July 1, 1880............e0eceeeee 153 85 Total amount of capital stock, July 1, 1880.........cccccceeecee es 15,213 12 The gross receipts of the company for the year ending June BO, 1BBOs sane' Cesc cc vsc vanscgse gs oodee es ebaen Gs eeu ken DR 2,108 24 The expenditures of the company for the year ending June 30, 1880, were as follows, viz.: Bor POPRiNG. enc. rcocageve vet esvies iock Leen LER ae 1,197 70 For payment of gate-keepers...........ccsseccecesssces seccesceeecce ee 180 00

Blountsville And Morristown

At the December session, 1866, of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, thirteen citizens of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties, filed their petition, asking for a charter and the right of way for a gravel road from Blountsville, in Henry County, through Delaware to Morristown, in Randolph County, conformably to the provisions of the law in force at that date. The prayer of the petitioners was granted accordingly. Subsequently, articles of association were filed by the Morristown and Blountsville Turnpike Company, "beginning at Blountsville, in Henry County, thence running east one mile and twenty rods, thence north on the usually traveled route one mile and one-fourth to the Henry County line, thence onefourth of a mile to the Randolph County line; thence east two-hundred rods to the southeast corner of Section 8, Township 19, Range 12; thence north two miles; thence west one-fourth of a mile; thence north one mile and one-fourth, to Windsor; thence west on the main street of said town, to Oak street; thence north on the usually traveled route two and one-fourth miles to the south line of Morristown. The capital stock of the company shall be $25,000, and divided into 625 shares of $20 each." The stockholders were Thomas W. Rees, Warren Blount, Birtis Bird, A. Sanders, Solomon Routh, James Davison, Allen Driscoll, Jonathan L. Thornburg, Joseph H. Thornburg, Abraham Clevenger, Elijah Terrell, John O. Clevenger, Edward W. Thornburg, John M. Clevenger, Sherwood W. Rees, Andrew Pierce, James W. Stanley, John Bailey, Solomon Falkner. These articles were duly recorded December 26, 1867, in Miscellaneous Record No. 1, page 330. The present condition of this road does not now appear of record.

Range Line

RANGE LINE. On the 16th of May, 1867, articles of association of this company were filed in the proper office and duly recorded [Mis. Rec. 1, 294]. The road commences "where what is known as the range-line road intersects the Muncie and Pendleton State road, and runs thence along the range-line road to the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 19, Range 9 east. The capital stock consisted of $8,000, divided into 320 shares of $25 each, represented by the following subscriptions: Job Clevenger, twelve shares; Andrew Bowers, Samuel Davis, Jacob Bowers and Jonathan Andes, edch eight shares; Simon Bates and Harvey Heath, six shares each; J. J. Clevenger, Mary E. Bowers, Andrew Andes, J. B. Clevenger, John 8. Tuttle, O. E. Clevenger and Joseph Shirey, four shares each; J. W. McKimmey, D. M. Tuttle, George W. McLain, Henry Remington and M. DeWitte, two shares each; G. D. Lake, Robert W. Heath, J. Doolittle, William Hawk, John Williams, James Needham, each one share, in all, one hundred shares. At the June session, 1867, the company filed petition asking the right of way for the road along the line dividing Ranges 9 and 10 east, commencing at the crossing of Pendleton State road, and running thence south to the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 19, Range 9, and for the appointment of appraisers to assess damages, ete. The right of way was granted, and Miles Marshall, Abraham Shank and Joseph North were appointed Assessors. The subscription represented $800 per mile. The following report, filed July 1, 1880, exhibits the condition of that road: Length of road, three miles. One-half interest in toll house, and one-fourth acre of ground.

Middletown And Range-Line

Articles of association for a turnpike or gravel road, to commence at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 19, Range 9 east, and run thence, west along the county road to the Yorktown and Middletown road; thence, along said road to Middletown, in Henry County, were filed in the proper office on the 7th day of June, 1867, and duly recorded. [ Mis. Rec. 1, 296.] The capital stock was to consist of $10,000, divided into 400 shares of $25 each. The subscribers thereto were the following:

At the June session of the County Board, in 1867, the company filed petition for right of way for said road along the route commencing at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 19, Range 9 east, thence west to the southwest corner of Section 16, same township and range; thence south to the Henry County line; and for the appointment of Assessors. The prayer was granted accordingly, and Miles Marshall, Abraham Shank and Jasper North were appointed Assessors.

Length of the road, 7} miles. Capital stock............ccecseseees $10,940 69 Amount on hand Fale WTSI. sic. ce os cnpucgo Coke tava ages veive 78 57 Amount received for toll during the year.............scsceceseseees 262 06 Amount received on penalties...............0088 {Tiss Yoweewontoara see 6 00

Muncie And Wheeling

This company, having been formed by articles of association, filed its petition for right of way at the June session, 1867, pursuant to an act of the Legislature, approved April 11, of the same year. In that petition the company represented a bona-fide subscription of $800 per mile. The petition was granted, and Stephen R. Martin, John Smith and William Truitt were appointed Assessors. This road extends in a northwesterly direction through the northern part of. Centre, the western part of Hamilton and the northeast corner of Harrison to Wash-.

