% ^^0^ 7 4 o % V O N O _ ♦^ .V < o •^oV* o ^-^"^ v^ o V «^q v^ A ^. FOR :]^E1SS ZMZElsT arietta & Cincinnati Railroad. aiST THE XiII53-E OIF THE PUBLISHED BY NELSON & BOLLES, 76 West Third Street, Cincinnati, 0. ROYAL Insurance Company, of Liverpool. .2 CO £ CO STATEMENT OF ASSETS, JAN. I, 1874. United States Bonds Alabama 8 per cent. Bonds Cash deposited in Bank in New York Interest due and accrued Balances in hands of General Agents in the United States and in bank §-* CO C3 CJ> CX> CJ> -a CO b> <3 CO CO CO oo $1,429,897 50 5,000 00 70,636 75 32,674 93 289,774 90 Total Assets in the United States $1,827,984 08 Cash deposited in Banks in Liverpool and London 527,702 46 Cash in Company's principal ofiBce 5,325 97 Real Estate owned by the Compauy 1,058,528 58 English Railway Stocks and Shares, British, Indian and Colonial Securi- ties owned by the Company 4,629,472 57 Loans to Towns, Townships, Corporations, Loans on other English Secu- rities, Bonds and Mortgages 5,709,394 98 Balances in hands of European Agents 110,270 96 Cash Assets $13,868,679 60 Subscribed Capital (in addition to the above) 8,554,525 00 Total $22,423,204 60 The stockholders of the Royal Insurance Company are individually liable to the full extent of their private fortunes for the debts of the Compauy. CINCINNATI AGENCY ESTABLISHED 1852. All Losses of this Department raid by us tvUhout reference to Liverpool or elsewhere. JOHN S. LAW & SON, Managers, CINCINNATI GENERAL AGENCY, No. 69 W. Third St., bet. Walnut & Vine. Suburban Homes BUSINESS MEN, ON THE LINE OF THE Marietta Railroad, A Description of the North-eastern Suburbs, THE SCENERY, SOIL, COST OF PROPERTY, CONVENIENCES OF LIVING, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES. By mCHARD NELSON. 5^^^ PUBLISHED BY NELSON & BOLLES, L.AND AGENTS AND NOTE BROKERS, 76 West Third St., Cincinnati. ^^' v Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874. By NELSON & BOLLES, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C, INTRODUCTION The object of this publication, is to direct the attention of citizens desirous of securing country homes, to the great amount of land awaiting occupation in the North-eastern Suburbs, including Loveland. The recent improvements on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, have made these su- burbs easily accessible, and the beautiful and healthy country, cheap land and low rates of travel, will, when known, attract a large amount of capital and induce rapid settlement. To aid the citizen and capitalist to profitably locate, we have given a description of the scenery from various points along the road, the soil, the atmosphere, topography and ele- vations ; the statistics of the churches, schools and societies ; the cost of land, building material, fuel, food and labor; monthly fiire and freiglit, and referred to the drives, fishing and skating grounds. For this information we are indebted to residents in the various villages along the road, but more especially to the following gentlemen: W. W. Peabod}^, Superintendent of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, C. A. Partridge, of the Cincinnati Gazette, G. W. Black, at the Court House, and H. B. Turrell, of Pleasant Ridge. We are\lso under obliga- tions to our tidented artist, Mr. W. R. McComas, who has given so much satisfaction to our subscribers Montgomery, July, 1871:. INDEX VAOS. Cincinnati • ^ Spring Grove Cemetery 16 Winton Place 18 Ludlow Grove 19 St. Bernard 20 Bond Hill 21 Norwood 27 Norwood Heights 30 Pleasant Kidge 35 Oakley ^2 Madisonville ^2 Indian Hill 70 Madeira -^ '1 Allandale ^3 Osero ^ Montgomery °" Remington — 1^^ Symmes Station— Branch Hill 1^7 Branch Hill ^ 10 Loveland 113 The Science of Real Estate Business 130 The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad 142 Advantages of Suburban Life 143 CINCINNATI. It is generally conceded, that for beauty of scenery, salu- brity of climate, and adaptation to the purposes of commerce and manufactures, Cincinnati, as a city, stands unrivaled. Located in an extensive agricultural region, and fronting on one of the greatest rivers known to commerce, her mer- chants receive and distribute merchandise over an area of thousands of miles, while her supply of fuel and material enables her manufacturers to compete with the older cities of America and Europe. Nor is she more distinguished for her commerce and manufactures, than for her facilities for maintaining a healthy population.. The most densely popu- lated of American cities she is the most healthy. Protected from the severity of Avinter storms by surrounding hills, pos- sessing an unlimited supply of pure river water, and having a surface the best adapted for drainage, her inhabitants enjoy more of the conditions for health and longevity than fall to the lot of denizens of any other commercial and manufac- turing city in the world. Thus favored, we can account for the unparalleled growth in population and wealth of this qup:en of the west, Which, in 1800, was a village of only 780 inhabitants, and in 1870, was with its dependencies, a great city of 300,000 popu- lation, representing property to the amount of $255,000,000. So rapid has been her growth and development, she has ab- sorbed her immediately available building property, before her citizens are conscious of the fact. Business and manu- 6 Suburban Homes. factures have compelled a large portion of her resident i^opu- lation to take refuge in the cities of Newport and Covington, and have pressed the balance several squares back from the river front, and are rapidly supplanting it on all the leading thoroughfares. Families have betaken themselves to the slopes ; houses are climbing the steep acclivities, while not a few enterprising pioneers have scaled the heights, and others made the pilgrimage of Mill creek valley, only to