Alexander Wells, an old citizen of our neighboring town of Wellsville, Ohio, has in his possession a copy of an interesting and novel document issued by the school board of the town of Lancaster, this State, in 1828. The question of steam railroads was then in its incipient stages of agitation, and a club of young men had been formed for the purpose of discussing the points at issue, and desired the use of the schoolhouse for purposes of debate. This was looked upon by the members of the school board as an innovation bordering upon sacrilege, as indicated by the reply of the body to the request, which is the document in the possession of Mr. Wells. It reads as follows:
"You are welcome to the use of the schoolhouse to debate all proper questions in, but such things as railroads and telegraphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. There is nothing in the word of God about them. If God had designed that his intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of fifteen miles an hour, by steam, He would have clearly foretold through His holy prophets.
It is a device of Satan to lead immortal souls down to hell."