22, Range 9 east, a distance of about thirteen miles. The present financial condition of the company is shown in the following statement, filed on the 30th of June, 1880:

Middletown And Daleville

MIDDLETOWN AND DALEVILLE. Articles of association for the organization of this company were regularly filed on the 5th day of June, 1867, and properly recorded. The road thus proposed to be constructed commences at the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of the northeast _ same report, it was shown that the capital stock of said company conquarter of Section 31, Township 19, Range 9 east, and runs thence - gicted of 120 shares of $25, equal to $3,000. The company was organ

Makepeace, Michael Pitzer, Gustus Mingle, each $50; G. Slough, Will iam Turner, E. M. Baker, Daniel Rinker, John Hupp, Jr., John A. Stewart, Philip Ridy, E. R. Stewart and J. T. Harnish, $25 each. Afterward, at the September session of the Board of County Commissioners, in the year 1870, the company, having constructed its road the original terminus eastward to the intersection of the Muncie and_ Middletown Pike, a distance of nearly one mile, filed a petition asking for the right of way for said extension. The prayer was granted, accordingly.

road commences at the southwest corner of Section 6, Township 19, Range 9 east; running thence east on the south line of Sections 4, 5 and Y, to the southwest corner of Section 3, a distance of about three miles, the same being that part of the original pike of the Daleville &

_ Bell Creek Company bought at Sheriff's sale by Carey Finwick, James _ Stewart, Jonas Shoemaker, W. W. Cornelius and Joseph R. Shoemaker, on ner of Section 7, same township and range, to intersect a pike running from Daleville east. Capital stock to be $6,000, to be divided into 240 shares. The following were the original stockholders: Jacob Chrisman 16 shares; D. M. Strickler and H. J. Hart, each 12 shares; Absalom Getts, Margaret Getts, each 10 shares; Frederick Tykle, P. & J. Suman, Elizabeth Fuqua, Cary Finwick, Henry Vanmetre and Samuel Lindamare, each 8 shares; William Finwick, William Fuqua, James Ballingall and K. Christman, each 4 shares; W. H. Harman, W. W. Cornelius, William Rader, Nelson Cooper and-Wood & Grose, each 2 shares; H. B. Brattain, William 8. Hoover, Jackson Wisehart, R. T. Summers, Yount, Murphy & Yount, Willis Wisehart, each 1 share. Subsequently, at the June session of the board, 1867, the company, representing a subscription of $500 per mile, filed a petition for the right of way and for

At the session of the County Board, in March, 1871, the Middletown & Daleville Turnpike Company, by the Directors, Frederick Tykle, R. T. Summers, Willis Wisehart, Jacob Christian and D. M. Strickler, filed petition and was granted a further assessment on the stockholders, to meet the requirements of the road. No report havlng been filed at this date, we are unable to give the present financial condition of the company.

Daleville And Bell Creek

At the June session, 1867, of the Board of County Commissioners, the Daleville & Bell Creek Turnpike Company filed a petition representing a subscription of $800 per mile, asking for the right of way along the line of the proposed road, commencing at the southwest corner of Section 6, Township 19, Range 9 east; thence east on the section line to the southwest corner of Section 3; thence south on the section line eighty rods; thence east with the county road to a tan-yard; thence east to Bell Creek crossing, and for the appointment of Assessors. The right of way was granted, and James W. Heath, Samuel Davis and Noah Bowers were appointed Assessors. In the articles of association of this company, afterward filed, the capital was made to consist of $3,800, divided into 152 shares of $25 each. The following is the subscription list, as filed with the articles of association: W. W. Cornelius, William Shoemaker, J. and W. Boyle, P. and J. Suman, Olivia Makepeace, each $100; James Stuart, $425; John Shoemaker, Samuel G. Sunderland, each $300; John Hupp, $250; Samuel Dusang, A. J. McCollister, John Richman and William Finwick, each $200; Jonas Shoemaker, Delilah Thomas, each $150; Carey Finwick, John Saunders, each $75; A. J.

ized on the loth of August, 1879, with Carey Fenwick, Joseph R. Shoe- The following were the officers at that date: James N. Templer, President; Carey Finwick, Treasurer, and Joseph R. Shoemaker, Secretary.

Muncie And New Burlington

MUNCIE AND NEW BURLINGTON. This company, organized under the law of 1867, at the regular September session of the board of that year, filed a petition, representing a stock subscription of at least $800 per mile, and asked an order for the and that assessors be appointed. Upon consideration, the petition was granted, and Jeremiah Dynes, Michael Dunkin and William Truitt, were appointed Assessors. The following is the present condition of the

Junction

At the regular March session, 1868, a petition was filed by the Junction Turnpike Company, for the right of way over and along the line of said proposed road, commencing where the Winchester State road crosses the county line between Delaware and Randolph Counties, near the town of Windsor, in said Randolph County; thence west along or near said State road, until it intersects the road leading from Muncie to New Burlington. The right of way was granted, in pursuance of the provisions of the law passed by the Legislature of 1867, and William Truitt, John Simmons and Eli Smith were appointed Appraisers. The present status of this road does not appear from any report filed in the proper office.

Muncie And Yorktown

On the 30th of January, 1868, at a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, the Muncie & Yorktown Turnpike Company filed her petition for the appointment of appraisers, and the right of way for a road proposed to be constructed '"* Commencing at a point in the Yorktown road, at the northwest corner of Proud's Addition to Muncie; thence along the Indianapolis State road, terminating at the east side of the bridge crossing Buek Creek, near Yorktown." The right of way was - granted, and William Truitt, Liberty Ginn and John C. Matthews were appointed Appraisers. The following report, filed July 1, 1880, shows the present financial condition of the company:

Jackson Street

The petition for right of way, and for the appointment of appraisers, was filed by this company at the special January session, 1868. The proposed road commenced at the Calvert street bridge, over White River, at Muncie, and run thence to a point where the State road crosses the west boundary of Delaware County. A subscription of at least $800 per mile, was represented by said petition. The right of way was granted, and William Truitt, Liberty Ginn and John C. Matthews, were appointed Appraisers.