find them- selves again embraced within the limits of the rapidly ad- vancing city. Despite the stagnation of trade, the unjust discrimination of transportation companies, and the extraor- dinary efforts of rival cities to possess her trade, property in Cincinnati continues to advance, while the commutation pas- senger trade has acquired an impetus that nothing can check. In short, the city is already occupied, and already our more enterprising business men have taken lessons of those of New York city, and are fast learning to occupy the suburbs. But if it is now so overcrowded, what will be its condition on the completion of THE CINCINNATI SOUTHERN RAILROAD? The Louisville CommerGial of a late date says : " We fear the legislative provisions requiring the Cincinnati Southern road to carry freight and passengers at the same rates for connecting lines as for the main trunk, and the fact that it will form, with our roads which lap it a shorter route for Louisville than for Cincinnati, have blinded our people to the real danger that menaces her by its building. There is a danger which true courage will not underestimate, but look in the face and conquer if possible. Let us, then, calmly consider the direct and incontrovertible effect of the now certain construction of this great Southern line. Starting at Cincinnati, it passes through seven successive counties in the very heart of our State, and right through our very best coal field, crossing the Cumberland river at the mouth ot the south fork, in the midst of the very choicest iron making coals of Kentucky, and her richest lumber and iron ore region, and pushing south- ward further it taps the vast coal center and iron region of Tennessee, Ala- bama, and Georgia, at Chattanooga, thus invading the mineral and lumber magazines of the South. This road will drain a belt at least ten miles wide on either tride for its en- tire length— it would be probably nearer the mark to say that with its branches it will drain twenty miles on either side— and whither Avill it carry this trade? Let every citizen here a^-k himself this question. There can be no doubt that, Suburban ^omes. notwithstanding our best efforts, the bullc of this trade will go to Cincinnati We entreat our fellow citizens to listen to these words from across the Atlantic^ and then estimate the prize for which Cincinnati is playing. The London Daily Advertiser says: ' The coal fields of Alabama alone are calculated to yield thirty-two bil- lions five hundred millions (32,500,000,000) tons! More than enough to supply the entire world, at the present rate of consumption, for two thousand (2,000) years! The brown hematite ores in the north-west of the State, in juxtaposition with the pure, hard bituminous coals of the Warrior field, and the red and brown hematites of Central Alabama, adjacent to the Cahaba coal, justifies the prediction that this State alone will in the future produce an- nually more iron than is now made in England, Scotland, and Wales com- bined, and at less cost. Tennessee has more coal than Alabama, with iron ore in close proximity, superior in quality and inexhaustible in quantity. Ken- tucky and Virginia each have more coal than Tennessee find Alabama together, and more than England, Wales, and Scotland ever had ! and a larger area of coal than the great coal producing State of Pennsylvania, while their ores are rich and abundant.' "How wise and far seeing was it in Cincinnati to project her Southern Rail- road into this incalculably rich region, and offer her own subscription of ten millions of dollars toward its construction ! * It is,' it continues, ' The Most Magnificent Pkize that any City ever Attempted to Win' * * " Already a part of our Southern trade passes us by and reaches Cincinnati. We must not hide the effect of the building of this arterial railroad on our interests, but try to protect ourselves by prompt action. Let us observe, fur- ther, that along the trade belt of this road immigration will swarm. Germans, Irish, Welsh, Scotch, will push southward through Cincinnati, and the pro- ducts of their labor will reach that city by direct and cheap transportation. All the arrangements are complete to insure immigration over the lines pass- ing into Cincinnati." Referring to the recent contract between the Baltimore & Ohio and the Union Pacific Raih'oacI Companies, it shows that Cincinnati IS on the Line of Trade and Travel between the East AND THE Far West, and consequently between Europe and China and Japan. " The Baltimore & Ohio Eailroad Company now controls exclusively the vast trade passing East and West, to and from California, by the Pacific Rail- road, and it all passes through Cincinnati. Are our people aware of this startling fact? Merchandise and passengers are now shipped by steamer from New York to Baltimore, there transferred to special fast trains on the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad, and forwarded to California and all intermediate points, via Cincinnati ! AVhat a combination is here in favor of that city to insure her cheap transportation for immigrants and merchandise, and what a glorious Southern region will pour wealth and power into her lap ! " 8 Suburban S'omes, With such prospects for the future, it behooves our men of business and the city government to prepare the way for the certain increase of trade and manufactures, by encouraging projects for the settlement of the suburbs, and increasing the facilities for reaching them. Not many years hence the basin of the city proper will be needed for business and manufactures. Instead, therefore, of constructing untraveled avenues and inaccessible pleasure grounds or smoldng gardens, misnamed "parks," were the city government to open up means of rapid and cheap travel through or over the hills, citizens could enjoy the luxury