Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-30
The Railroad Election.

Mr. EDITOR: It has occurred to me
that something should be done to call
the attention of taxpayers to the fact,
and to tHw significance 10 them of the
fact, that the Council kRs ordered an
election to be held, ON NEXT MONDAY,
at which the people are to decide wheth-
er the city hall take stock to the amount
of $l50,000 in the old Straight Line
! Railroad Company, revived under the
name of the Evansville 4 Cincinnati
Railroad. For some reason best known
to itself and its advisers, the Council
has seen fit to give but brief time for de-
liberation upon this very important
question. One-half of that time has
already expired, and, thus far, the adj
vertisement of the election is, believe,
the only notice that has been taken of
it. The friends of the measure seem to
be particularly reticeht. They have not
word to offer in its favor They do
not even let us see the law under which
the election is to be held, that we may
Judge of its effect should the result be
faForable otheir wishes Is this avoid
ance of agitation part of the pro-
gramme by which they expect to carry
the election thrust upon the people in
this hot haste2 Or do they datter them
selves that the discussiens of last fall
we're SO decisive fits merits that further
argument is unnecessary?
However this may be, it is doubtless
your experience, Mr. Editor, as it is
mine, that the great difficulty in obtain
ing wise and proper results in elections
is TO induce those most interested to per-
al IL
And from the way this thing is man
aged, think that there is danger that 1
the result next Monday may be the con
sequence If inattention and neglect,
rather than of conviction on the part of
those who have. to bear the additional
burthen of taxation proposed
am, sir, q Straight Line Man be-
heve it would be to the interest of the
city to make an absolute gift of the $780,. |
600, if that would secure the road. But,
one single fact determined me, as well |
as many others at the time, as know,
to vote against this Subscription of
Stock. -ies--e.sa
Mr.. Francis Fellows, and Mr.. John J. |
Merritt, the former the trustee of the |
Straight Line Railroad Company, and
the latter standing in somewhat simi-
lar relation to Mr. Willard Carpenter,
taking advantage Of their positions,
bought, on their individual accounts,
the road-bed and its franchises for a
few thousand dollars They have now
organized the Evansville and Cincin-s
matt Railroad Company for the sole pur-
pose, 80 far as they are concerned, of
making themselves market for their
property. Mr.. Jones, of this city, is
their attorney. Yet il was most remark
able, that when he called us together to
enlighteu Us as to this project, he was
totally unable TO inform us what price
his clients would demand fpr their spec
ulation in what shape they wonId re-
squire the purchase money to be paid,
or anything about it. True, he said,
if recollect Alright, his idea was, they
would receive first mortgage bonds in
payment but he did not profess to
speak by authority of his clients, and
gave US no assurance that the money
of the city would not go into their
peeketsto buy back The road bed. His
utter failure to show any possibility of |
building the road, whatever use might be |
made of the city's subscription, was al
so very gremarkable. ET
Now, sir, however much / would favor
this ra lroad scheme under other cir /
cumstances, am not disposed to 40 it |
blind. l am not willing again to put it
in the power of city Councils or railroad |
Directories to sqnander the money of |
this already over-taxed community upon |
another swarm of greedy spectators, |
in an immature and impracticabIe at |
tempt to build he road wiihout pI1n or
method. As at present advised, /, for
one, shall not fail to vote against the
subscription. IS GY9 CIvIs-