On the Ist day of July, 1879, the following report, presenting an exhibit of the financial condition of the company at that date, was filed and

'duly recorded, That report shows the amount of cash on hand at that date, to be $25.57; length of road, 104 miles, 9% miles finished, from Muncie, to the west line of Delaware County. Two toll houses, rented land. Liabilities of company, including capital stock and borrowed money, $28,230.78; total capital stock, 1,120 shares, $28,000; gross receipts for the year ending June 30, 1879, including $354 borrowed money, $1,541.04; expenditures during the year ending June 30, 1879, including payment of loans, as follows:

Muncie And Bethel

At the March session, 1869, of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, the Muncie and Bethel Turnpike Company filed her petition for the right of way, under the laws then in force. From the record, it appears that this company was originally chartered as the Jake's Creek Turnpike Company, and was, by vote of stockholders, changed to the Muncie and Bethel Company. The location is on the Delphi State road, from the intersection of the Muncie and Wheeling Turnpike, about one mile northwest of the city of Muncie, to the southeast corner of Section 20, Township 21, Range 9 east. The right of way was granted accordingly.

At the same session, this company reported an extension of its road from the southeast corner of Section 20, Township 21, Range. 9 east, the terminus of the original road, to the west line of the county, and asked permission to occupy said road built between said two points. The prayer of the petitioner was granted accordingly.

The present status of said road is shown by the following report, filed July 1, 1880: Amount of notes, ACCOUNtE, CIC....cccececssccccccessecccasccccsccsecs $ 432 44 Amount of cash on hand July 1, 1880................cee2seeeeeeees 215 37 Ten and one-half miles of turnpike road in Delaware County. Toll-Houses No. 2 and 3, on the line of road

Muncie And Eaton

This road was originally built and operated by the Studebaker Turnpike Company, which was organized under the laws in force in the year 1867. At the March session of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, for that year, the Studebaker Turnpike Company filed her petition and application for the right of way of a road then in contemplation, commencing at a point where the Studebaker road crosses the Muncie & Granville Turnpike, and terminating on the Mississinewa River. The petition was granted. Subsequently, at the June session of the same year, on further petition of said Studebaker Company representing a subscription to the capital stock of the company of not less than $800 per mile, was filed with the board which thereupon appointed John Smith, James Truitt and William Truitt, Assessors. The two first of these gentlemen failing or refusing to accept, the board, made another appointment, selecting Thomas Kirby, James Maddy and William Truitt as such Appraisers.

In December, 1875, articles of association were duly filed and recorded [Mis. Rec. 2, p. 4], containing the following clause: '" We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Delaware County, in the State of Indiana, do make, enter into, and adopt, the following articles of association. The object is to own, hold and operate * * a certain turnpike known as the Studebaker Turnpike, from its intersection with the Muncie and Granville Turnpike, its southern terminus, to the Mississinewa River, its northern terminus." This new company, on the 23d of December, 1875, represented the following subscriptions, to wit:

"John Royer, $1,400; David Pixley and Matthew McCormick, each $350; Templer & Gregory, $200; Isaac H. Shideler, William 8. Shideler and John 8. Shideler, each $100."

Amount of capital stock......ccccccccccccessess ceccsovscesese $5,875 00 Receipts - For payments on capital stock............eeeee $171 38 For gate receipts for toll........cccccccccccccscessceresevecencs - 833 68 For interest FeCeipts.........cscccoscscccccerccccccsecsscces cots 20 92 Disbursements - For labor, roadway..........seeeeeeeees ee: ee Ge For taxes and printing. .........0.0. ccscccccsvcecsecsceseecess 5 50 For. Officers" CXPOMsess....c.0..ccccccscecdcccesteccevecsecscces 80 00 Assets - 78& miles Of road Way......cseccccersceceesvereneeeees 7 4,000 00 Two toll houses and grounds......c.e.sccseseectsceeeeseseees 200 00 CB PONG: BLOC rises racss Soveheseasneaciissccsessceccosersmayannesns 717 34 Cash on hand.......... aeecensenseececescessecces sucsenacseceoeses 429 00

Smithfield And Albany

On the 6th of April, 1869, at a special session of the Board of Commissioners, doing county business, the Smithfield and Albany Turnpike Company, organized under the provisions of the law of 1867, filed her petition for the right of way along the line of said road, and for the ter, granted the request, and appointed James A. Maddy, Jacob H. Koontz and William Truitt, Assessors. Again, at the December session of the board, in 1870, upon further application of the company, other Assessors were appointed. A similar petition was filed on the 3d of November 1871, and the request granted as before. Its present condition is not reported.

