USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 16
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HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
having failed to meet in the last three years, has by the statutes of limitation become inoperative and ineffec- tive and of no force." Mayor Shaw then appointed the following members: Dr. C. R. Clement and Chas. D. Rarey, for three years; R. F. Dildine and James Strode, for two years, and Edmund Gares and Phil C. Tussing, for one year. Jan. 13th, 1898, Frank Slosser was appointed in place of James Strode, who became a member of the Council, and James K. Rarey and Lyon Carruthers were appointed in place of Ed Gares and P. C. Tussing, whose terms had expired. In 1899 the members of the Board were: C. R. Clement, Frank Schlosser, L. B. Carruthers, C. D. Rarey, R. F. Dil- dine and J. K. Rarey.
Dr. C. R. Clement has served continuously as Health Officer since 1889.
John A. Kile served as sanitary police 1889-'91; W. E. Tohmpson, 1892-'93; R. R. Paxton, 1896-1901.
Fires in Groveport.
J. B. Wert's store and residence on the southwest corner of Main and Church streets was destroyed by fire in 1846 or 1847.
Solomon Clippenger's tannery burnt in the spring of 1850. It was located on the west side of Walnut street, near the canal, and at the time of the fire a har- ness and saddler shop was connected with it.
The barns of Abram Sharp and Casper Limpert burned in the spring of 1862.
J. P. Arnold's residence, west of Groveport, was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, Jan. 16, 1875.
The old Laypole Rarey Academy building burned on September 30, 1879.
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Rager's saw mill-formerly operated by Moses Zinn and later by Wm. Chandler-was consumed on Sunday morning, December 14, 1879.
The Warehouse block, located on the south side of Main street, near the canal, was destroyed on June 17, 1882. At the time of the fire it was owned by A. B. Rarey and was occupied by Thompson & Williams, blacksmiths; O. R. Mansfield, wagon maker' and Jethro Denton, meat store.
The Eldorado Mills, built by Rodenfels, Seymour & Co., in 1871, on the west side of Front street and just north of the railroad tracks, was totally destroyed by fire on September 2, 1884. The fire was discovered at about eleven o'clock at night. On August 13, 1877, while Burk & Foster were operating the Eldorado Mills, the boiler exploded and a boy named Allen, aged eight years, was killed, and Addison Mc- Coy, the engineer, had his legs scalded. .
Dr. J. H. Saylor's barn burnt on February 16, 1897. This was a remarkable fire, as the Hotel barn, just across the alley, was saved by the bucket brigade, while the pine siding, on the side next to the fire, was half burned through.
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CHAPTER XVI.
ROADS.
"One day, through the primeval wood, A calf walked home, as good calves should; But made a trail all bent askew, A crooked trail, as all calves do.
The trail was taken up next day By a lone dog that passed that way; And then a wise bell-wether sheep Pursued the trail o'er vale and steep, And drew the flock behind her, too, As good bell-wethers always do.
And from that day o'er hill and glade Through those old woods a path was made; And many men wound in and out, And dodged, and turned, and bent about, And uttered words of righteous wrath Because 'twas such a crooked path. But still they followed - do not laugh - The first migrations of that calf, And through this winding woodway stalked, Because he wabbled when he walked.
This forest path became a lane, That bent, and turned, and turned again. This crooked lane became a road Where many a poor horse, with his load, Toiled on beneath the burning sun, And traveled some three miles in one, And thus a century and a half, They trod in the footsteps of that calf."
- SAM WALTER FOSS.
