The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-09-29

Ia, speaks well Of that young and CROWN,
city:-( Lou. Dem.
ha EVANSVILLE, IA, Sept. 20, '53. 4
Messrs. Editors:-This may be very pro
perly be called fast town. But few years
since, It was an inconsiderable village scarce
ly noticed by the traveller as he descended
the Ohio. Now it has grown up TO the di
mansions of city with an intelligent, enter
prisiBg, and thrifty population OF from twelve
to fifteen thousand souls. In the last 81,
years its population has more than doubled
and, at present rate of increase, like result
will be reached IN the next decade. During
4 pleasant sojourn Ct few days anon very
hospitable citizens, we had an opportunity o
observing the character and extent of the
improvements Of various kinds now going on
By the close of the season there will have
been put up not less than five hundred build
ings, mostly Of substantial and durable
Kind. Several blocks of first class business
houses are finished of, which. for size and
elegance, will compare we'll with the best
structures of the sort in any Of our western
cities. Besides the material for large num-
Der Of frame buildings, over twenty millions
ofbricks have been made and put up during
the season. The citizens and the corporation
seem to be vieing with each other in pushing
on improvements. Within few weeks past
che town has been handsomely lighted with
fas. In every direction may be seen compa-
nies of laborers engaged in filing, grading,
SC. Among other corporation improvements
in prog ess, are u new jail and commodiOus
Court House, both of which are much needed
The town is provided with large number
of churches, but, with one or two exceptions
the houses of worship are small and by no
means sui able for place like this. We
hooked, but in vain, for something in the form
of a college ediice. There was none to be
seen, except large building being fitted up
for q very respectable Medical Institute es.
tabished here some two or three years ago.
Evansville has good system OF common or
public schools; but there are no high schools
of any sort, male or female. This is great
oversight. II is altogether ipexcusable for a
a community or town as large and respecta-
bic as this is, to be entirely dependent ON the
institutions of other towns tor the education
of its youth in branches beyond the sphere
of common school instruction. Nothing
adds more to the attractions Of city than
the establishment and maintenance Of suf-
fcient number OF respet table high schools,
and il is hoped that this lack will not long re-
main to be suppl d here.
The Evansville wharf is the best on the
Ohio. There is sufficient de IN Of water
here at all seasons. and as there are mex
harstab'e supplies at hand, Of the best nate
rial for boat building, we know not why that
business might not be undertaken here, and
carried on largely. Manufac turing, so in
despensihle tn the permanent prosperity of
sur commercial towns, IL, here, ia its ntan-
ey. Factories Of various kinds are begin.
ming Ia spring up, and from the abundant ia
ciiities afforded for profitable operations in
this branch Of Industry, capitalists desiring
90 make investments w"uld do we'll to turn
their attention to this point. A very clever
wholesale business is being done especially
in the dry goods fine. There are number
of large houses well stocked with goods OF
the best quality, which appear to be driving
Il profitable business. More capital, howev-
er, is wanted 10 do the business that could be
done, aud add We venture to predict that the
necessary amount will not be long in coming.
Evansville is destined to become the chief
city of the great Hoosier State. AS a COM
mercisl point, il has decided advantages over
either Madison New Albany, and if her
citizens and capitalists a.e wise, it will soon
be found to distance them both in the race
of improvement. Commanding, as it does,
the trade Of the Wabash valley, the i'm
mense agricultural resources of which are
only beginning to be developed, together with
a rich aud rapidly growing trade with south
ern Kentucky, and the southeastern part of
Illinois, its contil q ID increase in wealth and
population is a FIX d fact, with proper forecast
and exertions on the part Of its business citi-
zens.
1t has been thought, indeed the prediction
has been made, that the further growth tf
Evansville will be arrested when the cities Of
Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Louis shall
succeed fully in tapping the rich valley,
whose trade has been the means, thus far, o
its rapid growth. That there is danger of this
will not be denied. But give her fail
chance. Let the requisite railroad connec-
tons be timely provided. and she will contin
ue to be the emporium Of the great Wabash
region, the trade Of which, not to speak o
other commercial advantages, will suffice, il
in time, to build up city.
As vet, the town has derived no benefit
from any important artificial thoroug hfares. -
But she will soon receive an impetus from
this source. The Eric and Wabash cana
extended TO the Ohio at this point, is now fin
ished and apout TO be opened. Ibis grea
commercial vein upwards of four hundred
and Fifty miles in length, traverses the fertile
country from this place to Terre Haute
thence up the Wabash River to its hea d. AM
thence to Lake Erie at Toledo. 1t canno
fail to contribute largely to the future gro@tl
OF this beautiful town SO elegibly situated a
its southern terminus.
The work on the Evansville, Vincenne
anc Mount Carmel railroad is ina state o
forwsrdness, and will soon be completed
when Evansville will be brought in dlrec
railroad communication with the Wabas
country at Terre Hau.e. The work, howev
err of greatest moment at this time TO IN
town and the country north oil it is. the strai
al fra. elau