Mississinewa And Albany

MISSISSINEWA AND ALBANY. This company, in its corporate capacity, at the special April session (April 6), 1569, petitioned the board for the right of way of her road

_ stock of $5,407.50, as before recited, filed her petition for the appointfrom Albany to Fairview, in Randolph County, over said highway to | the county line; thence west over said highway to Albany, to the toll | gate near Stafford's residence, in Delaware County, on the Muncie and |

Granville Turnpike, a distance of five and- three-quarters miles. The petition represented a cash subscription of $4,975. Right of way was granted as requested, and James A. Maddy, Jacob H. Koontz and William Truitt were appointed Assessors. The following report, filed July 1, 1880, exhibits the present condition of the company:

Mississinewa Valley

The corporation known as the Mississinewa Valley Turnpike Company, organized under the provisions of the law then in force, at a special session of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, held on the 6th of April, 1869, filed her petition for right of way along the route designated for the location of said company's road. The board ment of Assessors, and the prayer of the petitioner was granted. The present financial condition of the company is not shown by the official records. NEW CORNER. On the dth of December, 1870, articles of association were filed by the New Corner Turnpike Company, as follows: "'The undersigned citizens and residents of Delaware County hereby agree to form ourselves into a corporation, for the purpose of con- ~ structing, owning and maintaining a gravel road or turnpike, as hereinafter described. Said road shall commence on the south line of Section 7, Township 21, Range 10 east, in Hamilton Township, at the point of intersection of said line by the Muncie and Wheeling Turnpike; thence west on the south line of said Section 7, on the south line of Sections 12, 11 and 10, in Township 21, Range 9 east, to the southwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 10; thence north to the northwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of Seetion 8, Township 21, Range 9 east; thence west on the half-section line

_ to the southeast corner of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 3; thence north to a point at the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 3; thence west to the south- tioner and appointed three assessors as follows: William Truitt, James A. Maddy and Jacob H. Koontz. road, in the hands of said company, we have not been informed, nothing having been found of record appertaining thereto.

Muncie And Smithfield

3; thence north to a point five rods south of the northwest corner of Section 3; thence in a direct line to a point five rods directly north of the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 22, Range 9 east; thence north on the east line of the last-named section (33), to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 33; thence west, on the middle line of Sections 33 and 32, to the New Cumberland and Chesterfield road. | across White River, on the Helvie Bridge, on or near the present line | ; _ ton Trout, Henry Boyle, Levi A. Miller, Samuel McCreery and David

William Truitt, Eli Smith and John C. Matthews were appointed Assessors, with Nelson Leonard President. The following statement, filed February 13, 1877, shows the condition of the company at that date:

Blountsville And Smithfield

County, held on the 17th of July, 1869, the Blountsville and Smithfield Turnpike Company filed her petition for the right of way over the Blountsville and Smithfield road, commencing at a point where said road crosses the line of Delaware and Henry Counties, at the southwest _ corner of Section 23, Township 19, Range 11 east; thence north on | said road about five miles to Winchester and Muncie State road. The board, being sufficiently advised, granted the prayer of the petitioner. Daniel Kilmer was the President of said company at the. date of said action. Capital stock to the value of $5,047.50 had been subscribed, officers subsequently elected, were James Murray, President; A. R. A. Thompson, Russel Jordan, W. A. Jordan and Thornburg, Directors. During the March session of the Board of County Commissioners, in 1870, the company having been previously organized with a capital

Se ee ; 2 eS; 2 Commissioners of Delaware County, 'Charles Carter, President of the | "5 shares; David Thompson, 24 shares; Allen Benadum, 20 shares; H.

Henry W. Larowe, William Minton, Frederick Huber, Mary Bryan, Sr., George Boyle, John Smith, Andrew Brown and Adam Moody, each one share." |Mis. Rec. 1, p. 421-2.] What the present financial condition of this road is, is not given.

Muncie & Granville

Assets - About nine and one-half miles of road, Toll House a No. 1 and one-quarter acre of land; Toll House No. 2, on leased ground; the right to take gravel for the use of the road, from the west half of the southwest eee quarter of Section 4, Township 21, Range 11 east; thence south on the Total... ..0<ihcos tenner ria Gis Pipe ct ce. oie $3,076 27 section. line to the Albany pike. The application having been confoe a sidered, the board appointed William Truitt, Engineer, and W. A. Mc.

At the June session, 1876, of the Board of County Commissioners of Delaware County, an association haying been formed for the purpose, the Centennial Turnpike Company reported a subscription of $500 per mile, and asked for an order granting them the right of way over the following route: Commencing at the first toll-gate from Muncie, on the Muncie and Granville Turnpike; thence east on the highway to the crossing of the south line of Section 3, Township 20, Range 10 east; thence east on the south line of Sections 2 and 1 to the line between Center and Liberty Townships; thence north on said line to the line dividing Sections 6 and 7, in Township 20, Range 11 east; thence east on the section line between Sections 6 and 7, 5 and 8, terminating at a point on the north line of said Section 8, at the crossing of the highway running north and south therefrom." The Directors representing said company were Frederick Priest, A. L. Wilson, A. J. MecGalliard, E. Austin and M. Smith.

