USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > The first century of Piqua, Ohio > Part 13
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After the era of water transportation became dormant, Conover was elected trustee and bankman for the City Water Works, and in this latter position labored until his age compelled him to resign. Although 94 years old, (1913), he still has a very retentive memory.
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THE LAST CANAL-BOAT THROUGH PIQUA AND ADAM CONOVER, PIONEER BOATMAN
A great many of the boats named in the following list came from he Ohio canal, coming down the Ohio river, and then locking into the [iami canal at Cincinnati. Previous to 1844, when the northern exten- ion of the canal was completed, the boats came only to Piqua. After at date many of them ran through to Lake Erie.
ame of Boat.
Owner.
Captain.
Style.
Approximate Date of First Appearance.
larion
Owens
Owens
Packet. ... 1837
anger
.Owens
Brockway
Packet .... 1837
isitor
.Owens
Mahon
Packet. ... 1837
migrant.
VanNess
Whisler
Freight ... 1837
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144
FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
Name of Boat Owner
Captain
Style
Approximate Date of First Appearance.
Col. Young
Howe
Freight ... 1837
Exchange.
VanNess
Clark
Freight ... 1838
Reliance.
Jonas Ward . .. Freight ... 1838
Independence
Skinner Freight ... 1839
Ocean . Clark & Young. . Cady Freight ... 1839
Mechanic Johnston & Kirk .. . Johnston.
Freight ... 1839
Splendid
. Wagoner. Freight ... 1839
Globe
. Montgomery. .. Freight ... 1839
Black Snake
Sidney . Freight ... 1839
Swan.
Jordan
Jordan
. Freight ... 1840
Eagle
Freight ... 1840
Ben Franklin
Tillton. Freight ... 1840
Gov. Vance
Culbertson Freight ... 1841
Great Western Prescott
Prescott Freight ... 1843
Monticello
Bennett. Freight ... 1843
Marshal
Barton Freight. .. 1844
Napoleon
Pilliod
Freight ... 1844
Jenner
Freight ... 1844
Fashion
Taylor
Packet .... 1844
O'Linda
Freight ... 1844
President
Pilliod. Freight ... 1846
Olander
Pilliod. Freight ... 1846
Piqua
Conners Freight ... 1847
Lexington Lawton & Barnett. Whitenellis
. Freight ... 1848
Yorktown Lawton & Barnett. Bill Barton. . Freight ... 1848
Wm. Penn Lawton & Barnett. Ed. Barton. ... Freight ... 1848
Wave of Dayton
. Nels. French .. Freight ... 1848
Erie. . Doyle & Dickey . Bill Downs .... Packet .... 1850
Arrow. Doyle & Dickey. ... Ad. Conover. .. Packet ... . 1855
Laurel. Doyle & Dickey. .Snavely.
Packet .... 1855
Columbia
Freight ... 1856
Cunader
Freight ... 1858
Lady Jane
Wood. . . . 1859
Miami. Rodgers & Ruple .. . John King Freight. .. 1860
Senator . Rodgers & Ruple .. . Buckner Freight ... 1860 White Hall Rodgers & Ruple .. . J. Mc Williams . Freight. . . 1860 Rodgers Rodgers & Ruple .. . B. McWilliams. Freight. .. 1861
T. J. Lawton Lawton & Barnett. Sam. Barr. .Freight. .. 1845
Kirk Lawton & Barnett.
Freight ... 1845
West Wind
Freight ... 1845
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MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
Approximate
Date of First
Name of Boat. Owner.
Captain.
Style. Appearance.
Hope
John Butler
Butler
Freight ... 1851
Sally Gale
Freight ... 1851
Owens
Philips
Wood. 1855
Virginia J. Haneman
Haneman Wood. 1855
Miami Valley John Butler
Butler
Freight ... 1860
Jerry Furrow H. Clark
Luce Mercer. . . Stone. ... 1885
Harry Clark H. Clark
. Frank Mercer .. Stone. . .. .
1885
Adolph Wood
Bill Lynn. . Freight. 1887
Belle of St. Marys.