of comfortable homes in natural parks of unsurpassed beauty and unlimited extent. But it is not at all likely to do any- tliing so wise and disinterested, and accordingly the burden of relieving the city of its surplus population and preparing it for the future, devolves upon the business community, the railroad companies and capitalists. BUSINESS MEN SPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SUBURBS. While the resident population so tenaciously maintains its hold upon the city, the price of property will not only continue high, but will with the increase of trade, indefin- itely increase ! High rents and heavy taxes which have al- ready driven not a few enterprising men from our city, will then act with increased force, and especially upon our manu- facturers, who by that single circumstance may be rendered unable to compete with others in rival cities. But high rents imply crowded tenements, and the two to- gether exert a great influence in increasing the cost of labor and rendering it uncertain and unreliable. Those who have studied the laws of social science, know that crowding in- creases crime. The morals become depraved, intemperance reigns, and men not only often neglect work, but become mentally and morally unfit to foithfully perform it. Nor is that all. Living in such a state of depravity, they become the ready tools of unprincipled and avaricious politicians who use their opportunity not only to obtain office where Suburban ^omes. they can rule the public, but to sink their constituents into a still deeper state of degradation; hence our exhorbitant taxes, our heavy city debt. Is it not, therefore, the interest of our business men, to encourage emigration from the city to the suburbs, where the influences are favorable to pure morality, a higher man- hood and their own prosperity, as well as that of the city? Or is it less the interest ot philanthropists or capitalists to engage in this enterprise ? This question was ably presented by the Cincinnati Ga- zette a few years ago, Avhen discussing the merits of the open- ing of the Tunnel ; "A second class of improvements are those that facilitate and cheapen the comfortable living of mechanics and workingmen. This is a grand point. This can only be done by giving them houses, lotG, markets, and railroads cheap. How can you do this ? Evidently by putting tens of thousands of the future people outside of the city limits, in pleasant towns built purposely for them, and carrying them at a minimum price. Mr. Stewart is building a town on Long Island for this purpose. The New Jersey Central Railroad does this when it starts a train of cars from New York to Elizabeth and other country towns every ten minutes, and carries them for a minimum price. From six to twelve miles north of Cincinnati can be had good sites for half a dozen such towns, and all that is wanted are facilities for getting to them. " The problem of extending Cincinnati is reduced to just this— of giving cheap houses and cheap living to working men. It can be done, and it ought to be an object alike benevolent and patriotic to every man who has acquired his wealth by the labor of others, (and who has not ?) to help the great mass of workingmen to cheap homes and cheap living." The Railroad Record of about the same date states that : " It is of the utmost importance that great cities should provide cheap and comfortable homes for its working people. If such homes can not be got the best, part of the mechanics and working men must emigrate. The progress of a city can not be aided in any way so well as to make living cheap and com- fortable for the people. This is an deinent of city stfcccss." THE SUCCESS OF OTHER CITIES. As Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, which do not pos- sess the natural advantages of Cincinnati, for trade and for obtaining manufacturing supplies, is very much owing to the unlimited extent of their building property, and its adapta- bility for cheap and rapid travel and transportation. On the 10 Subin^ban JTotnes. extensive plains of Chicago and St. Louis, the street cars carry passengers a distance of six or seven miles for as many cents, whereas in some parts of Cincinnati, as AVahiut Hills, it costs passengers three or four times that amount by the only con- veyance — an omnihus. The accessibiUty and availability of properly in the cities mentioned, attracts capital for building tenements to be rented to mechanics and others till they can buy the property they live in or build elsewhere; hence we find spread over miles of surface, the comfortable tenement cottages, the cozy homes and ample yards of this very important class of citi- zens. In. this way these cities hold out inducements to settle that constitute the highest kind of premium for labor ; while the labor thus obtained is more reliable, intelligent, and may soon be the most skilled. THE BARRIERS TO CINCINNATI'S PROGRESS. From these considerations, it is obvious that the barriers to the more rapid progress of Cincinnati, are the very hills that seem to have invited settlement. Beyond them on all sides there is room for unlimited expansion. Ascending Vine Street and Walnut Hills on the north and east, and the chain of hills forming the boundary of Mill creek valley on tJie west, we reach the undulating high lands — the natural parks that offer pleasure, health, and repose to the tired me- chanic and care-worn business man. Surmount these, or in- crease the facilities for getting round and beyond them, and the crowded citizens will do as those of New York city have done in the short space of ten years, literally swarm to the country. The New York Herald says : " But a very few years since — five years at most— much writing and argn- ment were necessary to interest the people of New York in New Jersey, as a place of