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The early roads were located without the least re- gard to straight lines, for there were many swamps which had to be avoided ; consequently, the bridle paths that wound about on the higher ground-marked by blazed trees-through the deep shade of the dense for- est became the pioneer roads, and are in many instances even yet followed in their zigzag windings. The first road to be located through this township was what is now called the Columbus and Lancaster pike, via Groveport and Lithopolis. "At a session of the asso- ciate judges of Franklin county, held on September 8th, 1803, the following action was taken, on the prayer of a petition signed by a number of citizens of this county, praying for a view of a road leading from the public square in Franklinton, out of said town on the Pickaway road, thence the nearest and best way to Lancaster, in Fairfield county, until it intersects the line between the counties aforesaid. Ordered that the prayer be granted and that John Brickell, Joseph Dickson and Joseph Hunter be appointed viewers of said road. It is fur- ther ordered that Joseph Vance be appointed surveyor to attend said viewers, and that he make a survey and report thereof to our next January term." Martin fur- ther says: "This road was made to cross the Scioto at the old ford below the canal dam and pass through the bottom fields (then woods), to intersect what is now the Chillicothe road ( Parsons avenue) south of Sew- art's Grove." A number of years later-through the influence of Edward Courtright, John Chaney, Joseph Wright and others-the old State road from Columbus to Winchester was located. The first bridge across Big Walnut on the line of this road was built of logs in about 1821; the floor "plank" was made of logs 8 inches thick, hewed on top and bottom sides; it stood
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until about 1829, when the ice broke up on the creek and took it down with a great crash, the noise of which could be heard three or four miles away. The bed of Big Walnut creek was then along the bank, within one hundred yards of McGuffey's house. Not much that is complimentary can be said of the first fifty years of road-making in the township. As soon as the rainy weather would set in the roads would become next to impassable and remain so until late in the following spring ; then there were scarcely any bridges, so travel, except on horseback or afoot, was almost entirely sus- pended. A four or six-horse team and a "prairie schooner." as the old Pennsylvania wagons were often called, stuck in the mud was a familiar sight and caused many a pioneer driver to give vent to expres- sions not found in his prayer-book. Many different plans and methods were employed, but the limited means at hand prevented anything permanent being accomplished. Often the residents in a neighborhood would turn out and make a corduroy road through a swamp or put up a temporary bridge of logs.
The writer has before him a four-page pamphlet, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Columbus, Win- chester, Jefferson and Carroll Road Company," and the following quotations will fully explain its object : "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That (Dr.) M. Z. Kreider (Lancaster), Jacob Claypool, Geo. W. Meason (lived where Dressback Drum now lives), Wm. F. Breck (General Stone in Carroll), Oliver Tong (Carroll), John Chaney, (Dr.) Wm. W. Talbott (Jefferson), Barnhart Fellows (tav- ern in Jefferson), (Dr.) J. B. Potter, Henry Eply, David Dixon, Reuben Dove and Samuel Taylor of Fairfield county and Geo. T. Wheeler, Zenas Collins,
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Daniel Riskad, James Suddick, Edward Courtright (on McGuffey farm), Daniel Handly, Alex. Mooberry (East Main street, Columbus), Geo. White (just west 'of where N. & W. R. R. crosses Livingston avenue), (Dr.) Geo. Frankenberg (on Livingston avenue), of the county of Franklin and their associates, be and are hereby created a body corporate, by the name of the Columbus, Winchester, Jefferson and Carroll Road . 'Company, for the purpose of constructing a graded road from Columbus via Winchester, Jefferson and Carroll to Tallman's ( Hooker's) in Fairfield county. The capital stock shall be $10,000 in shares of $5 each. * Said road shall be constructed as nearly on the ground now occupied by the State road leading from Columbus via Winchester to Jefferson as convenience and the nature of the ground will permit ; and thence by Carroll to Tallman's, as nearly as pos- sible, upon the ground now occupied by the present roads between these points. * * That said com- pany shall not at any time cause tollgates to be erected on said road, nor exact tolls or contributions from trav- elers thereon. * This act shall not become for- feited for non-user within the space of four years. Passed March 25th, 1841." On February 28th, 1845, by "act" of the General Assembly, the time of forfeit- ure was extended four more years. By 1850 this road was graded and bridges with wooden abutments had been erected. The State road was followed from Co- lumbus to a point between Jefferson and Carroll ( Als- pach's Corner) ; the State road was then open on past Jesse Brandt's, and at its intersection with the road from Betser's church and from Smaltz's church was called Five Points.
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Columbus and Groveport Pike.
On March 19, 1849, an "act" was passed incorpor- ating The Columbus and Groveport Turnpike Com- pany, to construct a turnpike road from Columbus to Groveport, with the privilege of extending it. The capital stock was not to exceed $20,000, in shares of $25 each.