At the special June session, 1580, of the County Board, this company asked the right of way for an extension of her road along the following route: Beginning at the eastern terminus of the present right of way of the company at the mouth of the county road; thence south to a point forty rods east of the northwest corner of Section 8, Township 20, Range 11 east; thence east on the section line to the northeast corner of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 9; which was granted. se

Free Gravel Roads

Such of the gravel roads, or turnpikes, in Delaware County, as were originally constructed under the law of March 3, 1877, were of the class called free gravel roads, because they were laid and so constructed under the direct supervision of the county authorities, instead of, as formerly, under the control of associations incorporated for that pur. pose. Utility and public necessity were paramount considerations, and, when satisfactorily established, it beeame the duty of the County Commissioners to appoint three disinterested freeholders of the county to view the premises and apportion the estimated expenses of construction according to the benefit to be derived by the adjacent lands affected by the proposed improvement. Upon the reception and confirmation of the report required to be made by the men so appointed, the assessments soreported were placed upon the tax duplicate, especially provided by the Auditor, and became first liens, as other taxes were, on the real estate assessed. Under these provisions, with perhaps some modifications, the following roads have since been placed in process of construction: At the March session, 1880, of the Board of Commissioners, Daniel N. Patterson, John S. Fudge and others made application for a gravel road on the following described route: Commencing at the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 16, Township 22, Range 11

Clellan, Duncan Williams and John Linville, Viewers. Subsequently these gentlemen made report of their examination and estimates for said road, and submitted the same at the June session, 1880. The report confirmed the line proposed, and estimated the total cost, exclusive of gravel in the pit, and damage, at the sum of $8,144. The report was confirmed, and the line granted as reported.

At the same session, March, 1880, D. Brandt and others filed their petition for a free turnpike to be built in Union Township, on the following route, and pursuant to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, approved March 3, 1877: Beginning at the corporation line on the north, of the town of Eaton, on the Hartford road, running northwest on said Hartford and Eaton road to the intersection of the line separating Sections 14 and 23; thence west on said section line two miles to the Blackford County line, and there terminating. The board accordingly appointed William Truitt, Engineer; W.A. McClellan, John Linville and Duncan Williams, Viewers. Whether this road was ever established, does not now appear.

George R. Hedgeland, G. W. Brady, M. Bryan, W. D. Clemmens, C. F. Ebenstein and others, at the March session, 1880, filed their petition for the appointment of an engineer and viewers for a gravel road on the following route: Beginning at the Wheeling Turnpike, in Wash-

Joseph Huston and Calvin Moomar, in Section 36, Township 22, Range 9 east; thence west on said line through Section 35, through the lands of the said Moomar, James Needler and Joseph Tippy; thence west through the lands of C. F. Ebenstein, and Nancy and George W. Bryan, in Section 34, and George Boyle, George R. Hedgeland and the heirs of James H. Boyle, Albert Boyle, Ezra Woodring, M. J. Clements, Rhoda Nance, David Burgess, Mary Clevenger, P. W. Woodring and the heirs of R. Miller, to the half-section line. . The board accordingly appointed William Truitt, Engineer; William A. McClellan, D. Williams and John Linville, Viewers.

20, Range 9 east, on the road leading west from Yorktown; thence on said road through the lands of Thomas Allen, David Campbell, E. H. Underwood, Jacob Carrel's heirs, Timothy Hardwick, Abraham Campbell and William J. Painter, distance about one-mile; thence due south on the line of the present road, passing through the lands of William J. Painter, Alexander Donovan's heirs, John Aldridge, David Campbell, William Moffett, Edward Helvie, B. F. Claypool, William K. Helvie, Hester Richmond, N. M. and M. Helvie, to intersect the road -running east and west by 'Pike's Peak' Schoolhouse, in Salem Township- - distance, 24 miles; whole distance, 34 miles. To be twenty-eight feet wide."

The Engineer and Viewers before appointed, submitted at the June session, 1880, the following reports of surveys and views made by them: On the gravel road, beginning at Albany, at the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 2, Township 21, Range 11 east; thence north on the Albany and Trenton road to the Greenville and Marion State road; thence in a northwest direction to the east line of the corporation of EKaton - total distance, 7 miles and 3,824 feet. The name of the road, Eaton and Albany Free Gravel Road. Reported total cost, $11,922.

Also, on the gravel road, beginning at a point where the public highway leading from Eaton to Wheeling, on the north side of Mississinewa River, intersects the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad

15, Powhship 2 22, Range 9 east; thence west ionarect to the intersection of said highway with the line dividing Delaware and Grant Counties; thence along the said north line to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 10, Township 22, Range 9 east. Also, beginning on the line of said Eaton and Wheeling road, at the northwest corner of Section 21, Township 22, Range 10 east; thence north on the line dividing Sections 17 and 16, 8 and 9, in Township 22, Range 10 east, and terminating at the northeast corner of Section 8. Total cost of construction, exclusive of gravel pit and damage, reported

Ceapthr Xvile Bloomington & La Fayette, Afterward The La Fayette

INDIANAPOLIS & BELLEFONTAINE - FORT WAYNE & SOUTHERN INDIANA - INDIANAPOLIS, CLEVELAND & PITTSBURGH - MUNCIE & CINCINNATI, AFTERWARD THE FORT WAYNE, MUNCIE & CINCINNATI - BLOOMINGTON & LA FAYETTE, AFTERWARD THE LA FAYETTE, BLOOMINGTON & MUNCIE, NOW THE LAKE ERIE & WESTERN - " BEE LINE," OR CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, CINCINNATI & INDIANAPOLIS.

Indianapolis & Bellefontaine

Bellefontaine Railroad, passed at the session of 1847-48, of the State Legislature, the people of Delaware County, contemplating the ultimate importance of railroad intercommunication between eligible points of trade, took early steps toward availing themselves of the privieged advantages to be derived from this the first railroad through the middle-eastern part of Indiana. At a special session of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, held on the 2d of July, 1848, John Black, of Delaware Township, in this county, was appointed by the board an appraiser of the real estate subscribed in stock to the Indianapolis 4; Bellefontaine Railroad Company, in pursuance of the charter of said company, passed at the last session of the Legislature.

