The Columbus and Xenia Railroad was a railroad which connected the city of Columbus, with the town of Xenia in the state of Ohio in the United States. Construction began in October 1847, and the line opened in February 1850. Connecting with the Little Miami Railroad, it created the first rail route from Cincinnati to Columbus. Formation and fundraising The Columbus and Xenia Railroad (C&X) was chartered on March 12, 1844. Among its early leaders was William Dennison, the future Governor of Ohio. The Little Miami Railroad linked Cincinnati and Xenia in 1845, and the C&X was intended to link Columbus to Xenia—creating the first rail link between Columbus and Cincinnati. In its charter, the C&X was authorized to issue $500,000 ($ in dollars) in stock, but the incorporators had difficulty raising funds and initiating construction. Two years later, the state authorized Greene County to purchase $50,000 ($ in dollars) of company stock, and the town of Xenia to purchase $5,000 ($ in dollars) of company stock. The following year, the state authorized Franklin County and the city of Columbus to purchase $50,000 ($ in dollars) of company stock each. The General Assembly also amended the C&X's charter to permit it to seek loans up to $300,000 ($ in dollars). Greene County was authorized to purchased another $50,000 ($ in dollars) in stock, and Xenia to purchase another $6,000 ($ in dollars) in stock. Madison County was authorized to purchase up to $20,000 ($ in dollars) in stock. By April 1845, the company had raised just $200,000 ($ in dollars). With funds still in short supply, no survey of the route had been made by February 1847. The state legislature amended the company's charter in February 1848 to permit it to increase the stock by $1 million and to obtain loans in any amount necessary to complete the road. Construction Selecting the route The C&X now had enough funds to begin construction of the line, but not enough to complete it. The company was now faced with selecting a president who not only had to be an able fund-raiser but who also could oversee construction of the line without incurring any cost overruns. Alfred Kelley agreed to become president of the railroad in spring or summer of 1847 at a salary of $500 ($ in dollars) a year. Kelley, a Cleveland lawyer, had been elected the first mayor of the