The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-08-31
CITY OF EVANSVILLE.
a ship yard at Evassvffre.


that situated on the Ohio River, two hundred d
miles from any city Of importance, the ter
minus Of the Wabash river trade, and only
eight miles from the mouth of Green river, a
kind Of centralizing point on the lower Ohio
for steamboats--we should have grown to be
acity Of nearly twelve thousand inhabitants
and as yet aOitltout a ship-yard, Astonishing
as il the bare fact that we have no ship-yard,
while nearly every other place Of not over
half our size has one, the fact grows still
more wonderful when we reflect upon the
superior advantages of this point for such a
branch of manufacturing.
We have already and several times called
the attention of those engaged in the boat
building business, to the fact that possessing
right here OF Immediately around US every
thing required for boat building, we are yet
without ship yard. We have been instru-
mental in securing visits from several gen
tlemen, who came here to see Fittings were
as we had represented. and to learn what in
ducement might be held out BY our fellow
citizens for them to locate here, and start
large ship yard. The last one very plainly
told US the reason why he would not come
here, and why no other man would under
similar circumstances. He had examined
into our advantages closely, and admitted
that we had every requisite of material and
situation for ship yard. But after select
ing site on the river, he found he could not
buy land less than $500 per acre, mile from
Main street. He said very emphatically
that this was an imposition he would not
submit to, and he was not coming here to
help build up such blood-suckers as some of
our citizens had shown themselves to be.
Instead of encouraging him, and Offering ev-
cry inducemeht in their power to secure
ship yard here, hey had regarded him and
his enterprise as legitimate subject for
speculation. This gentleman. however, was
afterwards offered such inducements, that he
would no doubt have started yard here BIZ t
for his premature death. The prominent
indncement is, we believe; still open to any
ship-buildet who can come prepared to start
yard here. The LanasCo corporation of
feted Mr.. Murray, the gentleman alluded to
aboves all the land he should need for as
large ship-yard as ne might choose to make,
and situated at the very place he had pre-
ferred after thorough examination, on
lease of twenty years, at a mere nominal
sum to keep the fee simple in the possession
of the city, say dollar year. This land is
admirably situated for the purpose, being at
the lower edge of the city, above Pigeon
Greek bridge. and well adapted for the pur-
pose designated. We hope this subject will
receive the attention of some ship-huilding
firm. There is now spirit of liberoIity on
the part of citizens towards any enterprise
of this kind. We must have ship yard
here. Even if our interests did not demand
this branch of manufacturing, the steamboat
interests Of the lower Ohio plead an urgent
necessity for at least Ways between New AL
bany and Paducah, where boats may be
hauled out and repaired.
We have the very best duality of boat
obtained almost for the cutting and hauling,
or floating of it out of Pigeon Creek and
Green river. We have iron and fouDdries
and machine shops, &C., and every thing at
least as easily attainabe as at points above.
Ship builders who have thoroughly examin-
ed our advantages and availabilities, have de-
clared themselves convinced we have the
best point on the Ohio river for a ship yard,
Weregard the establishment of a ship-yard
at Evansville, as a very important matter,
and one which our citizens should labor
zealously to secure. The Madison Courier
a few days ago stated that the ship-yard
there employs over hundred hands, and has
increased the population Of the city more
than Eve hundred. 1t also remarks. "If any
thing should happen to the shrp-yard and
to Clough's factory which would throw
out of employment the mechanics and labor
ers, permanently, the population of the city
would decrease at least one thousand, and
every branch of trade would suffer depres-
sion in like proportion This illustrates
the Importance of ship-yard in connec-
ton with other manufactures. We should no
doubt have our share of steamboats, to
build soon after being prepared to do the
work. This would bring and leave an i'm
mense deal of capital in the city. All our
manufactures would be more less assisted,
and almost every branch of trade. But we
need not specify the advantages, direct and
indirect, of shiP-yard here. They are well
known to those who have reflected upon the