residence. Then that part of the State contiguous to New York, if we except Hudson county, was, outside of the cities, but plain farming lands, and in most instances could be bought at old farming prices ; and the railroads carried a few local passengers. But now who would recognize the New Jersey of those days?" * * * * * * * Newark, Patterson, Hackensack, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Iloboken, form the New Jersey chain of cities , by in- Suburban JEomes, 11 tervening villages all their streets connect, and the most re- mote — Patterson and Ilackensack, are within 60 minutes of New York. Unite all under one government and they would form a metropolis occupying 122 square miles, the same area as that of London, the population being 400,000, two-thirds of which liave gone from the city of New York. The inhabitants ol metropoHtan New York, including the suburbs for 40 miles, comprise 2,220,627 souls, only 41^ per cent, of which live in the city proper. So will it be in Cincinnati, whose suburbs are much more susceptible of and quite as desirable for settlement. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE For the settlement of the property alon^ the lines of our older roads, our readers generally know. A libera] policy on the part of the " Old Reliable " and the Hamilton & Day- ton roads, has built up towns of quite respectable dimen- sions. The Dayton Short Line seems disposed to pursue the same course, and is being rewarded by a growing commuta- tion list. But these roads all run upon the lower plane of the Ohio valley, one following the line of the Little Miami river, and the others being located in the valley of Mill creek. The elevated plateau of the north-east, or the undulating high lands beyond Walnut Hills and Avondale, have not been reached by them or their connections. The desirableness of this region for suburban homes for city men, has not escaped the notice of cai)italists and rail- road men, however, but the steep grades to be encountered, seemed to present insuperable obstacles. To get over or be- yond Walnut Hills, seemed to be the problem of all projects looking to the establishment of a highway, till the year 1847, w^hen the projectors of the Dayton & Cincinnati Railroad ob- tained a charter from the State legislature, with the object of solving it by piercing the hills with a TUNNEL, And constructing a double track railroad between this city and Dayton, With this enterprise our readers are not un- 12 Siiburban iro7?ies. familiar. About one -third of the work on this tunnel was accomplished many years ago, at an expenditure of S475,000, and abandoned for want of means. Attempts have been made within the past two years to complete the work, and though little has yet been accomplished, stockholders seem confident of early success. The tunnel failing to meet the expectations of the public who were looking to the development of the north-eastern suburbs, it remained for the MARIETTA & CINCINNATI RAILROAD COMPANY To essay the task, which was accomplished, as most of our rea lers know, by winding around the hills, and coming into the city by the way of Cumminsville and the Mill creek valley, This so increased the distance of the various points from the city, that for a long time few cared to locate on the road. Latterly, however, a great change has taken place in public sentiment on the question of distance by railroad. The consideration is not how many miles have to be traveled, but how long will it take to reach any point after leaving the business house or office, and what will be the expense ? That desirable suburb, College Hill, which is only six miles from Cincinnati, can not be. reached from the business part of the city, in much less time than an hour, and a part of that time is consumed in a long walk to the depot, or a long ride in the street cars, thus increasing the cost of monthly travel. An- other part of the journey is accomplished in an omnibus, in which passengers are exposed to the dust and heat of sum- mer, and the chilling cold of winter. If we take the line of the " Little Miami," we find the de- pot so far distant from the business center, that a long jour- ney has to be made on footer an extra fare paid on the street cars to reach it. Then to get up to the high and healthy grounds within easy distance of the city, still another journey has to be performed. On the M. & C. Railroad, these extra journeys, and the loss of time and money incident to making Ihem can be saved. M B Map of the Marietta & Cincinnati R. R. from Spring Grove to Loveland. Suburban iro??ies, 13 The depot being located near the center of business, is easy of access, and the line of this road from the city limits to the summit of the county^ 'being on a rising grade^ pas- sengers are landed on dry and healthy elevations^ where they can make their homes close to the railroad. Reference to the time table on page 142 will show that in this way commutors living at Maderia, 18 miles distant, reach their homes about as soon as those residing at College Hill. Reckoning distance by time, even Walnut Hills is farther from business centers, than many of the suburbs on the M. (fe C. Railroad. To reach the summit occupies the same time as to go to Bond Hill, and the omnibus stand on East Walnut Hills, IS as far distant, by time, as Montgomery station. And ii we take into consideration the expense of travel, the differ ence is still in favor of the raih'oad. Commutation tickets, which do not limit the passenger to any number of trips, are to Bond Hill, only §45 a year, to Norwood, $50 ; whereas, one trip commutation tickets to Walnut Hills, cost |52 a year. AlU annual ticket to Loveland, which is 25 miles distant, costs only $65, or about 10 cents each way ! At that point, and many other desirable places on the M. & C. Railroad, property