Worrall Wood 1887
D. C. Statler Statler Evans
Stone. 1888
Niagara
Freight ... 1889
Amazon of Troy.
Freight ... 1870
Hopkins . Jarvis
Hager
. Ice. 1875
Rapid Transit. Morris Barr Barr Freight ... 1893
Golden Era
Freight ...
Primrose
. Freight. ..
T. Tilton
Freight ...
Effort
Freight ...
Packet. ... 1880
Ben Lefevre. . To ply between Troy and Piqua
J. C. Evans State Jerry Crowley. Repair B't. 1881
Pocahontas Freight ... 1881
D. Handle Handle Factory
Freight ... 1882
Bolander Bolander Steam Ft. 1883
Lancaster
Wm. Lynn
. Lynn
Freight ... 1884
P. A. Williamson . Mercer
. Freight ... 1884
Idaho
Manning Freight ... 1887
John O'Conner
State . McConnel Repair B't. 1887
1. S. Brice.
W. P. Orr
Grain B't. 1891
'ity of Dayton ..
.
Steam B't. 1899
A small packet called The Gipsy Queen of Dayton, and owned by members of that tribe, was sunk near the mouth of Swift Run creek about 1876.
On Oct. 25, 1887, two all-iron canal boats tied up in Piqua. They vere the Monitor and Ajax, Capt. Wm. White, of Lockland. They were ntended for carrying oil from the fields at St. Marys and Lima to south- ern points.
The Piqua Belle, a small steam launch, was built by Shudy and Everly for John Dial in 1890.
The first captain of the state (repair) boat was John Conover, who lied about 1840. The next was Bob Quinn; then Ed. MeConnel; then
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FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
Jerry Crowley ; and then Ed. McConnel, who has held that position ever since.
Jerry Furrow was the old line Master from the feeder lock at the state dam to the feeder lock below Troy, and afterward to Dayton. He always rode the tow-path in a buggy on his inspection trips.
In the high waters of 1847, the canal-boat "Wave" went over the waste-way at Swift Run. Capt. Lawton, Ad. Conover, and two others took it down the river to where there was a break in the bank at Wiley's tan-yard, where it was hauled back into the canal.
The DeCamp Statler, owned by the Statler Quarries, was probably the last large boat, except the state boat, to run through Piqua.
In 1892-3 there was great talk of converting the old channel into a ship canal, but up to the present it remains a little older, a little shal- lower, and much more dilapidated than at any time in its historical past.
God-bye old boats, and the old captains, too; Not a pond or grave-yard, but hides you two.
Your days were long, and your work was hard, But the railroads wrecked you, and your old pard ;- The Canal.
PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND CITY WATER WORKS.
The first action toward having a water works system in Piqua was on July 3, 1855, when council ordered the city engineer to ascertain the capacity of a spring in the new railroad cut west of town. The propo- sition was to have an "over-head" system of pipes, and thus obtain the necessary pressure, but from some cause unknown the matter never passed this point.
On Aug. 15, 1856, a petition was presented by the Miami Hydraulic & Manufacturing Co. asking council to authorize a vote to be taken, for or against, the issue of the said company, of $25,000 of city bonds to aic them in the construction of their hydraulic works. This proposition was also turned down, and it was not until Nov. 16, 1865, that the matter of a water supply was taken up seriously.
On that date a citizen's meeting was held in the city hall, with W D. Alexander as chairman, and A. G. Conover, secretary, for the pur pose of taking steps to procure subscriptions and organize a company to build a hydraulic canal from Lockington to this city.