At the March session, 1849, the following further action was had by the board, for the purpose of ascertaining the wishes of the people especially interested, concerning the furtherance of the proposed enter prise of constructing a railroad through the county: "Ordered by the board, that the inspectors of the several annual spring [April] township elections in the several townships in the county, at said next ensuing election, open a poll for the voters to express on their tickets, when they vote for officers, the wish of the several voters to express on their tickets whether they are for or against the County Commissioners subscribing in behalf of this county, stock in the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad, to an amount that will be produced by a levy of tax, to not exceed the amount of $1 on each $100 valuation, of all the taxable property in the said county, one-half to be collected this year, the other, next year, in pursuance of the provisions of the charter of said road company; and the said voters shall express their consent to their so doing, by the words on their tickets, stock ; and those on the contrary, by the words, nd stock. And the 'ats apes shall be worded accordingly - and make report of the result of said election to the Auditor, at the time and in the manner they otherwise report such elections .to him; and the Auditor shall publish notice of this order, in the Muncie Signal, from now until said election." Such an election was held accordingly, and reported to the Auditor, as follows:

In consideration of the above vote, the Commissioners, at a special session held in June following, ordered, ''That the County of Delaware do subscribe and take stock in the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, to the amount of $12,000, one-fourth to be paid when said road shall be cleared and grubbed continuously from Indianapolis to the east line of this county; one-fourth when graded and bridged to

Another special session was held in May, 1850, of which the following record appears: "Be it remembered that on this day the board received from A. W. Morris and O. H. Smith, officers of the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, a letter and also a guaranty in writing, in relation to the expenditure of the sums of money hereinafter mentioned, and the furtherance of said work, and thereupon, the board to order and direct the payment to said company the sum of $2,000 in full, of the first installment due to said company by the former order of this board, and to accelerate said payment beyond the requirements and conditions of said order, as herein set forth. And the board, being satisfied that said letter and guaranty from a sufficient guaranty to the county for the object set forth, and that the granting of said request is for the good of the work and the county, and especially to the contractors and laborers engaged in contracts on said road, and to the community, by putting into circulation the funds now idle and useless to them, among the people from whom it has been most generally made up - do finally order and direct that the County Auditor draw his order or warrant in pursuance of former orders in relation thereto, upon the County Treasurer of this county, in favor of said company, for the said sum of $2,000."

Again, in August, 1850, a special session of the board was held for the purpose of considering the proposition of the Directors of the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad, asking the county to aid said

QOO on conditions named. The board, having duly considered the proposition, '' Ordered, that so soon as that sum can be obtained on a loan on the credit of Delaware County, that the same shall be done accordingly, and paid to the persons authorized by said company to receive the same; the county to pay the same rate of interest as the company will allow the county; the company to give stock for security. The company also to bind themselves that they will have ready for

October, 1851." And at the special session held in November of the same year, it was further "Ordered by the board, that, to carry out the provisions of the order made at their special August term, that in reference to the loan therein proposed to be made, and to finally effeet and carry out the same, that orders drawing 6 per cent interest, payable January 1, 1852, be issued to said company, one, Ist of November; one, Ist of January, 1851, and one, Ist of April, 1851; for the sum of $1,000 each; and that for the interest on said $30,000, which shall have accrued, shall be paid out of the installments of county subseription hereafter to become due said company, out of the taxes collected in 1851, or years following."

Another special term was held in February, 1851, when, on motion of Samuel P. Anthony, agent of the company, an order was caused to be drawn by the Auditor on the County Treasurer for the sum of $3,000, for the second installment of subscription by Delaware County to said railroad company. It was further ordered by the board, at its January session, 1852, "that the County Auditor draw upon the treasury an order for $3,000, in favor of the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, and deliver the same to the Treasurer of the company, on demand;" and, at the June session following, the board "Ordered that the County Auditor draw on the Treasurer an order for $3,000, the last installment of the subscription by the county to the Indianapolis &

This road having been i endinois enipleacs to tiie City, on the State line, during the winter of 1852-53, the people entertained a proposition to transfer the stock held by the county, at its par value, to the Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad, receiving, in return, the stocks of the said last-named company at like rates. Accordingly, the following petition was circulated and signed as a means of securing the expression of the people concerning the same: '* We, the undersigned, citizens of said county, would respectfully petition your honorable body to transfer to the Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad Company all the county stock in the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, in an exchange, at the par value of the respective stocks, for the stocks of the said Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad Company; and we do hereby authorize and request the Auditor to convene the Board of Commissioners for the aforesaid purpose." Signed by Jacob N. Poorman and others, to the number of 1,323. Pursuant to said petition, the board: having been regularly convened in special session, December, 1853, to consider the same, rendered the following: "' Whereupon, it is ordered by the board that all of the stock owned by the county in the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, and the accumulations thereon, be assigned and transferred in equal parts - one-half to the Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad Company, in exchange for their stocks respectively; at their par value, and that W. J. Holman is hereby appointed an agent to make said transfer by assignment or otherwise."

