Kentucky, which was one of the leading States in the Union in those days
in all progressive movements, was wide awake to the great advantages to
be gained by railroad transportation. And Lexington, which seems to have
been the "self-starter" of Kentucky, was aroused to the highest pitch of
excitement. The various "performances" of the English railroads were
published at length in the Kentucky Gazette, and the Observer and
Reporter. Lexington was the very heart of the great Blue Grass region of
Kentucky. The amazing richness of the soil had lured the first settlers
from the safety of their transmontane homes to the hardships of Indian
fighting and primitive living. Here they had built an ideal city adorned
with beautiful Colonial homes; established the first great seat of
learning west of the Alleghanies; built the first insane asylum; started
the first newspaper; established the first public library, and
surrounded by culture, wealth and refinement, with every want seemingly
supplied and every wish apparently gratified, their business men
declared there was yet one thing lacking--they needed an outlet to some
great water course. The town branch was beautiful to look upon and a
never-failing delight to those first inhabitants but useless for
navigation. Their bountiful crops demanded transportation to the markets
of the world. And now, like a miracle to solve their difficulties came
this railroad proposition. They read the local papers with interest,
discussed the question at public meetings, sent a man to England to
obtain all available information concerning it, and with a push and
energy which would startle the town today, they set to work to obtain a
charter from the Kentucky Legislature, then in its session of 1829-30,
asking for a railroad from Lexington, Kentucky, _to some point_ on the
Ohio River.
* * * * *
The Reporter for February 3rd, 1830, _just one week_ after the Charter
was obtained, had the following article: "As considerable interest has
been excited in this community on the subject of Railroads by the Act of
the Legislature authorizing the formation of a Company to make one from
this town to the Ohio River, we have copied into this paper several
articles going to show their immense utility and importance.
However great the advantages of Railroads may be to any country we are
convinced that there is none where this beneficial influence could be
more intensely experienced than in this section of Kentucky."
* * * * *
Then follows a notice calling attention to Section I of the Charter and
asking that subscription books be opened. On Monday, February 8th, 1830,
_just eleven days_ after the Charter was obtained, the books were opened
at Brennan's Tavern from ten a.m. until two p.m. on five successive
days. And in this incredibly short space of time the money was raised
by those public spirited, enterprising men. What a magnificent
achievement!
Digressing a moment here, it must be remembered that Brennan's Tavern,
which plays so conspicuous a part in this history of the railroad, was
none other than the famous old Postlethwaite's Tavern, known to us as
the Phoenix Hotel, which has been making history for Lexington since
1800. At this particular time it was leased and conducted by Mr.
Brennan, and so took his name for the time being.
* * * * *
In the next issue of the Reporter, February 10th, 1830, we find:
"Agreeable to the notice published in our last, the subscription books
for stock in this company were opened on Monday last, and before two
o'clock p.m., the amount of stock subscribed was for $204,000. We have
procured the following list of the names of the subscribers with the
sums subscribed by each respectively, which we publish by way of showing
to those who are yet in doubt as to the practicability and policy of
this work, how the subject is viewed by men of practical experience."
Then follows a list of twenty-two subscribers.
"These liberal subscriptions by persons who have carefully investigated
the subject afford conclusive proof that they consider the project not
only a feasible one but one that offers to the Capitalist an opportunity
for a profitable investment of funds. They have doubtless taken into
consideration the peculiar advantages of the country in which the road
will be located. * * * It is impossible to imagine the full extent of
the varied mutual influences which the prosperity of this section of the
country and the Rail Road will exert, all tending to the convenience,
wealth and happiness of the community. * * *
P. S.--At the closing of the books at two p.m. on Tuesday, the following
additional subscriptions had been taken."
(Follows a list of forty-two subscribers.)
"Which makes a total amount of $310,800; $300,000 being all that is
necessary to vest corporate rights.
"At a meeting assembled for the purpose, Mr. Elisha I. Winter was
elected President and John Brand, Benjamin Gratz, George Boswell, Walter
Dunn, Richard Higgins, Henry Clay, Joseph Bruen, Henry C. Payne, Elisha
Warfield, Benjamin Dudley and Charlton Hunt, Directors of the Lexington
and Ohio Rail Road Co."