On a motion by Col. Moody, it was resolved that such an undertaking was a public necessity, and a committee was appointed consisting of Wm
MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
147
J. Jackson, A. G. Conover, Wm. Megrue, Dr. G. V. Dorsey, and John O'Ferrall, to confer with the state board of public works, with a view of procuring a grant for water from the Miami and Erie canal. On Feb. 16, 1866, the state board agreed to furnish the Hydraulic Co. all the water wanted, provided it did not interfere with the navigation of the canal or existing leases, or the ten-stone power promised to parties at Bremen. For each mill-stone power, (300 cu. ft. per minute on an over-shot wheel ten and one-half feet in diameter), the Hydraulic Com- pany shall pay $65 per year, four stone-powers to be paid in two years, six additional stone-powers in three years, ten more in four years, and
View at Swift Run Lake
Visus at Swift Run Lake
Two MILES FROM
PiQUA
SCENE ON PIQUA HYDRALIC
venty more or less, in six years, the state board not responsible for ilure to supply in case of accident to the Miami and Erie canal. The ate also gave one acre of ground at Lockington for a basin.
On Dec. 12, 1865, a state charter was granted to a joint stock com- my consisting of John O'Ferrall, A. G. Conover, Wm. J. Jackson, Wm. egrue, G. V. Dorsey, Wm. M. Garvey, S. S. Mckinney, J. D. Holtzer- an, C. S. Parker, and M. H. Jones, to be known as the Piqua Hydraulic ompany, the capital stock to be $100,000 in shares of $50 each.
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FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
At the first meeting of the stockholders on Feb. 26, 1866, Dr. Dorsey was elected president and A. G. Conover secretary, and stock-books were opened at the two banks for subscriptions to the stock.
On May 21, 1866, 10 per cent of the stock having been subscribed, a meeting was held to elect seven directors, resulting in the following organization : President, G. V. Dorsey ; Secretary, A. G. Conover ; Treas- urer, J. D. Holtzerman ; directors-G. V. Dorsey, Stephen Johnston, A. G. Conover, J. F. Mckinney, John O'Ferrall, W. J. Jackson, and J. D. Holtzerman. Conover was also elected engineer of the company.
As the city council had taken up the matter of a city water supply, the Hydraulic Company made them the following proposition : That the company would furnish water to the city for the extinguishment of fires watering the streets, and supplying the inhabitants with water for pri vate use, at an elevation of at least 44 feet above the canal level below the lock near Water street, for the sum of $50,000 in bonds of said city and for a further consideration of $15,000 the company agrees to build that part of their canal in the west and southwest part of town so as to furnish ample drainage for all contiguous territory.
The city accepted this proposition and the company proceeded te survey and procure the right-of-way for the proposed work. Many ol stacles were encountered in this preliminary work, and it was not unti Dec., 1868, that the board of directors advertised for bids on the cou struction.
Dr. Dorsey had resigned in April, 1868, and Stephen Johnston wa elected president in his place.
The bids received for the entire work were satisfactory, and in th spring of 1869 the construction of that part of the canal from Rock Branch to Swift Run was given to Boyle & Roach, who were to complet this work by March 1, 1870, but did not until late in the fall of that yea
Early in 1871 Major Johnston resigned from the presidency of tl company and J. F. Mckinney was elected in his place. On June 1 1871, the city council made the Hydraulic Company a proposition 1 buy said company's canal with all its assets and liabilities, to be use as a city water works.
This mater was taken up by both parties, but nothing satisfactor was agreed upon until in the spring of 1872, when the company findil itself unable to pay its contractors, finally agreed to the proposition.
On May 22, 1872, an ordinance was passed defining the terms up which the city was willing to take over and complete this water syster and was accepted by the company, the contractors agreeing to take ci
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MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
bonds in payment for work not settled for, and also for the amount nec- essary to finish the said canal.
The work up to this time had been completed from Rocky Branch to the north side of Swift Run, the Hydraulic Company having expended $105,367.75, and Conover's estimate on the part finished and that to be done from Swift Run to Lockington was $205,661.55. There was about $25,000 yet unpaid, so this defict was taken over by the city in their contract with the company.
The principal contractors on this work were: Boyle & Roach, dig- ging channel from Rocky Branch to Swift Run; Bivans & Gallaher, from Swift Run to Lockington ; Lawder & Johnston, bridges and culverts ; and Hamilton, Statler, and Kitchen, stone-work.
