The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-01

Wallace. A dinner was provided, at
which appropriate speeches were
nude. and many brilliant toast drank.
The festivity was closed with a
ball, which was graced by the pres
ence of the beauty and fashion of this.
and the surrounding counties, includ
ing a large representation from Hen
,ot9rg on. asAsaas.ss
Tor a year or more after this event,
every hing seemed to prosper; there
was great immigration to this town:
much speculation in land here and in
the vicinity; every lot was mine of
gold; it seemed as if in few years
we should equal any city of the west,
But, when this State broke
down under the great
burthen Of internal improve
ments she had undertaken to bear,
the shock was felt here as we'll as in
every other part Of Indiana. For
long time we. were stationary and de-
pressed. In the Spring of 1871,
meeting was held at Washington,
Daviess County, for the purpose of
deEisins some measureof resuscitating
the works upon our canal, and, ii pos-s
sible, to complete them. Delegates
were sent from this place 70 that meet
ing They were, Amos CLARK, Nathan
Rowley, John j. Chandler, and the
late G. W. S. White I think their
names ought to be mentioned forto
their Qggestibns aalt chat occasion, are
we indebted for the completionlof the
Wabash and Erie Canal, which,
though it has not realized all the ben
eits we expected from it, unddubted
ly by its prestige secured to US suchsa
population and wealth, as to render it
certain that we Shall be a great cam
mercial city. Without it, it is not
probable we should have ever con-
stt ucted cur railroad,
The plan proposed by these delegates
to the Washington Convention, and
which was. accepted BY that body, was,
to petition Congress- to donate land
one-half of the land, in Vincennes
District for the purpose of finishing
this work. An able memorial to Con-.
gress, asking for this donation, pre-
pared By the hands of Judge j Law,
was presented to meeting held IN
this city for the purpose Of consider
ing it, and being approved OF, was
sent Washington; aud after much
labor and expense on the 'partaof our
citizens to procure its passage, the
grant was obtained. Then 1t was tEat
certain bond holders to whom Indiana
owed the greatest portlone9f her debt,
offered to take the land above do
mated, and what has been given, for
the purpose of making this Canal
and finish it: besides, for one-half of
her debt, to look to the proceeds of.
its profits for payment. And although
this arrangement was so beneficial
the State thus getting rid of one-half
Of her debt, and securing the making
Of this great public work-yet it was
not without great difficulty our Legis-
lature could be forced to agree to it.
Itwas finally, however,, in the session
Of 1867 Of our Legislature, sane
toned, in the passage of an act called
the Butler bill; Charles Butler, Esq,
OF New York, having been the agent
Of the bond holders to bring about
the measure \Smce then our city has
continued to advance IN wealth and,
lp0pulationaa8a Is saJ fH
[ remark with sadness at the close
of these remembrancesl of Evans
vile, that Of those of, the male popu-
-lation, so farias [ know, who like my
self come here IN 1919 to settle, none
now remain but Nathan Rowley, Esq!*
From the first, his faith has been I'M
faltering that he should live to see
this a great commercial city. Long
may he live to enjoy the reward of
his faith; for none more than he, by
his money d proportion to his means,
and by his labor, has contributed to
bring about this result.
January, 1858.
Esquire Rowly is still living within a
faxy miles Of f}afSs ri