The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-09-16

vile content to have a single railroad, and that
one avoiding the great central valley of the
State? What has changed the views of the
Mayor and Common Council of your city, if
such change has taken place? Which l hope
for the sake of the faith Of the city, as well as
for the success of the enterprise is not the
case.
Again, with what justice can the city refuse
to deliver over the bonds? Was not the sub
scription bona tide one? Was it not one of
the first subscriptions to the work? Did it
not induce others to subscribe? Was it not
in faith Of the payment of the subscription
that the contract for the work was made?-
Did not Mr.. Carpenter and myself subscribe to
the work, and pay our subscriptions in good
faith, relying upon the city of Evansville to
pay her subscription in like good faith? Have
not the subscribers on the upper end of the
line paid their subscriptions to be applied to
the division between Evansville and the cross
ing Of the Ohio and Mississippi Road? Have
not the Board III consideration of the subscrip-
tons of Evansville, Lamasco and the citizens
OF Vanderburgh county, commenced the work
on the end of the line next to Evansville, so as
to give that city the benefit of the division
first put to use? Has not the city of Evans
vile been fully represented in the Board p
Has the city ever asked for the election of a
Director that has not been granted? Have
not the Contractors done all that could be done
III the times, and under the circumstances
that surrounded them, to progress with the
work? Have they not raised means to meet
estimates, by their individual notes, when
there was no sale for bonds? Have any other
Contractors or any other company in the
State, during the stringent times done more
than has been done on our road in the same
EOtEv de IN 4l,a
failed since we commenced ours, while our
work has not been suspended a single day, and
every estimate has been paid?
What other company has found the officers
and Contractors, willing to make the personal
sacrifices that we have made? | have dis
charged the duties of President since the or
ganization of the Board, and have never re-
ceved to this day, one dollar for my services,
and have paid my expenses, i'll the State out
of my private pocket and finding that we
could not go forward as fast as we expected, |
voluntarily reduced my salary one thousand
dollars per year. And as to Mr.. Carpenter. [
know he has increased liabilities, an made
personal sacrifices, to secure the read to the
city Of Evansville, that no other man, in or out
of the State, would have made.
| learn that objections are made TO the con-
tract the road unanimously entered into with
Willard Carpenter & Co. Suppose that con-
tract was such as the road should not have
made. Still it was the act of the whole D
rector, made in good faith, and certaialy cou d
be no apology for Subscribers Withholding
their subscriptions, however it might induce
them to change their Directors and Officers.
But am authorized to say that the Con-
tractors stand ready to surrender the Contract,
settle up with the Company and give to any
new substantial Company of Contractors, who
Will guarantee the performance of the Con-
tract $4,000. So that they do not believe
they have got much advantage in the Contract.
Nor do |. On the contrary | am well salts
fed the Contract was for the best interest Of
the Company.
1t has been suggested to me that some sup
posed interest that the city Of Evansville, or
some of its citizens have in the stock of the
Evansville and Charlottesville Road, may in
tiuence the feelings and judgment Of your
Road.
But | cannot, for one moment presume such
to be the case, as it is evident that the benefits
that must result to the city, of Evansville, by
the construction Of our road, to say nothing
of the loss to be surtained, should the work
ultimately fall as to the value of the
stocks-wil be SO overwhelming as to deprive
the mere question of the value of Stocks in
the Evansville and Charlottesville Road, of a
moments consideration. | must not be I'M
derstood as disparaging that road, or its i'm
portance to your city. | hold that both roads
are essential to your future growth and pros
perity.
Further, have you considered the effect you
will produce on the work and its prospects by
refusing in good faith to pay your subscrip-
ton? If yoW refuse, why should others pay?l
NJ or11a pOt ~. III
or subscribers, who have paid their subscrip-
ton, which have gone into the work? Would
it not fall at least temporarily, with blighting
effect upon our prospects at home and abroad,
even should we compel their delivery by legal
means? Icannot suppose that you would he
willing to arrest a work SO essential to the
prosperity OF your city, or IN any manner en-
barrasS the company, or Contractors in their !
struggles to construct it.
If you are not satisfied with your Directory
on our Board name the change YOU sh
made and will aid in making it. If you
prefer another President, | am ready to resign
the moment the stockholders say SO. Indeed
if We are to be embarrassed at home by those
who ought to be our friends, it becomes mat
ter of serious consideration whether duty to
myself will not require my retirement from a
position where all my efforts, by night and by
day, may prove abortlve l have the utmost
confidence in the work, and feel no doubt what
ever gifts construction, and the ultimate value
of its stocks, if its friends will but stand to-
gether, and do their duty. And so long
as they will do so, | shall continue, at their
request, to discharge the duties of President
to the best of my abilities.
We propose to build the road from Evans
vile to the crossing of the Ohio and Mississip-
pi road, SO as to be prepared with the through
line, at the earliest possible day, from Evans
vile to CINCINNATI. j