The incorporators mentioned in the act are: Wm. Harrison, Nathaniel Marion, Wm. H. Rarey, William Darnell, Edmund Stewart, Wm. W. Kile and their as- sociates.
The organization was effected in April, 1849, when John Sharp was elected President; John Cox, Secre- tary; Jacob Weaver, Treasurer, and Wm. W. Kile, William Merion, Samuel McClelland, and perhaps others, Directors. John Cox was the surveyor, John Sharp, superintendent, and order number one was for $3 in favor of Moses Seymour for four days' labor as chainman, issued under date of September 15, 1849.
The grading and graveling was divided into sec- tions and the following were among the contractors : Peter Marx, John Swisher, Jr., T. J. Bennett, Patrick McGuire and Luther Stafford. David Sarber repaired the bridge across Big Walnut, and Gidion Vandemark built a toll-house. In January, 1851, Wm. W. Kile was president.
Stock certificates to the amount of $14,400 were issued; it is said that the pike cost somewhat more than was subscribed, but that this amount was soon paid out of the earnings of the road. Stock certificate number one was issued to Wm. W. Kile for four shares, under date of October 9, 1851. Other certifi- cates were issued, on various dates, on up to January
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10, 1853, to the following persons: Jacob Weaver, 8 shares ; Lewis Hoster, 2; Joseph Schneider, 3; Jacob Strickler, 4; Thomas F. Jones, 2; Peter Shaffer, I ; Jacob Nafzger, 6; John H. Earhart, 4; Edmund Stew- art, 4; Amor Rees, 8; John Bachman, 8; Chas. Obetz, 8; Edminson Earhart, 4; Wm. Merion, 8; John Case, 4; Moses Seymour, 4; Harmon Dildine, 20; Conrad Born, 7; Jacob E. Baylor, 2; James Bayley, 2; Lincoln Goodale, 8; Oliver P. Hines, 3; Jacob Hare, 4; Charles Scott, 4; Ridgeway & Co., 12; R. W. McCoy, 10; John Swisher, 8; Abram Sharp, 8; Wesley Toy, 4; Samuel Parsons, 14; Cyrus Fay, 7; Dwight Stone, 7; Lincoln. Kilbourne, 6; Jacob Arnold, 8; G. Horiger, I ; Nicho- las Maurer, 8; Lewis Shirey, 2; Gares & Taylor, 4; Abram Shoemaker, 4; James D. Osborn, 8; John Sharp, Jr., heirs, 8;'Alfred P. Stone, 4; Wm. A. Platt, 4; John Yenner, 2; Wm. Jones, 2; Thomas & Starling, 2; John L. McElvaine, 2; Philip Baker, 2; David Spade, 2; Thomas Moodie, 12; Jacob Anderick, 20; Samuel E. Kile, 4; Samuel Sharp, 26; Wm. Toy, 18; Joseph P. Bywaters, 8; Daniel Eswine, 4; Elias John- son, 4; Wm. Riley, 4; James R. Paul, 16; Charles Pon- tius, 32; Benjamin W. Townsend, 8; Jeremiah Clark, 4; John W. Baker, 4; Dwight Stone & Co., 12; Joseph Rodenfels, 2; George Machold, 4; Wm. H. Rarey, 20; Frederick Swisher, 8; George Kanamaker, 2; C. J. Stevenson, 4; Lorenzo Porter, 4; John Stirling, 2; Abram Sharp, 18; Philo B. Watkins, 4; Jacob Stimmel, Jr., 4; John Sharp, 22; Rollin Moler, 4; Jacob Shultz, 4; Ann Katharine Rarey, 24; John Ostott, 2; Wm. Merion, 2; Lewis Mills, 4, and Eli Gynne, 20.
The stock soon became valuable as an investment and gradually drifted into the hands of Columbus capi- talists. Semi-annual dividends at the rate of 6 per cent.
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were paid in May and November on up to 1881 ; from 1882 to 1885, 4 per cent., and in 1893, 52 per cent. was paid the stockholders.