In 1859, this road was consolidated with the Ohio line, and about that time an appraisement of the road-bed, superstructure, bridges, depots and depot-grounds, rolling-stock, machinery, etc., of this line, then known as the Indianapolis, Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, extending from the State line on the east to Indianapolis, was ordered to be made, and a Board of Appraisers appointed, consisting of Thomas G.' Clark, Miles Marshall, Thomas Clevenger, Lemuel Vanlangham and Rezin Perry, to value the same and apportion such valuation among the seyeral counties interested, according to the number of miles ineach. That Board of Appraisers made report to the June Session, 1859, of the

'We, the appraisers of Randolph, Delaware, Madison, Hancock and Marion Counties, agree to appraise the Indianapolis, Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, for road-bed, superstructure, bridges, depots, depotgrounds, together with the rolling machinery and other matter connected therewith, at the rate of $4,300 per mile, making the aggregate for the entire length of the road of 83.40 miles, $358,620, pro rata, as . follows: To Marion County, 14.82 miles, $63,726; to Hancock County, 7.09 miles, $30,487; to Madison County, 20.86 miles, $89,698; to Delaware County, 20.36 miles, $87,548; to Randolph County, 20.27 miles, $87,161."

In 1868, it was consolidated with the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati road, and became the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, now familiarly known as the '"' Bee Line." Its eastern connections give it an immense business, general as well as local.

Fort Wayne & Southern

This road was projected in the fall of 1865, and the route through which it was proposed to be located commanded the attention and interest of all likely to be affected by its construction. Delaware, like other counties along the line, began early to manifest a disposition to assist in the furtherance of the proposed enterprise. At the June session, 1866, of the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, it was ordered, "that the Indiana Southern Railway Company be allowed the sum of $35,000 as a bonus for the construction of its railroad within the limits of Delaware County, Ind., one-half when said road shall be finished from Fort Wayne to the city of Muncie, and the remainder when said road shall be completed and the cars shall run from Jeffersonville to Fort Wayne thereon; provided, that said road shall be fully completed before January 1, 1869." At asubsequentspecial session of the board, held on the 23d of June, 1866, a petition, signed by 1,693 citizens of the county, was filed, asking for an additional allowance to said company of $10,000 as a bonus for the construction of said road in this county. A remonstrance was filed, however, signed by seventy-six persons, objecting to such donation, on the ground that it was illegal

At a special session of the board held on the 23d day of March, 1868, upon the petition of John W. Burson, William F. Jones, Charles P. Sample and others, for an appropriation in behalf of the Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company, to aid in the construction of said road, it was ordered by the board, that there be appropriated to the Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company, or to the company under any other name, which shall be organized for the purpose of constructing a railroad from Hagerstown, in Wayne County, to Muncie, in Delaware County, as an extension of the White Water Valley Railroad, the sum of $50,000, payable when said road shall be completed to Muncie, in running order - in consideration of the benefits to be derived to Delaware County: Provided, however, that the said appropriation be accepted on or before June 1, 1868." A similar order and fora like amount was also made to the Cincinnati, Connersville & Muncie Railroad Company, when the road should be completed and in running order from New Castle to Muncie. At the regular June session, 1868, the Cincinnati, Connersville & Muncie Railroad, having filed its acceptance of the appropriation proffered by Delaware County, the Treasurer of the county was ordered to pay to John W. Burson, intrust for said road, the said sum of $50,000. My. Burson then filed his

Subsequently, at the March session, 1869, the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati. Railroad Company petitioned the board for an appropriation in aid of the construction of its road from the line of the Bellefontaine road to the north line of the county. The board acceded to the proposition, and ordered an appropriation of $50,000 for that purpose, and directed the issue of fifty $1,000 bonds, drawing 7 per cent interest; those numbered from one to seventeen, payable in three years; from eighteen to thirty-three, in four years, and from thirtyfour to fifty, inclusive, in five years. David T. Haines was appointed of the sum when the iron had been laid to the Muncie and Granville Pike, three miles north of the Bellefontaine road; $16,000, when the iron should be laid to the line dividing Sections 23 and 26, Township 22, Range 10 east, and the remainder when the iron should be laid to

Thus matters stood until July 9, 1875, when the Randolph Circuit Court having granted an order restraining the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad from selling or causing to be sold any bonds issued in favor and for the construction of said road; restraining, also, the County Treasurer from delivering any bonds so issued to said company, and directing said company to deliver all bonds so issued and received to the Auditor to be canceled, the board directed the said orders to be filed and placed on the proper record, with the appeal therefrom to the Supreme Court.

Afterward, at the June session, 1876, it was '' ordered by the board that the fifty coupon bonds, numbered from one to fifty, respectively, of $1,000 each, which were issued and delivered to the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad ep eny: bearing date March 5, 1869, and drawing interest at the rate of 7 per cent, payable semi-annually, and signed by Thomas J. Matthews, Benjamin F'. Smith 'and John Parker, as Commissioners, and John L. McClintock, as Auditor of Delaware County, with all the coupons that were originally attached to said bonds, when issued, be burned and destroyed,' which order was executed in the presence of the Board, Auditor and Treasurer of said county, on the 7th day of the June term (June 11), 1876, the bonds and interest amounting at that date to $76,000. In the meantime, however, the road had been completed and was in successful operation. The freight office

