Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-22
MICHIGAN CIEYr Ind, , .Aug. II. ]


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MIcHIGAS CITYr Ind Aug IL ia
The State of Indiana has entersd the
lists for con msrcial renown, and seeks
On outlet in nayigabls waters for her
products. With over thirty miles of
coast skirting the head of Lake Michi-
gan, Indiana now possesses no harbor,
no wharves, 10 fleets and no commerce.
pYeegs ago there was harbor at Michi-
! ehn City which could boast brisk aud
thriving conmercs in a smal way, but it
was suffered to die out and become extinct
by the sheerest mismsnagenent, in
1853, when an appropriation By Congress
was misapplied and utterly lost As
was indicated in my telegram of this
date bre&kwater was constructed, and
vas anehored with stone taken from the
two piers which had hitherto protected
the harbor. The piers were thus de-
stroyed and rendered useless, and the
6rst storm that swept across 1he lake
drove the break water ashore, q wrecked
folly. And so the harbor, left to itself,
Glled ups and was soon numbered with
The things Of the past. ,sl5ea
All efforts to secure Congressional ap-
propriatious having failed, the people,
more especially those living in the north.
western portion Of the State, have deter.
mined 20 reconstruct the harbor at
Michigan City at their owniscost. To
this end Congressional grant was OBJ
tained, donating to TIE State theremains
of the piers, etc. constructed by the
Government A stock company was
formed Tor the purpose Of raising $780,
900, the amount necessary for accom-
plishing the proposed Improvement, and
canvassers set to work for subscribers to
the shares which were pnt at $50 each.
The Louisville, New Albany and Chics.
70 RailFosd Company Subscribed $780,
000; ;,citizens in and about Mich gan City
subscribed $75, 900, leaving . $l25 900 to
| be raised. eles g
"A Macs Convention was called for to.
day at Michigan City 10 which free ex.
cursiou trains brought thousands of pso-
pie. Many of the principal speakers of
the State we're present and addressed
the people, urging them BY. every con-
sideration to subscribe literally to the
object " Is s 5ss,asi = 70 p
The Convention was called to order as
ore o'clock in the afternoon by Hon. III.
1 r. Walker, Mayor ofMichigsn City, who
bad previously been selected to ofiiciate
as chairman pro tenn. he briefly set
forth the objects of the Convention, and
nominated Judge A. L Osborn, of La
porte, for permanent Chairman.
Judge Osborn spoke Of the aecessity
of improving the natural Advantages
possessed by Michigan City, asserting
that the time will leome when the Govern.
ment will be compelled 10. construct O
harbor here, out of it's own resources,
70 accommodate naval ,armamsnts for
! the protection of commerce ON the up
per lakes. saso 1sisis
A long list of Vice Presidents and
Secretaries, mostly selected from inte-
rior counties of the State, was then an.
! | nouuced. ..ss.als5sa
, Hon. Henry s. Lane, United States
Senator, addressed the Convention. he
said we propose to build q harbor-s
great harbor in Michigan City. Com
} merce is and has been In every age the
J handmaid and foreruhner Of civilization
. And new we propose 10 make additional
facilities for the export of the product,
of the State of Indiana. The great
beautiful and proud State Of Illinois has
| its great harbor at aChicag0--Chi Chicago
, the magnificent city--the greatest won
der Of the nineteenth century. Wiscon
sin, too, has her harbof at Milwaukee
and Indiana must have hers at Michi
gan City. Now, how shall we eonstruc
: this harbor2 The Government has ap-
: propriated Sl50,000 in drIblets for th,
: improvement of our harbor Had thi
appropriation been made ct once
! you'd have accomplished something
I But as it has been. il, has amounted L
\ I nothing, The wrecks that have strewl
+ these shores, to say nothing Of valuable
= lives sacrificed, would construct on
y harbor twenty times over. Now it wi
I require less than 100000 10 make ou
o hArbor ell that could ba wished It mus
It be constructed by subscription. Ever
q farmer in Indiana is interested in thi
& matter. What is your wheat worth, an
q what 10 the value of your products ger
n erallyP When came here twenty -fiv
J. years ago you had but few houses an
% but few inhabitants, and yet your con
% merce was greater than It now is. Il
. diana has built up Chicago, Detroit, TX
~ iedo aud other commercial cities, but hs
. done nothing for herself. We have nc
" got harbor in Indiana. We must haN
% one--a great harbor, such as il demsnr
N ed by the commercial requirements
D the States. But all the speaking and Q
ID the'gas that may be expended woC't bui
~ your harbor. You must down with yor
:. names, for. subscription alone win a
- complish the work. Old as lam, / abs
g live TO see hundreds Of rich.laden lal
In crafts ahoat in your harbor. You ha'
"a, men Of wealth, probity and honor who
you can trust, and who viii administ
this matter in an able and Just manns
W Hon. g. S. 0rth, M. G., addressed Z
rs Convention. He said the people of |
ov- diana. were dependent upon Chicae
81 Detroit, and Toledo. This must be
no longer. We may as well understal
1e1 the matter as it stands. We must {
RS pecs nothing from the Government,
40 the Government has done sll that can
~. done at present. Our harbor must
va built BIZ individual subscription.
have been taxed time and again to j
2 prove the harbors at Chicago, Milws
kee, and Detroit, and ystwe mnst ha
ous our harbor without outside assistan
ing I have promised that nay constitnel
IN win to-day put their hands into th
hat pockets and do something. for the
all selves and the harbor. Competent
nth ginsers have declared that the insign
red cant sum Of 100000 win construct
il hrst-class harbor here. The only th
the that can keep the railroad (tbs Lor
his vile, New Albany, and Chicago) ali
tail Ia the constructor of harhor he
and Take this road away from the farm
and Of jasper, White, and Pulaski, and "