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390 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Ohio and the Vermillion & Ashland railroads have only left their scars
behind them, traced in long lines of trees felled and spiles driven along
their abandoned tracks through the forests.
Had the large; sums received and wasted along their whole lines been
expended in completing and putting the cars in motion over a part they
would have so far resulted in a success. As it was they ended in a total
loss to the state and to all involved in their reckless mismanagement.
The Monroeville & Sandusky City Railroad was wisely and successfully
managed, becoming afterwards the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad,
and now operated under lease by the Baltimore & Ohio Company.
Throughout its long history it has been of great benefit to the state at
large, and especially to this portion of it. The Lake Erie & Mad River
Railroad Avas also successfully completed and is now part of the line
extending from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
The most successful and useful of the present railway lines across the
Firelands are those which have been constructed without any Government
aid.
The following from the report of the secretary of state of Ohio, for
the year 1889, shows the mileage, including main tracks and sidings, or
railroads then operated within the limits of Huron and Erie counties,
their tax valuation and taxes paid by them.for that year:
ERIE COUNTY
Mileage Valuation Taxes
Baltimore & Ohio, L. E. Div 23.38 $238,044.00 $ 4.734.33
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.. 52.26 851.172.00 15.089.42
Lake Erie & Western 11.28 83.773.00 1.523.87
New York. Chicago & St. Louis.... 29.38 307,411.00 3,804.34
Wheeling & Lake Erie 11.53 80,550.00 1.407.50
Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland 17.22 160,100.00 3,723.54
Totals 145.05 $1,721,010.00 $30,283.00
The Monroeville & Sandusky City Railroad Company chartered
March 9, 1835, and the Mansfield & New Haven Railroad Company
chartered March 12, 1836. were united as the Mansfield & Sandusky
City Railroad Company, which consolidated with the Columbus & Lake
Erie Company (chartered March 12. 1845) on the 23d day of November.
1853. under the name of the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad
Company, which is still the legal owner of the right of way from Sandusky
to Newark, Ohio. On February 13. 1869. to evade the Ohio
statute against foreign railroads leasing Ohio railroads, the road was
leased to the Central Ohio Railroad Company, the rent being guaranteed
by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, which is the oAvner of substantially
all the stock of the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad
Company. When operated as a horse railroad the rails were made of
hardwood, and the road ran through Franklin Street, Avith a depot in