The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-05-01
CITY OF EVANSVILLE.
TUESDAY MORNING, "::::::.::MAY
The Straight Line Railroad.


The American Railroad Journal in its
last number again INDUCES in some very
extraordinary structures upon the above
road. We say extraordinary because it is
not little surprising that go prominent a
public jousnalist as Mr.. Poor, should vent
his spleen against great public enterprise
in sentiment so totally destitute of either
truth or logic. That the Journal can find
faults and pick flaws in the conduct and
management of any road, we do not pre-
tend to doubt. We do not pretend to claim
for the "Straight Line" immaculate con-
ception," nor that its management has been
in all respects, dictated by that degree of
prudence which would easily have avoided
all the real objections that its enemies now
seek to hurl against its prosperity. We al.
ledge nothing against the course of the R. R..
Journal for the exposure of any real fault
imprudent action, or bad faith, which it may
In truth discover in this company, or in Mr..
Smith, its President, but we do say that its
dishonesty by adding statements and assum-
tons of his own manufacture, totally un-
founded in truth, simply for the purpose of
strengthening his array of objections against
the road and the company.
We will give few specimens of the ar.
gument employed by the Journal, and invite
attention to the peculiar "Yankee style"- in
which they are used. These statements are
of Mr.. Poor's own production:
"2nd. That the road would not at cost Of
$4,000 per mile, pay if constructed"
The intent and meaning of the above YAM
kee imuendo, is to create the impression
that the Straight Line road is really to cos,
$4,000 per mile, and consequently can
pay, and it would be the height of folly t
invest in its stock. If Dir. Poor has no
manufactured this libel, upon the alb owe roa,
with malice prepense, he certainly occupies
aposition wherein, he with, in al probabilit,
have to father it until he furnishes the data
on which he bases 80 cunning and equivocu
abatement. Again he says:
With regard to the probable productive
ness of the road we cannot see how such
project can be profitable at a cost of $40. O0(
per mile, while roads upon vastly bette
routes in the State, and costing only abou
one-half the above sum per mile, are hardl
able to pay z per cent. and others are abl
to pay but little more than running expen
ses.
If there is anything but malice and dis
position to misrepresent in the above extrac
We cannot discover it, and we would like I
see Mr.. Poor attempt to justify himself
creating the impression that the road is
cost $4,000 per mile, in face of the we
known fact that the road lie let to responsib
parties at $40, 900, per mile, payable in stoc
and bonds. Mr.. Poor has frequently pu
lishod the letting, and no one better know
the ample responsibility of the contractor
Mr.. Poor also knows that the engineers e
innate upon which the road was let, w
$22,50 cash, and that the amount of sto,
and bonds given the contractors per mile,
acash value, would not exceed that sum-.
The arrant duplcity. which he uses to pro
the enterprise speculation" is fully e
posed when the facts are known which he
studiously attempts to conceal, He al
endeavcrs TO create the impression III
Southwestern Indiana is almost a barre
unsettled waste, while he has the facts Al
figures in his own Office to tell him that 4
counties traversed by this line are at least
full average of any other nine contiguo
counties in the State.
We shall attend to the interests of {
Straight Line Railroadand Mr.. Poor lei
after.
Green River Fish Trade.