The treasurer's statement in 1875 shows the follow- ing receipts and expenditures : Receipts, Gate No. 1, $1,166.50; Gate No. 2, $706.30; a total of $1,872.80; paid to stockholders, $864.00; taxes, $68.50; rent to A. Sharp, $6.00 ; J. Stotzenberger, $128.00; directors' ex- penses, $25.00; repairs, $246.70; gate-keepers, $432.00; balance in treasury, $50.00.
The gate-keepers were paid $18 per month. Joan Geary kept gate No. 2 for many years-1869 to Feb- ruary, 1887, when she was succeeded by Jack Thomp- son. D. Palsgrove kept gate No. 1 from 1869 to April 1, 1871, and was succeeded by Josiah Brink, who con- tinued to keep it for many years. The last gate-keepers were Jack Thomas, gate No. 1 ; James Gisler, gate No. 2, and Henry Batzeson, gate No. 3.
Wm. Merion was treasurer for many years and was succeeded by Washington S. Johnson on Jan. 1, 1887.
On March 23, 1887, the affairs of the stockholders was put into the hands of a receiver and Washington S. Johnson was appointed receiver. In the spring of 1890 a proposition that Franklin county purchase the toll roads in the county was submitted to the voters. The vote on this proposition in Madison township was : Groveport precinct, yes 6, no 390; Winchester pre- cinct, yes 30, no 242.
Mr. Johnson continued to operate the turnpike as a toll road, expending all the receipts in expenses and improvements until November 2, 1897, when the bridge over Big Walnut was burnt. Some time after the commissioners of Franklin county paid the stock- holders one thousand dollars for the improvement and
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the stockholders transferred their interests to the county. The substantial new iron bridge was erected in 1898 at a cost of $25,905.00.
Groveport, Winchester and Lancaster Pike.
In the spring of 1863 subscription lists were circu- lated to build this turnpike from Groveport to Hook- er's. The following is a list of the subscribers and the numbers of shares, twenty-five dollars constituting a share. Groveport list : John Rager, 20 shares ; Jacob Arnold, 4; Dr. H. L. Chaney, 4; Dr. G. L. Smith, 5; Samuel Sharp, 4; Moses Seymour, 10; Andrew Wil- son, 8; B. C. Sims, 2; R. F. Dildine, 1 ; C. E. Sey- mour, 8; H. C. Mason, 2; John S. Rarey, 8; Phil C. Tussing, 4; Moses Zinn, 4; Abraham Sharp, 4; Ruth Seymour, 4; Adam Smith, 4; Jackson Smith, 3; H. Hendren, 2; S. O. Hendren, 1; Wm. Mason, I ; John Smith, 2; G. S. Dildine, I. Winchester list: John Chaney, 40 shares ; John Helpman, 12; Samuel Bartlit, 12; O. P. Chaney & Bro. (E. K.), 24; E. B. Decker, 12; R. Trine, 8; M. Allen, 8; John R. Wright, 8; M. C. Whitehurst, 8; C. W. Speaks, 4; David Gayman, 4; S. W. Dildine, 4; G. M. B. Dove, 4; J. W. Hische, 2; A. Hathaway, 4; C. Gayman, 6; Daniel Gayman, 4; H. W. Shaffer, 4; Henry Will, I; L. T. Carson, I ; Henry Harpst, 1; J. T. Flinchbaugh, 1 ; C. B. Cannon, I; Wm. P. Miller, 1; Jacob Dauterman, I ; John M. Schoch, 6; Daniel Bergstresser, 2; Elijah Dove, 8; Rev. James Heffly, 2; I. L. Decker, 4; Dr. A. A. Short, 8; James McKelvey, 2; John Miller, I; Geo. Derr, 2; Jacob Carty, 8; Dr. G. W. Blake, 3; John Kissel, I ; H. J. Epply, 2; A. M. Selby, 1 ; John Gehm, 3; Jacob Zarbaugh, 2; Jacob Harbaugh, 1; Peter Weber, I ; E. H. Walden, 2; W. J. Meeker, 4; John Kramer, 4; Chas.