On June 15, 1872, council elected Wm. Scott, Wm. Johnston, and Stephen Johnston trustees of the city water works. This board pro- 'eeded at once to get the work on the canal going again, and as the bank it Swift Run had been washed out early that spring, Bivans & Gallaher commenced refilling the break, and also started a force of men on the ·hannel north.
At the spring election of 1873, Harvey Clark was chosen as member of the water works board for three years, to take the place of Wm. Scott. whose time had expired. Nothing of importance occurred during the ollowing year and the work went on rather slowly.
At the April election of 1874, when W. N. Kendall took his seat on he board, Stephen Johnston was made president and Kendall secretary.
March 17, 1874, the bank at Swift Run was again washed out, this ime taking out the tumbles, and also Hathaway's barn and the bridge n the St. Mary's pike. The contract for repairing this break was given ) D. C. Statler & Co., July 25, 1874. This work, begun by Statler, was ompleted by Wm. Johnston and Jas. Noland, as was the repair work n other tumbles and bridges along the line. Hamilton, and Statler & o., had the building of the abuttments for the aqueduct at Loramie eek. Jas. Noland did the work on the catch-basin at Lockington. he aqueduct was built by Lawder & Johnston, Bolander furnishing the umber.
The new member of the board elected in April, 1875, was D. A. Mit- ell, and Harvey Clark was made president. Bids for furnishing and ying iron pipes for the city were received. The lowest bidder was R. Carothers of Newport, Ky., at $51.75 per ton, and he was given the tract at these figures on May 6, 1875. The contract for the hydrants id valves was given to R. D. Woods & Co., of Philadelphia, at $41 per
tak
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
hydrant. On June 7, 1875, F. A. Hardy was appointed secretary of the water works board. H. Harthan was appointed to represent the trus- tees as superintendent in laying the pipes and placing hydrants.
Capt. W. J. Downs had the contract for excavating tail-race at Rocky Branch. The bid of the Bergennes Machine Co., July 15, 1875 for a Flanders double-acting two-cylinder pump for $6,000 was accepted Excavation for the pump-house was done by Mike Keelan for $251.68 Bids for pump-house were awarded Aug. 20, 1875. Stone-work, materia and labor to Harris C. Hardy for $1,366.40. Brick-work, painting, glaz ing, material and labor to A. A. McCandliss for $2,275. McCandliss als built the intake pipe, of two and one-half inch pine, twenty inches ij diameter, at $1 per foot. John Bains was given order for two turbin water-wheels, one 24-inch and one 48-inch. He also built the pen-stock fore-bay, and gates. His entire bill, including the wheels, was $2,243.3( Samuel Robinson was appointed care-taker of the pump-house, Feb. 1! 1876. The new board of 1876 were August Thoma, D. A. Mitchell, an Simeon Shephard, with F. A. Hardy as clerk.
The formal opening of the Piqua water works was held on June 1 1876. The order of exercises was as follows:
Formation and march of fire companies to Public Squar Formal reception of guests. Address by Hon. J. F. Mckinney. Display of water by fire companies. March to the pump house. Visit to Fountain park.
Early in the morning the military and fire companies were asti and the citizens were busy putting up flags and decorations. Gues from Dayton, Richmond, Ft. Wayne, Sidney, Logansport, Covington al other points arrived on every train. Soon after dinner the firemen al militia, headed by brass bands, marched from their respective hea quarters to the Public Square, where Hon. J. F. Mckinney gave a bri address, including the history of the building of the hydraulic and wat system. Just as he had finished the fire-bell tapped, and in an insta eight streams of water were being thrown over the highest buildings Main street, and incidentally sprinkling a portion of the crowd.
After the successful demonstration by the fire companies, the sign was given, and march taken to the pump-house, where Mr. Robins! showed the visitors the handsome pumping machinery. From here ma' went to Fountain park to see the races, and as the day closed, anotl mile-stone in the industrial history of Piqua had been passed.
