The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-05
The Business of EyansviIle.

Of the business of Evansville as it is con
sidered the market for large portion of the
back country and Wabash valley, we have
fully and repeatedly spoken. We have also
alluded to the river business of this city, which
is more calculated than any other TO make
Evansville known abroad. The low stage OF
the Wabash river, (Which constitutes our
principal trade) during the fall, and its pres
ent frozen condition, have operated to delay
the river business ofthe season here, much be-
yond its usual time of commencement. The
extent OF this business may be judged of, by
the condition of our wharf last week. AL
though the Wabash had been but for a few
days in such a state as to admit of steamers
bringing down large freights, yet during those
days there was constant arrival of Wabash
steamers at our wharf with large consign-
ments ofpork, lard, corn, &c. One boat alone
put off at the wharf 4, 700 barrels of pork. In
anticipation ofthe opening of business at this
place, more than from reliance upon that of
Louisville, several Of the largest steamers
running on the Mississippi, were induced to
come up the Ohio. 1t was the general opin-
ion of the officers of these boats that they
would have done much better had they not
made engagements above this point. The
new Uncle Sam and Sultana were obliged
by previous engagements, to goto Louisville
They returned here, with loss to theirow
ers by going above, and obtained enough
freight at our wharf, to probably make their
whole trips profitable. The Aleck Scott went
no higher up than this point, and although at
the time of her arrival, the other large Mis-
sissippi boats were here, with several of our
largest Ohio river and New Orleans steam
ers, yet she obtained large amount offreght.
The Oregon completed her load at Evans
vile, and several other boats the same And
all this was provided by the opening of the
Wabash trade for only few days, and before
number of the regular packets had taken
their place nit. We are told that there was
but small lot of freight on our wharf last
week, to what there was last winter almost
the whole season through, and to what there
will yet be this winter.
But the Wabash trade is not the only local
one Of Evansville. Green river penetrates
into rich agricultural region of Kentucky
opening to this city trade which is yearly
increasing in value, and becoming each year
more distinctly our own. Itformerly belong
ed almost entirely to Louisville, but it is now
being changed to Evansville. As this city
increases in size and importance, and its
markets become better and more generally
known it will be able to provide those steam
ers visiting us from Green river, with good
return frelghts, and thus induce them to come
here instead of going to a city far above the
mouth. Large cargoes of corn, pork, &C.,
have already been brought down from Green
river this season.
A large, swift and substantial steamer, or
two of them, would do good business we
think, in the Louisville and Evansville trade
The steamers heretofore engaged as Louis
vile packets to this point, have not possessed
those accommodations, which would secure
the whole business. When travellers have
the preference between these boats, and others
provided with every comfort desirable, they
will patronize the latter as a general thing
although they may be jealous in the success
of the former. But let steamers of the latter
kind be placed in the trade, and they must dc
good business. Before the passage OF an
other year, we expect to see such boats IL
this trade.
Thus much for the river business, in par
of Evansville. We shall occasionally collec
and publish statistics to show the Importance
of our river trade.