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Brown, Sr., 4; Wm. Cater, I; Amon Algire, 4; John Schrock, 4; Samuel Deitz, 4; Daniel Foor, 4; Sylves- ter Foor, 4; M. & C. C. Schrock, 4; Peter E. Ehren- hart, 2; Jacob Bott, 4; Jacob Sarber, 2; Geo. Powell, 2; D. C. Sarber, 2; James H. Somerville, 2; John G. Brunner, 4; M. G. Stevenson, 4; Frank Armpreister, 4; John Robinson, 4; Henry Zarbaugh, 1 ; Jacob Bren- ner, 12; John Armpriester, 1 ; Wm. Leight, 4; Henry Fictore, 4; Geo. Loucks, 16, and Ervin Moore, 4.
There were subscription lists at Jefferson, Carroll, Meason's and Lancaster, in all $17,750.00 was sub- scribed. The officers were: John Chaney, president ; E. E. Meason, secretary ; John Helpman, treasurer. After Mr. Meason's death August Shearer was elected secretary. John Robinson was the contractor. A toll- gate was established at Winchester, and Jacob Zar- baugh, Sr., appointed gate-keeper. He lived on lot No. 32, where Mrs. Sarber now lives. A building, for- merly used as an office by John Helpman, when his lumber yard was still on the south side of the canal, and which stood on lot No. I, was moved along the pike just in front of Mr. Zarbaugh's house and served as a toll-house. Later this building was removed across the creek; the roof was removed to allow it to go through the bridge; later, Ervin Moore purchased it, together with the toll-house that was erected at the in- tersection of the pike and the Lithopolis road and re- moved them about one-ofurth mile further east, where they still remain. Other gate-keepers were Geo. Hott and Mrs. Red. A gate was established at the Empire Mills and Granville Derr and John A. Wilson were the keepers. Mrs. Frances Sarber served as gate-keeper for many years at the Groveport gate. The first bridge on this road across Little Walnut creek had an abut-
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ment in the middle of the creek and consisted of only heavy stringers and floor. The present bridge was erected in the early fifties. The levee at the Winches- ter bridge was built in the spring of 1896 and the stone dressing was put on in the following fall.
Columbus and Winchester Pike.
The Columbus and Winchester Turnpike was built in 1865. The following is a list of subscriptions, viz : John Butler, $200; E. Ergdon, $100; A. Gray, $200; Wm. Bulen, $500; John Swisher, $400; Thomas Nee- dels, $500; Wm. Whims, $300; J. S. Stevenson $200; David Martin, $200; Geo. T. Wheeler, $100; Samuel Detwiler, $200; Jacob Bowman $200; Thomas Gray, $300; Abraham Lehman, $750; J. B. Potter, $300; George Needels, $250; P. Gray, $200; Geo. W. Nee- dels, $250; James H. Marshall, $100; John Heil, $100; Bennett Thompson, $100; Sylvester P. Stevenson, $100; Wm. D. Needles, $100; W. S. Clymer, $100; Samuel G. Carson, $100; James Needles, $100; Henry Wenger, $100; Jacob Bott, $50; Samuel Wheeler, $100; Peter Bott, $100; Samuel Ferguson, $100; J. J. Shearer, $50; John Schrock, $100; Charles Brown, $100; Whitehurst & Carty, $300; Tallman, Steven- son & Co., $300; Amon Allgire, $100; D. & C. Gay- man, $50; Daniel Bergstresser, $50; O. J. Brown, $100.
The road was operated as a toll road until 1888, when it was turned over to the county commissioners, and the toll-gates were removed.
The photograph of the wrecked bridge that spanned Big Walnut on the Columbus and Winchester pike was taken on March 23d, 1898, the next day after it was washed from its abutments. It was built in 1850 or '51 by David Sarber and George Meyers. John G.
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McGuffey, Esq., says "Up to 1853 all the water in Big Walnut came along south of the road as now located, up to the foot of the hill on which father's old house stands and then ran south fifty or sixty rods, and then bore west until it passed the west line of my grand- father Courtright's farm; in 1853 or '54 it began to wash a channel where it now runs.