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MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
L. C. Cron, mayor of Huntersville, made a proposition that the water works board furnish that village free water for five years on condition that the village put in their own water pipes and make the connection to the city lines. This was accepted on June 2, 1879, and the work was soon afterward completed.
On Sept. 27, 1884, the bank at Swift Run was again washed out, this time several hundred feet south of the tumbles. This break was repaired by Capt. W. J. Downs, under the supervision of Leopold Kiefer.
In 1888, a double line of 30-inch iron pipes, in the form of an in- verted siphon, was put across the Loramie creek by Supt. Kiefer, taking the place of the old wooden aqueduct which had become badly decayed.
Very little outside of the routine work of the department occurred from this time until 1895-96, when the board commenced drilling test wells with a view to changing the water supply from "chocolate" to clear well-water.
In 1902, they decided to build a pumping station in connection with the Rossville wells, which were declared inexhaustible, but the citizens voted down the attempt, and the board compromised by building an auxiliary steam plant at the pump-house.
Those who have served on the water works board between 1877 and 1907 were: A. Thoma, D. A. Mitchell, E. B. Bowdle, Harvey Clark, V. R. Shipley, Jas. Noland, Leopold Kiefer, Ad. Conover, Howard Scudder, W. F. Robbins, Frank Steiner, Chas. Ashton, W. J. Downs, B. F. Lever- ing, F. E. Hunter, J. G. Hagin, and J. H. Clark.
Engineers at the pump house have been : Samuel Robinson, J. W. King, J. F. McKee, Jas. Stephenson, and Edw. Lines.
Bank men have been Adam Conover, Jas. Buckner, and Chas. F. Thomas.
PIQUA BRIDGES.
The first large bridge in Piqua, or in Miami county, was that one connecting this town with the village of Huntersville. This first bridge was built by popular subscription under the supervision of Charles Hil- liard in 1820.
It was of flimsy construction, with wooden piers and abuttments, he west end being supported on the stumps of several large sycamore rees which had been cut off at the right elevation. It extended from the ast end of Sycamore street in an angling direction to the west end of
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
the present east Main street, and took the place of the old ford just east of Manning's mill.
We read of it in the "Piqua Gazette" of April 26, 1821, as follows: NOTICE.
The Trustees of the Piqua Bridge request all good meaning citizens not to drive over said bridge faster than a walk, as great damage is done the bridge by trotting or galloping their horses and wagons over.
JOHN MCCORKLE, CHAS. HILLIARD, Jos. CALDWELL, THOMAS BELLAS,
Trustees.
OLD MIDDLE BRIDGE, BUILT IN 1838. (THE BOYS ARE HENRY AND BILL ESPY)
This bridge served the people for 12 years, and then being declared unsafe, was replaced by a heavier structure of the same type, but with stone abuttments, in 1832.
And this same year the first bridge across the river at the head o Main street was erected. It was built by the town and county unde the supervision of Joseph Johns, of Troy, and was of woooden arch typ though not covered.
Previous to this date John Keyt, Sr., had a foot-bridge across from the head of Wayne street to his saw-mill in Rossville, but teams an
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MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
horsemen had used the ford on the old Boggs road which led into town at the north end of Harrison street.
Early in 1838 a small bridge was built across "Oshasqua" (Musk- rat) creek near the Cold Springs hotel, on the Piqua and St. Marys state road, and also one across Rocky Branch south of town.
This same year a large wooden truss bridge was built across the river east of town on the Urbana and Greenville state road. It took the place of the old ford and ferry at that point. It is the open one pic- tured in Howe's History, and also the one which John Robinson's ele- phant broke through in 1846. This bridge and its successors have always borne the name "Middle Bridge."
The next year (1839) a new bridge was built at the north end of Main street, to replace the one built in 1832, which had become unsafe for travel.
It was a "subscription" bridge, the farmers of the vicinity donating the timber, and the citizens paying for its erection. It was of truss con- struction, the heavy timbers being cut from large poplar trees in the "Slashes" west of town, and hewed to 26 inches square in the woods, then hauled to the site of the bridge and split through the middle, thus making two stringers of each log, some of them being 68 feet long.