can be had at nearly the same price per acre, that it costs per front foot on Walnut Hills. [See Loveland.J THE NORTH-EASTERN SUBURBS Of Cincinnati, as described in this volume, is that part of Ham- ilton county, between Spring Grove Cemetery and Loveland, that lies within easy distance of the M. & C. Railroad — a suburb, which, for diversity of surface, gentle slopes, wide valleys, and variety of tint and color, is, during most of the year, one of surpassing loveliness. Beyond Avondale and East Walnut Hills, is a convex basin or amphitheater, of some twenty-five square miles, which is so admirably adapted for suburban residences, or even a com- pact city, that it will at no distant day, be included in the city limits, and may soon contain the larger portion of the city's resident population. At present this territory co sists 14 Subti7'ban IIo77ies, of the improved farms and extetisive meadows of the opulent fanners, who have grown rich by tlieir proximity to tlie city and to the railroad. For a distance of four miles from the city, the Montgomery road runs through this beautiful country, where the eye of the traveler may roam over hundreds of acres of park-like plains, ornamented with groves of forest trees and clumps of evergreens, with here and there a wide- spreading lawn, intersected by serpentine walks or drives, leading to a stately mansion or a less pretentious cottage. At the intersection of the Montgomery road with the M. & C. railroad, the surface becomes more variable. High lands oifering the most extensive range of view now present themselves, and beyond, on the line of the turnpike road, is the undulating table-land of the county. Here the country is rich in orchards and hay-making farms. In various places the road is lined with rows of cherry trees, that yield almost never failing crops. Broad meadows cloth- ed in rich green, mansions with ample lawns, browsing cattle dotting the slopes, add to the beauty of the scenery. In the distance the prospect widens, and admits to view the distant hills of Kentuck}^, the western slopes of Mill creek, and the misty lines of Clermont. As the distance from the city increases, the conntry is more sparsely settled, and the scenery grows less picturesque than grand, except in the vicinity of the western verge of the plateau, where the scope of view seems illimitable. Below, in the valley of Mill creek, are the thriving towns of Read- ing, Lockland, Wyoming and Sharonville, and almost beyond the broad valley is the beautiful village of Glendale, while away in the far distance are to be seen the spires of the towns on the Great Miami. On the line of the railroad the scenery is more romantic. Leaving the amphitheater in which are situated Norwood, Oakley and Madison ville, the course is through a deep chasm in the overlooking hills, where the steep banks run up to an elevation of some one hundred and sixty feet above the level of Madisonville. On the west bank of this chasm or ravine, are groves of oak, and beech, and maple; on the east, Suburban IZo7?ies. 15 orchards and fields of grain, alternating with grassy slopes, at the foot of which may be found an occasional cotter. Reaching the summit, an apparently new town, fresh from the hands of the builders, greets the eye, with an occasional farm-house and orchard to add to the aspect of quiet, comfort and rural enjoyment. From this point the country is now broken, though in nowise lacking in picturesque beauty. A down-grade soon brings the traveler to the level of the Little Miami river, upon which placid stream the eye now rests with more than ordinary pleasure. Continuing along the line of the railroad, we find upon our right the deep waters of this beautiful river, and pass succes- sively, peering through the rich foliage, the attractive homes of' the thrifty farmers, and fields of grain that promise an abundant harvest. On the left is the verge of the table lands of Hamilton, with here and there farm houses, lanes and orchards, and liomes of city men. Such is the character of the country, till we reach our prescribed limits of the North-eastern suburbs — Loveland. Reviewing this extensive tract of country, the almost total absence of jutting rocks, craggy peaks and sun-dried banks, is, except in the railroad excavations, remarkable. Besides it can be safely asserted that there are no swamps to breed malaria: no stagnant pools or offensive debris. The soil in general is a friable clay, resting on a substratum of limestone; hence, its character as a grass-growing and hay-producing region. A large proportion of the immense hay-supplies of Cincinnati comes from the north-eastern sub- urbs, and chiefly by the way of the Montgomery turnpike, which ramifies these delightful suburbs. The water is clear and sparkling, and in sufficient abund- ance for farm purposes — creeks and brooks and springs abound, while by sinking shafts from 10 to 20 feet, well water can be obtained on some of the highest ground. Such is a general view of this beautiful country. When referring to the property near the various stations, a more detailed de- scription will be given. 