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The present bridge was built in 1899, and cost $28,598.00. For several months, during the spring and summer of 1898 while the bridges on both the Grove- port and Winchester pikes were out, travel was very much inconvenienced, except at such time when the water was at a low stage, when a ford was used near the Groveport pike bridge and another about half mile north of the Winchester pike along the road through the land of Samuel Brown.
Walnut Creek and Groveport Pike.
This road was built as a free pike by taxation-one mile limit. Chas. Pontius Sr., Thomas Fagan and Charles Rohr were the directors; it was built in 1882 at a cost of about $2,100 per mile and extends from Groveport to the south township line a point just west of the Hopewell Church.
Union Grove Cemetery Road.
In the spring of 1892, Hon. B. F. Gayman, a mem- ber of the Legislature, introduced a "Bill" which be- came a law March 3d, 1892, authorizing the commis- sioners of Frankin county, to levy a tax and build a road from Winchester to Union Grove Cemetery, "at an aggregate sum not to exceed ten thousand ($10,000) dollars." The contract for its construction was. awarded to Michael Corbett, of Groveport. Work on
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BIG WALNUT BRIDGE ON WINCHESTER PIKE.
Built about 1850, Wrecked 11 A. M., March 23, 1898. Camera located 200 yards south of West Abutment.
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its construction was begun in the following September and it was completed in November of the same year, at a cost slightly exceeding the appropriation. The four- foot brick walk along the stone curb called for in the original specification had to be omitted in order to keep within the limit of the appropriation. Mr. Gayman's bill contains a very wise provision for keeping this road in repair: "And for keeping said road, side-walk and curbing in good repair, said commissioners shall, when necessary, levy a tax not to exceed one-fortieth of a mill, on said taxable property of said county."
Within the last few years, through the discussions at Farmers' Institutes, and at the Grange, and the in- troduction of the bicycle, a new era of road-making has appeared. Now there is a commendable rivalry between road districts and even between townships and counties, to build the most durable and sightly bridges and road beds.
16 H M T.
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CHAPTER XVII.
COACH AND MAIL LINES.
"Spinsters fair and forty,
Maids in youthful charms ..
Suddenly are cast in - To their neighbor's arms! Chidren shoot like squirrels
Darting through a cage ;
Is'nt it delightful,
Riding in a stage."
- OHIO STATESMAN.
The nearest post-offices for the first few years were Franklinton and New Lancaster. Whoever went to Franklinton -- where most of the settlers of this town- ship got their mail-would get the mail for his whole neighborhood. During the winter when the streams were swollen it was often several weeks before any one could go.
The first post-road through Madison township was established in 1814. Hon. James Kilbourne, then Con- gressman from the Fifth Ohio District published a cir- circular under date of September 8, 1814, announcing, among others, the establishment of a post-route "from Athens, by New Lancaster, to Columbus," The cir- cular does not state, but very likely the mail was not carried oftener than once a week. In 1822 the mail was carried three times each week, arriving in Colum- bus, on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and leaving every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These
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early mails were carried on horseback, the post-boy usually tieing his letters up in his handkerchief, and when delivered to the post-master were carried about in his hat to be handed to their owners as he chanced to meet them,-a primitive free delivery as it were.
The post-man - whether a footman, horseman, stage coach driver, and we might include the modern railway conductor, has always attracted a crowd, "who hungrily devour and retail the budget of gossip brought from the outside world." The post-man car- ried a tin horn which he blew on his approach to the post-station ; this custom was continued by the coach driver and is continued by the steam whistle of the locomotive. It is said some of the mail carriers could blow very musically sounding tunes on their tin horns ; each particular post-man could be distinguished, as the small boy can now tell the number or name of the locomotive, by its whistle.
For many years there was no regularity in the ar- rival of the mails; they were sometimes, especially in the winter, two or three weeks late. To satisfy a de- mand for the more certain and speedy transmission of important messages the Express-post was established ; this system provided that horses be stationed every ten miles. The post-boy who carried the letters in a bag or valise thrown over his shoulders, was required to make the ten miles in one hour, It took but a moment to dismount and remount at the different stations. Let- ters carried by express-post cost from two to four times the usual postage.
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