Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-17
COtrtsponStntt. q
EvAsaylLLrIsp. March 4, 1854

EVANSVILLE IND, Mureh l, 1904
Mn. EpiroR;-lf II be agreeable TO
you, | propose 10 furnish The readers
of the American with occasional notes
Of matters and things rs they occur
IN this region Of our state, usually
known ~ ''the Pocket" This IL by
no means the least important part OF
HoosIcrdom, albeit IL has, rs yet. at.
q ,cted no great attention. II Is fast
rising Ia Importance, aud IN n few years
time must bc IN Advance OF every other
section OF the State. This IL no joke.
Mr. Editor. but solemn TRUTH You.
| know, may be supposed 10 be posted
up as TO the state Of things here; but
lot me tell you, there has beena vast
change bere since your day. and ~
many more years must beyond all
reasonable doubt produce an incon-
cleyably greater change for the better,
The city OF Evansville Is 10 be not
only the eity Of Indiana, but one OF
the great cities of tho west. IL was
demonstrated by the Hon. o. III.
Smith, in great railroad speech which
he made here recently, that Evansville
is TO be 10 Indiana what Cincinnati is
to Ohio; and that il will be only second
to the Queen City in the west. Don't
be startled ut this announcement. |
mean what | say when | declare it
was demonstrated, and had you heard
his reasonings. you would have been
convinced beyond all doubt.
What other city in the state has
any thing like the advantage which
this hasg Look at her resources
rhe Wabash Valley, than which no
soil under heaven is richer, will con-
tinue TO pour her treasures which are
every year augmenting into the lap of
Evansville. Besides, there is the great
White River Valley, which is just be-
ginning to develop its resources, that
must contribute to enrich and build up
our city. And then look at her rail-
road advantages. The K. & q. rail
road is already completed to Vincenncs,
and will be, | am informed by one of
the Directors, completed to Terre
Haute next fall. This will make but
eight hours travel between Evansville
and indianapolis. But the great rail
road advantage; that which must con-
stitute most to build up our city, and
enrich our section Of the State in the
Shaugh line Railroad from Evansville
10 Cleayeland. IL is now settled and
fixed that this road is to be built, and
when it is built, it will combine more
advantages than any other road in the
country. When we shall be rs will
be the case when this road is made)
within six hours Of Indianapolis con-
necling with all the inroads which
centre there, and within thirty hours
Of New Orleans. There will be an
amount Of travel through this place,
and an amount Of shipping and other
business done here, that will spring
up and increase as by magic.
Evansville now numbers about ten
thousand souls, and there are various
public improvements going on, among
which is magnificent court house
which will be completed during the
coming summer. We are sadly de-
ficient in the style of our church edi-
fees, there being but two which make
any show-the Catholic and Lutheran.
In this, as in every thing else, We look
for improvement. The Evansville
Medical College is struggling hard for
an honorable stand among the sister
Institutions Of the land IL is the day
of small things with it now, but there
is certainly bright prospect before il.
The increase of our city, and the
erection of a Marine Hospital here,
will make the best situation in the
State for such an institution. | was
surprised too in visiting their college at
the extent of its appliances. Thoughlby
no means as extensive as those ofoldcr
institutions yet they are sufficient Tor
pretty thorough training in the "lleal-
ing Art" The Faculty is composed
of men who are competent to teach the