Guelph Advertiser 9 October 1851

Toronto and Guelph Railway
FROM THE GLOBE OF THE 3RD INST.

Our readers are doubtless aware that a charter was obtained last Session by the indefatigable Mr. John W. Gwynne, for a Railroad from this city to Guelph. A committee of gentlemen from the latter town is now in Toronto to bring the enterprise before our citizens, and we earnestly urge the subject on public attention as most deeply affecting the interest of every business man in the place. We know of no undertaking, except, perhaps, a direct continuation of the Great Western to this city, which is likely to be so beneficial to Toronto. To be convinced of this we have but to look at the prospects which this line opens up to us.

A trail line has been already run, and the distance found to be 43 miles. It was run by poor Mr.Brough (whose recent sudden death we regret to observe), under the direction of Mr. Gzowski, and found to present few difficulties involving heavy cost to surmount. The proposed line passes through the Townships of York, Etobicoke, Toronto, Chinguacousy, Esquesing, Nassagaweya, Eramosa and Guelph, and through the rising towns of Brampton, Norval, Georgetown, Acton and Guelph, -- as rich and fertile a country as there is on the continent of America...

...The Stock authorized by the charter is 250,000 pounds, in shares of 5 pounds each; but the total cost is expected not to exceed 225,000 pounds. Of this, it is proposed that the Corporation onthe line shall take 200,000 pounds, and that the balance shall be made up by private subscriptions. The town of Guelph has already pledged itself for 25,000 pounds, the Township of Guelph, 10,000 pounds, and the Township of Eramosa for 10,000 pounds. The Mayor and Reeve of each corporation, having an interest, by the Act is to be ex-officio a director and the subscribers are to elect from themselves a certain number of directors.

That this road will pay, and pay well, no man can doubt who has passed over the Vermont Central, or the Erie Railroad, and observed how a barren, rocky wilderness may be changed into a well-populated prosperous country, and made to furnish remunerating traffic for an iron trackbuild at enormous cost. The value of taxable property in the Townships through which the road isto pass, is as follows:

About eleven millions of dollars of property, besides that of Toronto and Guelph Towns, will be thus affected more or less by the Road. It will readily be seen that the increase in the value of this property, were the whole money to construct the Road ... would more than repay all the outlay. There is not a business man or property holder on the line who will not receive direct advantage from the Road, thus exceeding his share of its construction.

The City of Toronto is, however, the most directly interested in the Road, and hook or by crook, the citizens should have it built. It opens up a splendid ... for trade, almost every penny of which now goes to Hamilton, and it will bring ....

Road will be ere long continued to Sarnia, ... Goderich, or Saugeon - connecting us, by the most direct route, with Lake Huron. The advantage of the scheme to this City cannot be overrated, and every resident shoudl contribute to the stock to the full extent of his ability.

The City Corporation will be called upon to take a large portion of the stock, and we are sure public opinion will justify them in doing whatever may be needed to secure the road, and that speedily.

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