The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-06
Hon. o. n. Smiths speech.


Evansville, Indianapolis and Cleveland Strsi.
Line Railroad, was listened to with great in
terest by a very respectable audience. 1T
was q matter OF regret with him. as IL was
doubtless with others, that the severe inds-
position of DIR. Carpenter prevented him at
tending the meeting, AMI defending himself
from personal charges which had been made
in Daviess county. Yet his presence was
not necessary, for Mr.. Smith answered and
disproved them with as much zeal as though
they had been made against himself. No one
who attended that meeting, and listened to
Mr.. S.'s speech, but must have been convinc-
ed that the charges made against Mr. Car
penter through the Washington Sun, were
misdirected and unfounded, and conceived
and propogatod in the very worst spirit. Mr..
C. has been blamed for that which, even if
It be wrong to the Washington community,
should attach no responsibility to him The
President Of the road, Mr.. Smith, assumes all
the responsibility in the matter, after the re-
port Of the Chief Engineer, and regrets that
he 10 not made the subject of abuse instead of
Mr.. Carpenter.
We had intended making full report Of
Mr.. Smiths speech, but its great length, the
excessive heat Of the room, the crowded
state of our columns, &C., forbid, although
we are well aware we could fill up those
columns with no better matter. Sowe must
content our readers with a very brief alb
stract. After his introductory remarks, he
said he was going to take different course
in his speech from what he generally did,
He wanted to talk of the kind of road, the
object of the road and the history OF the road,
with its general character and prospects,
Under these heads, he discussed the road in
detail. He alluded to his former connection
with the Indianapolis and Belle Fontain
Railroad, and gave his reasons for advoca-
ting it. In laying down this line, he was
struck with the advantages OF Evansville as
IN Ohio river terminus, and of the great i'm
portance of a road to her, which would con.
meet her with the railroads of Indianapolis
Over 100000 900 had been expended on
the great lines of railroads which cenlered at
Indianapolis, and Just as valuable TO Us OF
Evansville, as if we had expended all, after
we became connected with them. He traced
at Indianapolis, and gave details of their i'm
portance. At no other point in the world was
there such concentration of railroads. We
maintain the point of a centre, and are also
on the Ohio river. DIR. SIS remarks on the
prospects of Evansville in this connection
were very happy. He predicted rapid pro.
gress and future greatness for our city.
Mr.. 8. spoke Of the difficulties in locating
this road. He did not believe there ever wa:
sroad more difficult to locate. Every town
anywhere near the road, insisted upon the
road rnnning through it. as the condition o
their taking stock. Washington was no ex
: ception. Its claims had been rejected with
those Of Monravia, Bloomfield, Petersburgh
&c. This great line of Railroad was
through road nd not inte nded merely to bene
fit villages. Had found it difficult to get it GU
Of the heads of people in every town along
the line Of the Railroad, that the road is no
being built to accommodate them especially
He had instructed Engineer not to pay atten
ton to these towns, as he had determined no
to leave the true line-going upon the great
principle of making straight line. He al
luded particularly to the difficulties along the
line, and proceeded to answer question:
which had been propounded to him at differ
emit times, and more particularly by cores
pendent of the Evansville Journal. No par
Of the district was better represented III al
Evansville. Mr. Carpenter, Mr.. Allis ant
Judge Law. were men capable of answering
ell questions, and the books were available
Yet be would proceed to answer this CORES
pendent. He did SO, to the perfect satisfac
ton OF all who heard him, and even to tn,
satisfaction of the correspondent himsel
generally.
Washington had worked its way into ou
papers. Her citizens are jealous, and say we
shall be compelled to make the road through
their town. Last year they had compliment
cd him. Now he had to complain of a wan
Of courtesy on their part. He explained
why it was he had agreed to run the roa,
through Washington. They had said thei
line was as good as any other In conse
quence of this, he introduced resolution
that if the people of Washington woul,
guarantee within twenty days 100000 o
stock, the road should be run through tina
place. But the after report of the enginee
(Which he ready proved that the line coul
not bejust as well run through there as an
other route. We should have to make
curve in the road TO accommodate then