Visionary in 1853 Couldn't See Future of Railroads

Cleveland, Ohio, 1919--

Could Not See the Future

Oldtime Clevelander's Rebuke of "Visionary" Makes Interesting Reading at This Time

A Cleveland man who has inherited a mass of ancient correspondence ran across the following letter some time ago and found in it a little sermon on time's mutations. It was written in 1853 to an ancestor of his, a citizen of many activities, the writer being Hon. John W. Allen, lawyer, editor, congressman, the first president of the Society for Savings.

It appears that the recipient of the letter had written to his congressman suggesting a railway across the continent, an amazing vision in 1853.

Did Congressman Allen take kindly to the suggestion? He did not. On the contrary he gave the author of the wild scheme a neat dressing down.

"Why do you want at your age," he wrote, "and with property enough for your comfort and the well being of your children, to embark in such a crazy undertaking? . . . When you are well, don't take physic. Truly your friend, J. W. Allen."

It will be noted that the world and the railways have advanced a good deal since that solemn warning was delivered.

--The Hamilton Daily News, Hamilton, Ohio, October 6, 1919, page 9.