The Bedford Independent
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1865

MOVING WEST. – A number of the best citizens of our town and county, are disposing of their property preparatory to seeking homes further west. Messrs. SOUTHERN, SULLIVAN, BROWN, KERN, QUACKENBUSCH, NEAL, POTTER, LAVACK, HUMMER, KELLY, BOYD, and many others whose names we do not now recollect. are among the emigrants.

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PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE. – It is rumored that the Directors of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, have sold their line to the Atlantic & Great Western Company, and that the new proprietors intend laying a double track, and to straighten the road, in order that it may, as near as possible, be an air line from Cincinnati to St. Louis. If this is done, the road will be brought over a route surveyed by Mr. MITCHELL, previous to the survey which locates it on the present line. In fact, we are informed that when the bill to allow the O. & M. Road to sell out was introduced into the Legislature last winter, a pledge was given by the Atlantic Railroad's President that if a purchase was effected by his company, the road should go over the originally surveyed route, through Bedford.

Unless we get this Road, we may as well put up the shutters, and hang crape upon the doors of our town, as it will be as effectually "played out" as possible. We have failed on incorporation; frequent attempts have been made to organize turnpike companies, but without success; not a half dozen new houses have been built in town during the past three years; our population has not increased, but the number and variety of our business houses has; when the Fall rains begin, it is next to impossible to get into or out of Bedford with a team; our railroad is a very uncertain mode of transit during the winter months, and thus we are almost isolated during bad weather. The consequence of all this is, that our merchants, with more competition, will be compelled to depend upon town custom, or catch an occasional horseman, who will buy lightly because of inconvenience attending transportation, and as our business men sit in their storerooms and offices, gazing sullenly out into the slushy, lifeless streets, they will grumble at the stagnation of trade, and wonder why it is so. There may not be enough romance in this statement to suit the fastidious tastes of many of our citizens, but it is true, and hence the more unpalatable.

The remedy is in your own hands, gentlemen—but three things are necessary:

1st, ACTION; 2d, action; 3d, action. Will you apply it?

Typed and donated by Chuck Carey.