16 Suburban JSTomcs. SPRING GROVE CEMETERY. This enchanting rural park and tranquil city of the silent dead, is the first suburb that is reached by the Marietta and Cincinnati Kailroad. It is situated in the beautiful valley of the Mill creek or Mah-het-e-wa^ about five miles north of the Court House, and covers an area of 600 acres. The grounds are approached by an avenue of 100 feet in width, and entered by a semi-circular gateway, with elaborate piers and a keeper's lodge. The cemetery is owned by an incorporate company, com- posed of lot owners, and was chartered in 18-15, the year after the site was selected. Since its organization the company have made several additions to the original property, making it the largest necropolis in America, and with one exception, the most extensive in the world. The cemetery proper consists of a tract of 500 acres, bounded on the east by Winton road, and the north by Gray road, on the west by Groesbeck avenue and Linden street, and on the south by the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. South of the raih'oad, and north of Spring Grove avenue, is a tract of 40 acres, which for the past fifteen years has been used as a nursery for other parts of the grounds. There, are now thousands of evergreens and deciduous trees ready for transplanting — more than enough to ornament the unimproved portion of the territory. The grounds south of the avenue consist of 60 acres, which were purchased in small tracts, at various times, for the double purpose of con- trolling the main approach to the cemetery, and securing an unlimited supply of gravel afforded by the banks of the creek, for use in the construction and improvement of avenues. With the general appearance of this beautiful resting place, our readers are familiar. The improvements on private lots number 1,654 family monuments, 1,358 of which are of white marble, 198 of imperishable granite, and 85 of the native sandstone. Sub2trban JToines, 17 The number of lot holders is 5,910; whole number of inter- ments up to September 30, 1873, is 25,136. The entire cost ol the property, including improvements and expenses, were, to September, 30, 1873: Lnbor expended $250,500 Expenses 121,000 Sulaiies 66.500 Front building 23,000 Gate keeper's lodge 1 ,000 Surveying 6, 00 Viaduct, etc 6,500 Public vault 5,500 Cot^.ajies $5,000 Planting and sodding 3,400 Cottages 3,000 Farm house repairs 2,600 Keports 2,5i>0 Implements 2, 00 Furniture 1,400 The immediate resources of the association were then : Cash on hand $ 1,07^5.60 5-20 bonds, U. S 4'>,000.00 City school bonds 15,000.00 Hamilton county bonds 8,000.00 Resor Academy bonds 5,000.00 Bills renewable — Mortgage notes L 15,400.00 Total $84,476.60 The following touching paragraph from a historical sketch of the cemetery, fitly expresses the sentiments of many of our readers : " This city of the dead seems to have arisen as by enchantment, to testify that the city of the living to which it belongs, is inhabited by those to whom the tombs of their loved ones are not emblems of sad despair or of cheerless doubt, but of confident and cheerful belief of a happy reunion. The cul- tivation of the most beautiful of nature's products — the bright flowers, the ornamental trees and shrubs — recalls to the imagination that paradise lost by the transgression, which brought * Death into the world with all our woe,' And with it recalls the promise of that lovelier glorious paradise, prepared by the conqueror of death for those that love Him." Spring Grove is yearly visited by thousands of the surviv- ing friends of the deceased within its borders, and at every turn may be seen tokens of affection, in the strewn floweis that cover the graves of their loved ones. We print the foL lowing for the information of visitors: 18 Suburban JTomes. KULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY LOT-HOLDERS AND VISITORS. 1. Tickets must be shown at the gate, and are not transferable. 2. None but lot-holders will be admitted on Sundays and holidays. 3. Persons with refreshments will not be permitted to enter. 4. No rapid riding will be allowed, nor driving on the grass. 5. Omnibusses will not be permitted to enter the grounds. 6. Horses must not be left without the driver, or fastening the same. 7. No smoking will be allowed, nor persons with firearms admitted. 8. Persons with dogs will not be permitted to enter the grounds. 9. Children will not be admitted unless accompanied by guardians. 10. No feeding nor disturbing of the waterfowls and other birds is allowed. 11. All persons are prohibited from touching any object not their own. 12. No person is permitted to enter the Cemetery but through the gate. 13. Discharging of firearms is prohibited in and around tiie Cemetery grounds to the distance of 100 yards. 14. The gate keeper is charged to refuse admittance into the grounds of all improper persons, and those who are known to have, at any time, caused a disturbance or otherwise transgressed the regulations of the Association. The gates are open to the Cemetery from sunrise to the tapping of the bell at evening, when all persons must leave the Cemetery. WINTON PLACE. This handsome suburb adjoins the Cemetery grounds, and to it properly belongs the station known as Spring Grove. commmutors. John R. Froom, Arthur Williams, Oliver Williams, Mrs. V. Wallace, Isabella Brown, Clement Brown, 0. B. Farrelly, T. L. Brown, Walter Brown, J. H. McClintock, E. C. Coolidqe, Frank Coolidqb. Jas. T. McQrue, Wm. Harrison, Edw. Cook, R. P. HARKNB88, W. Tu0MA8, G. W. ShOLL, W. Sholl, F. Sampson. The residences here are handsome villas, mostly owned and occupied by professional and business men. S. Hannaford, D. VV. Miller, S. Hand, and E. Anderson are some of the pro- prietors. The lots range from one-half an acre to five acres, except the estate of the late Tlatt Evans, which contains twenty-two acres. This property is valued at from $2,000 to $3,500 an acre, according to location. Suburban JTomes. 