The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-10-24
Ohio and Mississippi Road.

We learn by gentleman from the town of
Washington that the Mississippi and Ohio
Railroad is rapidly progressing, and that the
track-layers have approached with their line
of iron rails within few miles of that town;
and the whole road will be completed from
Vincennes to Cincinnati early in the spring
The history of this road proves that Rail-
road once begun in this country, is never aban-
doned. One Company may fail, and give it
up, but their labors are always a sufficient
foundation for new men to start upon and push
the enterprise forward to completion. Indi-
yiduals may lose, but the State and the COM
munity are gamers by every stroke that is
struck upon such Improvements. The public
owe debt of deep gratitude to those who I'M
dertake them and incur the risks. 1t is one
of the striking evidences of the Development
of the modern mind, to see one or two men
combine to provide the MEANS by the system
of modern credit to carry forward works of
improvement for State, which, not more than
generation past, it would have been thought
to require the resources of an empire and
the power of an emperor to accomplish. The
Simplon Road, the most glorious monument
of the power of Napoleon and the resourc es
of his government, sinks into insignifcance
in comparison with many of the enterprises
planned and carried to completion by few
and sometimes by single one--of our citi-
zens How insignificant does the wagon road
over the mountains of Switzerland, appear in
length and magnitude compared to the long
line Of Railways to which we can point as the
our private citizens. We have men among us
-unhonored prophets in their own homes and
day-who, though actuated by the prospect of
individual profit, will confer more benefits on
the community wherein they labor, than the
government of the State and those who receive
its honors for discharging its functions-have
performed for the people since its organization.
The public have but slight appreciation OF
the merits and labors of these men, because
they labor in a private station and are actua-
ted by personal motives. But do not those
who receive public station and honors have
private motives? And the works in which
these private men are engaged often require a
stretch of mind and genins-an energy and
devotion to labor that would carry on the
whole machinery of government like ours !;
and with these labors comes the fearful pecu-
mary and moral responsibilities. which no Of
fetal ever incurs.
The great public Benefactors Of this day,
are the men who are projecting and carrying
forward the great works of Improvement by
Railways. They are displaying powers, ge-
MUS and enduring labors that the highest hon.
ors and the most magnificent fortunes are but
Just reward; a reward that the public should
most willingly concede and bestow. The
spirit of enterprise of the present day is pro-
ducing so many Dewitt Clintons in the pri-
vate walks of life that they are not recognized
always at home, where petty jealousies and
rivalries, obscure the magnitude and value Of
their labors. Fortunate is the people that
has man for these labors and for these times
with sagacity to foresee and plan and an en-
ergy to execute these great enterprises. But
it is deep dishonor and a fatal wrong to them
selves, having him, not to recognise him; OF
recognizing him, to obstruct his course and
impair his usefulness, lest he should become
greater than those who never see any thing
but dollar, placed upon the end If theil
nose.