This bridge was all wood, even the piers and abuttments, the only iron used being the spikes in the floor, and they were so few that it was no uncommon occurrence for some one to drop through into the river by stepping on the end of a plank which had become jostled out of place. It was refloored in 1844 with 16,770 feet of hickory-elm plank at 78c per 100 feet.
This bridge, and also the "Piqua Bridge" at the end of Sycamore street, went down in the high waters of 1847.
Late in the year 1848 a new "Rossville" bridge, as it now came to be called, was completed. The new center pier and abuttments were of stone, and were raised several feet higher in order to conform more closely to the elevation of the high bridge over the canal, though it did not come up to that level.
It was soon afterward provided with a roof and siding, making of it a type so common a few years ago.
In 1853 a covered bridge of similar form was built across the river to Huntersville. The Columbus, Piqua & Indiana railroad had been given permission to use Sycamore street for their tracks, so this new bridge was located parallel to the railroad instead of diagonally across the river.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
We will not give an account of its formal dedication here, for that is so well described in Wm. Manning's reminiscences.
In 1867 a new covered bridge, with stone piers and abuttments, was erected in place of the first old "Middle Bridge" at the east end of Ash street. It was built by Deacon Gray, with A. G. Conover as architect.
The first large iron bridge in Piqua, made by the Columbia Bridge Co., of Dayton, and placed over the river at Bridge street, was opened for traffic Feb. 22, 1877.
The next, by the same company, was the "Huntersville" bridge, com- pleted in 1886. Then in 1889 the present steel "Rossville" bridge was finished.
And in 1895 the "Middle" bridge was replaced by a steel structure made by the Massilon Bridge Co., and is the one in use today.
The spring of 1898 witnessed the highest water in the Miami river on record up to that date. Many bridges were washed away, among them being the two west spans of the "Huntersville" bridge in Piqua. This occurred on March 23rd, and was caused by the canal bank being washed out, thus undermining the pier which had its foundation on the bank. A long span was then erected in place of the two shorter ones and the opening was celebrated on the evening of Aug. 30, 1898, by the ladies of Grace church giving an ice-cream supper on the bridge.
In 1910 the light iron bridge at Bridge street was replaced by a much heavier steel structure, and several feet taken off the top of the pier: and abuttments.
During the unprecedented flood of March, 1913, this bridge, and alsı the east span of the "Huntersville" bridge, were wrecked and scattered promiscuously down the bed of the river. Piles were driven and a tem porary structure erected at the latter point, but the lower bridge wa soon replaced by one somewhat higher and longer.
Soon after this great flood petitions were circulated and generall, signed by the residents of East Piqua to have a new bridge built on th site of the old one on East Main street. The change of sentiment re garding this location was brought about by the untiring efforts of a cit izen's committee headed by G. W. Lorimer, and it was decided to erec the bridge at Union street.
Mr. Lorimer spent much time and was at some expense in the can paign for this substantial concrete structure, and was no doubt please that the completed bridge is so nearly a duplicate of his original blu print.
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MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, PIQUA HYDRAULIC AND BRIDGES
It was his unselfish interest in this matter that brought about the unsolicited honor of having this bridge named for him by the unanimous vote of the county commissioners, who thus decided that its name should go down in history as the "Lorimer Bridge."
This brings the record of our river bridges up to date, except those of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., an account of which is found in our chapter on "Railroad History."
Of the canal and hydraulic bridges we have the data, but believe that more than is to be found in our civil history of the town, would not be interesting or important.
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THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
CHAPTER X.
RAILROADS, ELECTRIC LINES, PIQUA STREETS AND NEWSPAPERS
RAILROADS
THE PIQUA AND FORT WAYNE R. R.
T HE first railroad project to interest Piqua people was on Jan. 20, 1836, when a public meeting was held in the Piqua Seminary to hear the report of the several committees on the proposition of building a state road, or a wooden railroad, from Piqua, through St. Marys, to Ft. Wayne and Michigan City.
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