Connersville to Muncie, became largely indebted to the Junction Railroad, to wit: in the sum of $500,000, for the payment of which the | said party of the first part, the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Rail- | road, by the terms of said consolidation, became liable; and whereas, prior to said consolidation, the Cincinnati, Connersville & Muncie Railroad incurred other liabilities, amounting to $50,000, and by the terms of said consolidation the party of the first part became liable; and the party of the second part, by the terms of said consolidation, became and is liable to pay; and whereas, prior to said consolidation, the said Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company incurred other liabilities, amounting to the sum of $200,000, which the said party of the first part, by the terms of consolidation, became and is liable to pay: and whereas, the railroad, prior to said consolidation, owned and located by the said Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company, is in course of construction from said town of New Castle to Fort Wayne, is under obligation to construct said railroad, and the said party of the | first part has no money to construct and has no equipment of any kind | to operate such railroad when constructed and no means to procure such | equipment, and has no means to pay said indebtedness to said party of the second part, or to pay other liabilities by the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad Company prior to said consolidation. * * * And whereas, the said party of the first part, is about to issue 1,800 of her bonds for $1,000 each, with interest coupons at 7 per cent, payable semi-annually in gold, secured by mortgage on her railroad from Connersville to Fort Wayne, and other property, and deliver the same to said party of the second part: Therefore, the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the stipulations, covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, have leased unto the said party of the second part the entire railroad of the said party of the first part from Connersville, through New Castle to Fort Wayne, and all the property and appurtenances thereunto belonging, for a period of ninety-nine years, re- | And the said party of the first part agree to issue _ newable forever. and deliver 1,300 bonds, as aforesaid, as soon as possible, and further agree to issue no other bonds or securities without consent of said par ty of the second part. The said party of the second part agrees to construct said railroad from New Castle to Fort Wayne and equip the entire road from Connersville to Fort Wayne. * * * * *

Lafayette, Bloomington & Muncie

The original design contemplated in the proposed construction of this road was to connect the Bloomington & La Fayette Railroad with the Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, at some eligible point within the limits of Delaware County. In order to secure such a termination of the road at Muncie, which was deemed the most desirable point, the County Commissioners, at a special session of their board, held on the 6th of April, 1869, donated $300, to be placed in the hands of Joseph S. Buckles, Esq., to be by him expended in obtainof the company was first located at the north end of Walnut street, in ing this object. Subsequently, at a special session held on the 17th of July, 1869, on the petition of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad Company, with the signatures of 137 citizens of Delaware County, an election was ordered to be held on the 21st of August following, to decide on an appropriation of $150,000, to aid in the con- | struction of said road. Prior to the holding of that election, however, _ at a special session on the 11th of August, the Auditor was directed to _ draw an order in favor of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Rail- ' road, for $400, to be credited on any stock that might thereafter be taken by Delaware County in aid of the construction of said road.

With ae expression, the board, feeling authorized thereby, at its regular September session, 1869, on the petition of the railroad company, '' Ordered, that a levy of $75,000, one-half of the railroad appro- | priation, be made in June, 1870, and the other half, $75,000, be made _in June, 1871, the expenses of election and all advances heretofore made to be deducted." Accordingly, at the June session, 1870, a levy | of $75,000 for the benefit of this road was ordered to be made.

At a special session of the board, on the 11th day of August, 1871, on petition of the company, eighty-five shares of capital stock, representing $4,250, were subscribed, and the sum ordered to be paid out of the county treasury, from the tax levied for that purpose. During the following September session of the board, E. M. Talbott, Chief Engineer of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, filed a report | exhibiting the amount of work done on that road in Delaware sin

The following report of the operations of the company during the month of October, was presented at the special session of the board, November 3, 1871: session following, it was " Ordered, that 300 shares of stock in the L.., M. & B. R. R., at $50 per share, be assessed, and paid out of the county

A further report was submitted by the company, at the special ses-_ sion in May, 1872, showing the total amount due since the last estimate, | to be $11,672.11, when the board ordered that stock be taken in said road, in the sum of 233 shares, at $50 each - $11,650. One hundred and two additional shares of stock were taken on the 2d of August, arnounting to the sum of $5,100. Again, at the special session, on the 24th of February, 1873, the board subscribed the further sum of $24,000 to the stock of said company, $10,000 to be paid in cash, and $14,000 to | At the September session, 1873, the Auditor - "to draw a warrant on the Treasurer of the county for |

At a special session of the board, on the 5th of January, 1874, called to devise means for liquidating the county debt, among other proceedings had in view of the premises, we find the following:

'Ordered, that, when it may be determined by the courts, that coun- | ties are bound to pay the full amount of their appropriations to the | La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad Company, that the Mun- | cie National Bank be allowed the balance of such appropriation from Delaware County to said La Fayete, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad Company, after deducting the amount of a certain judgment against Delaware County in favor of William J. Hyatt, which will result from a decision of the courts, making the counties liable for the full amount of said appropriation; and, it be further ordered, that none of such balance be paid to said Muncie National Bank, until the said La forty Muncie citizens to La Fayette, on Tuesday, February 1, 1876. At a meeting held at La Fayette, 44,227 shares of stock were represented, and, on a vote of ratification of the road, ete., 42,201 voted aye, and 2,026 voted no. The first regular train, mixed, freight and passenger, commenced running Thursday, February 10, 1876."

"The deed of purchase of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, has been placed in the hands of the purchasers, and the name changed to La Fayette, Bloomington & Muncie Railroad Company. E. H. Waldron is appointed General Manager, and C. R. Cummings, President. The new management has now full control - all of the employes of the road will be retained." [Muncie Times, May 8, 1879. ] ing, June 23, 1879, to take action to secure the location of the shops, etc., of the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad shops. Mayor Kilgore was chosen Chairman, J. N. Templer as Chairman of the

The election was held on the 5th of August, 1879, with the following result: Center Township - for tax, 922; against the tax, 198; ma In Delaware - -whole number of votes, 328; for, 157; against, 171; majority against, 14.