19 The subdivision of the estate of P. Evens, deceased, lies south of Winton Place, between the C. U. & D. and M. & O. Railroads, and fronts on Spring Grove avenue, which is one hundred feet wide, and one of the finest drives in the west. This front will be planted with shade trees, and as the street railroad runs within a few feet of the grounds, resi- dents will enjoy additional facilities for reaching the city. The location is considered healthy, the water good, and the soil warm and productive. Good schools, cultivated society, a post office and a grocery, add to the inducements to settle. Standing on a beautiful knoll, at the end of Winton Place, is the residence of G. W. Shell, of the firm of Shell & Keen. Tlie style of architecture is unique, but adapted to the posi- tion and surroundings of the edifice, which is of brick, is two stories in height with verandas, and a tall tower forming an observatory. On the east is a broad lawn of 12 acres, stud- ded with evergreens and shrubbery. North of the house are tlie orchard and kitchen-garden, which, with the lawn, make the extent of the grounds 22^ acres. Seen from the cars at the junction, this place forms the foreground of one of the finest pieces of landscape about Cincinnati. Passing this point of view, the traveler on the M. & C. Railroad soon finds himself at the station called LUDLOW GROVE. Twenty years ago, the grounds in this vicinity were covered with forest trees, whose shade attracted thousands of city people to spend a holiday in joyous rural sports or traveling over the green turf, or through the tangled brush. The con- struction of the M. & C. road was the first improvement to break in upon the privacy of this convenient and desirable retreat, and that of the Dayton Short Line completed the destruction of the grove Now we find on the place besides the original Ludlow homestead, a capacious school house, capable of accommoda- 20 Subu7*ban iro7nes. ting 400 children, and a number of residences, country stores, shops, etc., and a post office. Adjoining Ludlow is ST. BERNARD, Whose necropolis and lofty church with the tall spire are prominent objects as seen from the cars. Including Ludlow, the population of the settlement is about 2,000. St. Bernard stands upon an eminence, south of the station, and is a thrifty village, which has been built up mainly by Germans. Between the station and the town is the Miami cana^, north of which is located the extensive starch works of Andrew Erkenbrecher, which give employment to many workmen, and supply the country for many miles around with feed for stock. In the village are several stores, saloons, wagon shops, etc. Tliese saloons obtain a generous support from the thousands who are drawn to the place with funeral processions. The new Catholic Church which has been built recently, is gothic, in style of architecture, with slate roof, and a spire 170 feet in height. It has pews to the number of 110, capa- ble of seating some 600 persons, which is the present number of members of the congregation. Connected with the church is a scliool of 200 children, ten of whom are colored. This school is free to all children whose parents can not afford to pay, and is supported by vol- untary contributions. St. Bernard is the home of Schroder, the popular locksmith, who has laid out an addition to the town, and is selling lots at $8 and $10 per front foot. Immediately south of St. Bernard is the handsome resi- dence of Henry Attermeyer, located on a beautiful knoll which commands an extensive view of the canal basin, (a miniature sea,) the precinct of Cumminsville, the residences of Messrs. Resor, Probasco, Buchanan and others, in (ylifton. Farther toward the rear of the lot, are seen some of the finest buildings at Avondale. Mr. Attermeyer is an active man in Suburban ^omes, 21 the cliurcli and community, and commands the respect of the people. One of the features of St. Bernard is a voluntary JSre de- partment, which has its engine, hose, and apparatus. The value of property in the vicinity of the town, ranges from $oOO per acre on the east, to ^2,000 along the line of the railroa 1. The commutation fare from Ludlow Grove station, the nearest to St. Bernard, is ^i 50 per month. The commutors are H. L. Kattenkamp, L. Attermeyer, Richard Schroder, F. IVrin and Chas. Attermeyer. Leaving Ludlow station in the rear, the passenger is soon at the canal bridge, and fairly out in the country. The train in crossing the canal, almost at a leap, scarcely admits of time to notice the placid waters as they reflect the overhanging trees and shrubs, but that loss is compensated by the splendid view obtained of the surrounding country and Longview Asylum, whose tall chimneys and ample dome add to the picturesqueness of the scenery. On both sides of the road the land is undulating, present- ing hills and knolls and plains, adapted alike for villas and town settlements. Soon the whistle calls attention to the next station. On approaching which may be noticed the chaste villa of George W. Martin, occupying a beautiful rising ground, and nearly surroun led with the remains of the native forest, and ornamental trees and shrubs. This building fronts on the township road, from which it is almost concealed by the dense foliage of the tall oaks and maples. On the south line of the grounds, is located a handsome little station house, offering shade and shelter and rest to the weary or waiting passenger, and this is, BOND HILL. This young and thriving town is the outgrowth of the co- oper itive plan of raising money, and meets a necessity that in Cincinnati is every year more pressing — that of men of moderate means to procure suburban homes. 