Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-09

tasstng tDFcuEu SHhtidt a"1 oouth-
ern Tnftana recently, when returning
from the South, we felt mortified at the
bare, comfortIess and tasteless appear
ance of too many of the Indiana farm
ers' houses In the South the most in
significant country house looks cool and |
comfortable or warm and cosy, accord
ing to the season, from the surroundings
of magnificent oaks and other forest or
fruit trees. While the grounds were laid
out with a view to please the eye, the
large houses were not without preten-
tons to architecture, skill and beauty.
Little trouble or expense is required to
indicate refinement within farm resi-
dences, yet, we are sorry to say, those of
our State are not so characterized. Evil
dence of a lack of cultivated love of
beauty prevails to an extent that is pain
full to witness among such an intelligent
and industrious population. We OBJ
served several new and even fine houses
planted in the center of rich farms,
which, from the want of those graceful
additions, wore such an appearance as
to hurt the sensibilities of a person
of taste--of one who wishes to.
see our agricultural population not
merely pecuniarily "well off," but
also mentally superior The farm resi-
dences we say looked naked, sad, and
/ comfortless. 1t seemed as if the inhab-
| itants could have no pleasing enjoy
ments in summer, other than those of a
coarse, animal nature, and must be sad
and sorrowful in winter, unless the
neighboring grocery assisted them in
its way. A few, il is true, had numbers
Of dwarfsh evergreens, under which
mice and rats might burrow, but those
were wretched substitutes for the shade
Of the natural forest and fruit trees.
By the way, Indianapolis is fast be-
coming an ornamental city, and a credit
to the State. Its inhabitants are doing
their utmost towards architectural adorn-
ment, fancifnl decorations, and display
The shops and store windows, too, and
the. exhibition Of goods are of the most
recherche and enticing style. / noticed
also the opening Of number of haRd-
some new stores in the leather, dry
goods, and grocery Wholesale lines, with
apparently extensive stocks going in.
The Evansville folks must bestir them
selves and consider" That trade will
find its level is true, but railroads are
now the chief channels by which the
streams of commerce flow, and they
will End their way wherever these lead
and nowhere else. We must add to our
natural advantages what we can of
those artificial, as well as diligently and
wisely use the former, or we shall lose
the prestige of locality and fall behind
the position we might occupy. We must
occupy as we'll as possess the various
routes, or others will for US, and thus
would Evansville lose much of that
trade which il looks upon as its natural
right. Little effort and money is
needed to retain and increase
the districts depending on US, but
once lost, they can never be regain
ed. Look to it. The rivers are not
open to us alone Facilities and con-
venience, but little more than we offer,
can lead the trade past our shores, or
stop it short, or turn it aside from US.
In large or fine buildings we can
not excel in any telling degree But in
| judicious employment of capital in aid
OF natural advantages we may place our
selves upon superior footing. Evans
vile should no: be left entirely on one
side of the great lines of transit. 1t
must have Southern rail extension. Ii
should endeavor to become not only a
point of transit, but a centre of trade
and manufacture, which would be the
natural result Of home-sustained diverg-
ing lines, but not without. Foreign
capital is just as apt to establish ship
yard or dock, for instance, or other en-
terprise, at Madison, Mound City, or
Paducah, as at this place.
Natural advantages count for much
but along the Ohio River, art and the
wise employment OF capital must deter
mine the precedence of ones place over
another in the long run. If the
Charlottesville road and the canal,
with its prospects in the begin
ming, had terminated at Mount Vernon
4 or Newburgh, who can doubt that the
two. places would now occupy reverse
positions in the scale of commercial i'm
! portance? And in the same manner is
the competitive progress of larger places
| governed. .'''-- 1919
1t is true of cities, as of individuals,
that Nature helps those most who help
themselves, and that trade will find its
level by the easiest, most reliable, and
convenient channels.
: At indianapolis, we sojourned at the
Spencer House, a most excellent hotel
Remarkably SO, considering its moderate
charges. A not unattractive feature OF
the dining tables, is dozen or two OF
good looking walters Attentive and
noiseless, they seemed to us much more
suitably employed than would lot Of
lazy, clumsy men. B. K. d.