Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-30
indianapolis

\ nc Gepttal VI Ouf &AOVStSr OsoAS 10 -
rapidly growing, as we'll as beautiful,
city Enterprise and thrift meet one on
every corner of her streets, aud on sll the
leading thoroughfares The quiet, easy
going movements which characterized
her business men in years gone By, has
given place to bustling, restless easrgy
that is truly surprising to those who are
acquainted with the past history Of the
city. indianapolis may now be 6tly
termed " fast city" including all that
is usually implied in the use Of the term
Her merchants are fast; her mechanics
are fast; her capitalists are fast; her
D easure-seekers are fast In fact, every
thing partakes Of the fast spirit, unless,
as 10 intimated BY some Of her citizens
of antiquated notions-who Sigh for the
Sabbath-Iike village Of the past-we ex.
cept her morals, which, they persist in
affirming, are somewhat loose. But of
this we are not prepared to speak expert
mentally. Probably, in this particular,
the Hoosier Capital is no worse of than
most Of her eotemporaries, which boast
OF rapid growah and prosperity. There
seems to be an alliance between vice
and worldly prosperity hard to dissolve.
Tbs city that boasts of the latter may be
regarded as the sure possessor Of a great
deal of the former.
We remember 10 other years how diff
6cult it vas TO persuade capitalists in
indianapolis to engage in enterprises
that involved any considerable outlay Of
money, and only promised returns at
some distant day in the future. We can
remember when the erection Of an or
binary plain three story brick building
was regarded as an evidence Of extra
ordinary public spirit and enterprise on
the part of the individual undertaking
IL; but what would many of the slumber.
ers in the cemetery adjoining the city
think, were they suddenly called from
their resting place DOW, and set down,
for instance, on Meridian Street between
Washington and the Union Depot, and
permitted to look around them. They
would see on either hand most superb
blocks Of four story buildings, erected
or in process of erection, finished in the
most gorgeous manner. Walking north
of the "circIe" on the same street, they
would behold most luxurious and gaudy
family residences surrounded with yards
they would hardly recognize as scenes
of social intercourse and enjoyment
when they were sojourners in the capi
tai They would behold similar palatia
residences on North Illinois, Pennsyl
vania, Tennessee, and Delaware Streets
Going East on Washington Street they
would behold spirit Of improvement
abroad that was never known when the]
operated upon this sub!uuary sphere
All the commercial Rip Van Winkle
have become thoroughly awake, auC
most of them are endeavoriug by heTcu
lean exertion to make up for their leth
Argy in the past. r.s7
, indianapolis does not boast any large
capitalists than many of her sister citie
in the State. oo the contrary, her in
come returns show that many other cite
in the State are ber superiors, both !
the number of large income tax-psyer'
and in the amount of business they do
But, in city pride, pnblie spirit snd lib
erality in improvements, her citizen
sand head and shoulders above those 0
any other city in the State In erectiB
business rooms they seem not to cslcu
late what style of building will brin
them in the largest income for the leas
{ outlay, bat what will contribute most tc
ward adorning and beautifying the cit.
{ They look not entirely to ihe none
they are to make in the enterprise, bu
to the amount of satisfaction they wi
derive in having done something tC
wards making their city the most beauti
full in the West hisnoR apparent tbs
this policy adopted,from 9 spirit Of emv
lation and pride is proving q peeuaial
advantage not fully comprehended Whs
they set about the work in earnes
There is no fact better substanLiatt
than that the style And- architectnr
beauty Of buildings erected in new 81
growing city have much to do in sccel
rating its growth and prosperity. On
/. fne hotel win attract dozen men
means and induce them to locate, viii
half dozen inferior establishment
i, would only disgust and drive the
away. One four story business bio,
o with handsome iron or stone front wou
" dc more towards attracting capital, e
terprise and skill, than three or fo
blocks Of wooden shantiss or tunb
down two-story bricks, with nine-in
N walls and rickety interiors. 1t is Il
lie lie fact that will account for the raj
iss growth of the capital; and this fact alo
} Is will account for her continued prospe
m. ty, now that the war, her greatest sour
t. Is, of gain, has come to an end, and
a., revenue she derived frem it has be
Of cut of.
len May not our citizens learn . less
s~ from the success OF our friends at
'i'y CapitalP Evansville possesses adv
tages unknown to other cities of I
"a. State. II she lacks at all or fails to Il