The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-04-01
or Yesterday, we attempted 10 convey to


our readers some idea Of the magnificent the
atre Of industry and trade our city could be
made, by broad, enlightened. magnanimous
policy, executed with energy and determine.
ton. We will now present the reverse OF
the picture. Let narrow, selfish, or penny
wise, old fogy system prevail, distracted by
personal chickering's and jealous
les, and silence and ruin will come over the
town, and the cows may be pasturcd in its
streets. Our railroads are not valuable only |
for the amount of trade they may each sepa. J
rately produce; but the effect Of construct.
ing one, is to produce another. As market
grows in Importance, it attracts trade to it, by
reason of its growth; large markets are al.
ways more attractive to customers than
small ones. So, the more the place grows.
the more it will attract, and its increase will
be in a geomctrical ratio. 1t is the same
with the decline of market; the loss Of one
trade diminishes tho attractions Of other
branches; and once the tide Of commerce is
turned from place. it sinks in . more rapid
ratio than the area of Its trade is diminished.
f we do not grow and maintain our relative
importance as commercial point. We can't
retain the trade within tho area of our pres
ent commerce. Trade, like almost every
thing else in the world, has attraction for its
like, and has tendency to aggregate.
Arrest one road and No destroy the pros
poets of the others II the assaults upon the
Straight Line should defeat il. no apprprOia-
ton sor aid-from vindictiveness or retalia-
tion--would be allowed to others. The f. &
C. would never so any farther than its pres
ent terminus-it would remain worthless
branch" subject appsndags to other roads,
dependent upon their sxactions. and submits
sive to their dictation for such connections as
they might be pleased to grant-which we
may be sure would not b calculated to pro-
mote our interest. With this, one miscrably
dependent branch road what would be the in
ovitable fate Of the city. Its trade would be
palsied; its attractions - market would be
lost-an1 what inducemsnts would be loft to
build other roads to US, or for people to come
to US. The centre Of travel would be at Vim.
cennes instead Of Evansville. The Southern
Illinois road would pass up the West side Of
the Wabash and sweep from US not only the
trade along its own line. but that which
might be brought down from the Upper Wa
bash Valley by the Northern roads to Vim
cennes, would find its way, nine months in
the year, to Cairo, over the Southern Illinois
road. Mount Carmel and GRANVILLE would
cease to desire connection with US. The
people Of Paducah and Smithland, would
turn from US, and look for their connections
up the river, to the Louisville and Memphis
road which will run not far in the rear oil
their line. And the Nashville and Henderson
road would. for all practical purposes, termin-
ate at Henderson, and would become useless
except to transport the tobacco Of . few interior
counties to the stemeriss ct that place. All
the valuable trade Of Green River would
cease to find an attraction 1t small deeli.
ming town, without spirit or enterprise; and
would be taken off By the Nashville and
Louisville road, through Bowling Green, and
the road from Louisville to Memphis, cross
ing it at a lower punt. and find its depots ai
Louisville and Memphis. And then how rap.
idly would the brilliant prospects that now
encircle us. fade away like the declining hues
Of summer cloud iluminsd by the rays o.
the setting sun, when drrkness is gathering
upon the scene
We must push our Straight Limo Road, and
the extension to Attca, through, at whatever
cost or sacrifice, to draw other roads to us,
by offering them eligible and Independent con-
nections East and Nortb-conneciions which
we ourselves can control and regulate to sui,
their wants and convenience. II we can,
offer them these, they will turn to places
where they can obtain them. Unless we car
give these advantages we are no better of fol
the future than Newburgh, Rockport, or any
other small town on tho river. and with oul
present discordant counsels. we shall probably
sink below them. With our present road
dependent in all its movements and manage.
ment---its terms Of frcight---its hours Of do
parturc and arrival upon the interests ant
caprice ofother roads. whatj terms can it Of.
fer to other roads to come to it? What ROAD
viii subject itself to such dependent and nm
certain conditions. Eneitber road would pay
cent of itself after its line was completed
they both should be built for their influence t,
attract other roads to US. The very rivalry thel
will create between themselves will be an at
traction of itself to draw other roads to on
centre, as it will be a guarantee Of fair term
and treatment by both. Abandon or destro,
either of these roads. and the people of thi
city will abandon and destroy the gloriou
hopes and prospect of their city.-ard he VIII
encourages them to do either. is false IS
f=:axd and traitor 70 Tiki hasx