The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-01-30
The Africa Road.

Inc AGllca ROAD.
Our readers will pasdon us if we bore them
upon the subject of our railroads. We yield
our space to our correspondents on these sub
jects from a conviction Of their, vital impor-
lance to the city There is to be an impor-
tant commercial city in the future some where
mid way between the Falls and the mouth Of
the Ohio; where it will be, depends upon the
mental energies that may be set to work to
create it. Local advantages will have some
influence; the introduction Of capital may eX
ert some power but more depends upon. the
minds that are engaged in it, and the energy
with which they act. Other places have as
great, or nearly as great local advantages as
we, which are not now thought Of but which
some sagacoas and enterprising men, may
raise up, as powerful competitors to us, unless
we secure the start of them. What has made
the city what it is, but the past activity and
enterprise Of its citizens; it has been-the activ-
ity Of their minds more than their hands that
has builtthe city Shawneetown is the natu-
raj depot of the Wabash trade going South
She is nearer the confluence of the principal
tributaries Of the Ohio. She is surrounded by
"a richer agricultural country, She has Eve
workable veins of,exceIent coal within two
miles Of her.ifr they do not extend under her
streets; she has salt wells all around her; and
she~is surrounded with the richest and most
abundant beds Of iron ore that exist on this
continent; ana what has made the contrast
between her condition and ours? Would not
a change of residence Of fifty or hundred OF
our citizens. fifteen or twenty years ago, to
that point, have changed the relative position
of the two places? We believe the growth
and prosperity ofthe city and country around
US depends upon keeping tiie minds of our
people awake to the necessity OF eXertion
Mr. EDIToR:t-It must have been apparent
to your readers, that there are many other
routes by which passengers may be drawn to
our road independently Of those Ihave already
enumerated-my theme enlarges as it pro
ceeds, and from time to time as such occurs
to me 50 | sha'l detail them
[ First, There are the passengers to be obtain
ed from those who travel on the Henderson
and Nashville Railroad and who must Of
necessity come or our line, as no otherroute
would be opened to them. ...,..........
Secondly The day must and viii come when
we shall be the Cincinnati of this district, at
which time daily packet will arrive and de
part between here and Louisville as also be-
tween here and Cairo.
Iitindly There will be short packet lines
both up and down the river. In consequence
of there being no railroad connection on the
Indiana and Illinois side Of the river between
Cairo and New Albany, so those persons com
ing up the Ohio and passing East will take our
line and many of those travelling down the
river to this point will travel on our railroad.
= F5luthly, A Paducah packet running in con
neetion with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
will pour q vast number OF passengers into
our city and on the track. go .aa4 a.5't.t sa
saFTtthly,. Tie Green river, Wabash and canal
packets viii have daily lines which will pour
numbers into our lap of travel. Il gUujGq
The above are some of2the few avenues, leI
sides those before enumerated, from which
travel may be obtained, were we upon direct
route to Lake Erie q A4@
Such are no imaginary ideas but are truths,
and are daily exemplified in the case Of the
city of Cincinnati, and her several avenues of
trade and commerce. .-r5 mama. ,-,-,,..,,.,
Think not | am oYerSanguine-I look for
the time, and do not believe it far distant,
when our city will resound with the hammer
and anvil, steam engines be as numerous and
1act0TleS as aOunuaflC as the most uOurTShlng.
of the cities of the Ohio and Mississippi val
lies
What city can be found with such great
natural resources as Evansville?
Where such facilities of water conveyance?
Where such abundance Of woods and lumber?
Where such place at which the necessaries
Of life are cheaper? Fuel the greatest staple
ofwealth, is actuallylying beneath our feet
and only waiting for the demand to draw it
from the bowels of the earth.
Water Of the best description suitable for
both health and manufacturing purposes is
promised us-salt it is expected Will be man
utactured here. Paper ofthc best quality Will
be made. Iron works and nanulac .ories OF
all kinds viii be crowded upon us. In truth
we shall and must be before many years bu-
sy hive Of industry. But it must be renen
bered that for the consummation Of all this we
must have direct line to Lake Erie. 10 pro-
duce such an end we must direct all our ,ner7
gies to it,. Let US then at once take the initi-
alton. The ball have endeavored to set in
motion let others roll; the gauntlet | have
thrown down let some other take up, or in
fact let such proceedings be taken as shall
produce the most speedy completion of our
main line. .4lVt ..ra-s rs
a' In my next | will commence to touch on
other matters in financial point respecting
the building Of the road.
Zoo Yours respectfully, ----------
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01TVessels are clearing at the Eastern
ports for the American Guano Islands in The
Pacific. These islands have been discovered