22 Subtirbaji koines. Bond Hill was founded and chartered in the autumn of IbYO, and fully organized on the 3d of February loll owing, under the title of the "Co-operative Land and Building As- sociation No. 1, of Hamilton County." Unlike most of the building associations in the vicinity of Cincinnati, this is a building society in fact, as well as in name. As stated more at length under the head of "Build- ing Associations," this society has purchased its own land, laid out and graded its own streets and avenues, built, and continues to build its own houses from its own common fund. The extent of the grounds is thirty acres, situated on the hill from which the town derived its name, and distant from the railroad station some tvv'O thousand feet, in a northerly direction. Though scarcely a glimpse of the town can be seen from the station or the cars, it stands upon an elevation considerably above the level of the road. A substantial plank walk connects the handsome little station with the town, affording a pleasant walk in both sum- mer and winter. This walk is on the road of the sectional line passing from Avondale through Bond Hill, toward Car- thage. A leisurely walk of a few minutes along this plank path, takes us to the boundary line of the town, (as seen in the accompanying engraving,) where the eye immediately takes in the view of the entire settlement, as it lies on a slightly undulating plateau, which commands a most unex- pected prospect of the beautiful country around. Near to us on the north and west, are the commodious resi- dences of John Ferris and Jas. II. Murray, and between them, in the near distance, the extensive buildings of Longview Asylum. Farther to the left, and some distance below, we notice the track of the Dayton Short Line, and to the south, the hills and knolls extending to Avondale. Close by on the east, is the Orphan Asylum, (which is seen to much better advantage than from the cars,) and the settlement about Five Mile House, on the Reading pike, close at hand. Taking a survey of the town, we notice a few remains of the old farm settlement in the large shade trees on the avenue Suburban ITomes, 23 leading to the Eeading road, then the neat and substantial homes of the members. i^ixteen of these houses are ah-eady occupied, and others nearly, if not quite, ready for occupanc}^ These houses are built on lots measuring sixty-seven by one hundred and nine feet, and are retired from the sidewalk fifteen feet, leaving a space of ninety feet clear between opposite buildings We hail the pleasure of examining the interior of two ot the houses, that of L. H. Smith, which contains seven rooms be- sides an outside kitchen, and the home of G. B. Denny, a house of similar dimensions. Still finer houses than those are to be seen in the town, one of which cost ^7,000. These houses are built of brick, are two stories high, with five windows of lour lights each, fronting on the street. The rooms are large enougli for general family purposes, and well provided with light and ventilation, and any one can be en- tered without p (ssiiig through another. To secure complete ventilation in the town, the by-laws require houses to be erected on the center of each lot, and, as already stated, fifteen feet back from the pavement. Shade and Iruit trees are being planted along the streets — Yes, "Iruit" trees. Mr. Smith, for instance, having a northern aspect for his front, says he does not need shade trees, and being a utilitarian, is determined that his trees shall be pro- ducers. On our venturing an insinuation regarding the hoys^ he interrupted us by stating that Bond Hill boys did'nt belong to that c^ass. The association builds another style of house, which costs only half of the former, viz.: $1,000, including ground, but as two of these are erected with a "party" wall, the accom- modations afforded are greater in proportion to the price than in the larger ones. Either house, however, makes a genteel and comfortable dwelling, and costs the owner less per month to buy it, than he would have to pay in rent for a similar house in the city. Advantages of Location. — In selecting a site for the use of tlie organization, the managers were not actuated by a desire for display. On the contrary, they seem to have preferred 24 Suburban Homes, retirement. Besides the ilem of economy, they were influ- enced by the following considerations : 1st. Proximity to the city by turnpike and railroad, as well as accessibility to the center of business — The Reading pike and the Section-line road satisfy the former condition, and the Marietta Railroad the latter. By the pike, the dis- tance to the city through the beautiful village of Avondale, is only five miles, by the Section-line road when opened, the drive will be still more charming, and of course, more direct. 2d. Elevation, which secures the town from the miasmatic influences of Mill creek and its tributaries. 3d. Facility of drainage. These grounds possess a gently undulating surlace, dipping toward the Mill creek val- ley, and a sandy soil. Society. — Among the residents of Bond Hill, we notice a member of the press, a newspaper attache, a gentleman con- nected with railroad interests, a public school principal, a lumber dealer, two or three builders, and a printer. Among the stockholders is one of our most prominent citizens, whose enterprise and means have aided many worthy objects. A Simdaij School has grown into prominence, and already possesses a respectably-sized library. Considerable progress has been made in organizing social entertainments. The Bond Hill Circle^ a dramatic reading societ}^ gave weekly readings in private houses the past win- ter. This society and the necessity of a place in which to hold public meetings, have suggested the formation of a joint company to erect a Public Ilall^ which will be con- structed during the ensuing summer. The value of the property of the association has been fixed by the managers. Members prepared to buy can do so either at private or public sale, but as the price of the ground is kept nominally at cost, houses and lots command a pre- mium. At present, we are informed, that none of the stock ol the association is offered for sale. Stcbti7*ban Monies, 25 OFFICERS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. President J. C. Kelley ; Vice- Pre svhnt^ 11. Watkins; Secretary^ E. L. Agin; Treasurer, VV. S. Munson ; SuferinlendeiU, Jab. H. Murray. COMMUTORS, ETC. J. C. Kelly, R W. Murray, T J. Murray, H Ruffner, Miss Nettie Mur. KAY, 8u>