The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-12-02
The First Train Through!

first through train to Terre Haute. Having
been a warm advocate of this great enter
prise long before the first rail was laid, and
reported almost every step of its financial as
we'll as its literal progress since that time,
we have very naturally, in common with
those more directly connected with the road,
felt the warmest interest in its prosperity,
and the liveliest pleasure at the final CON-
pletion of the road to Terre Haute.
Right we'll pleased were we, therefore, to
be one Of those to visit the beautiful city Of
Teue Haute on the first through train. We
found among other passengers couple OF
Directors, Messrs. Foster and Ingle, as rep
resentatives CT Evansville on the occasion,
with several lawyers very happy in making
their annual visit to Indianapolis, to be able
to exchange stage ride of about twenty
hours for a few hours confinement in the
cars under the especial charge Of Mr.. Van
anne, the cleverest Of all clever conductors.
We reached Vincennes a little later than
usual, but an hour was allowed the passen-
gers to procure dinner. Mr.. Clark, OF the
American House, although taken by sur
prise, got up one Of his excellent dinners in
in the very shortes, time. Clark's dinners
are always commendable, as dinners in
which vennison, turkies, ducks, &c., inva-
riably figure, ought to be considered. But
if Clark is fattering himself he made any
fhino off tho iiftla niraotor wh o ant hv ms
that day, he is somewhat mistaken. Where
his capacities are known, he is generally
charged double price, and then watched
AT VincenDes, we picked up two more Di-
rectors, Messrs. Maddux and Burch, and add.
ed few more passengers 20 the previous
good list. Considerable delay occurred in
waiting for the down cars, and transferring
locomotives.
The road beyond Vincennes, when thor
cughly settled and ballasted, will be second
to no other in the State. There are but
comparatively few curves in it, while the
road has been built in the most substantial
manner. OF course at this time it is rough,
and the cars run very slow over it, making
long trip of a comparatively short distance.
The road, however. is in good order, for o
new road, with the exception Of short dis
lance between Carlisle and Sullivan. -Four
miles of the rails here, are only spiked dow n
at the ends. A certain part having been com
pieted by different contractors at distant in
tervals, the latest finished work has settled
below the other. and produces very rough
road. But laborers are already engaged in
putting this part of the road in order. Mr.
Daniels, the able Superintendent, is almost
constantly traversng the road, and is sparine
no energy nor labor to place and keep every
thing in good order.
We had a pleasant though necessarily
long trip to Terre Haute. A great many
country people were at Carlisle, Sullivan an,
other places, drawn in to see the cars. whilt
at the door of every house and cabin, the oc
cupants gazed with wonder at the iron hors,
and its train of cars. Carlisle and Sullivan
are situated some little distance from tn,
read, but in plain view from it, We hop,
their citizens will be able to realize ever
greater benefits than they anticipate from
this railroad. From the goods, &C., put on
there, we presume some of these citzen
already appreciate the advantages of a rail
road.
Arriv ed at Terre Haute. nearly six O'Clock
we found omnibusses waiting to convey pas
sengers to the hotels, and In company witt
many others we were soon emptied out a
the Prairie House. Mr.. Griswold, Presden
of the road, was there, with Geo. w. Rath
bone, Esq, of this city, and Gen. Steele, Di
rectors. Mr.. Rose, Director, we "picket
up" on the way. These gentlemen, will
Mr.. Daniels, held an informal meeting tina
evening. To the energy and industry of Mr.
Griswold, President, are we principally in
debted for the early completion of this road
He has been very active in pushing forwar
the road from Vincennes TO Terre Haute, a
the same time, with others, lending his eli
forts and his credit to meet what have a
times appeared under the excessive pressur
Of the money market, almost iasurmountabl
financial difficulties. But in everything h
has been backed by the Directory, who hav
unhesitatingly assumed personal responsible
tiles, and given their time and labor to sus
tanning the credit of the company, and OBJ
tanning means to successfully carry on th,
great project. Theirs has been no enviabl
Office in any particular, and they have We
great work before ihem-but they most full
enjoy the confidence of stockholders and TIL
community at large, which we are sure the,
will never in any respect forfeit.
Both the first and second througb trims