Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-01-18
LETTER FROM LAUREL.
lcorrespondencc OF the Americana
LAUREL. IsD., Jan. 2, 1867.

LAUREL. IsD., Jan. 2, 1867.
Very glad, Mr.. Editor, for your correct
ing me in my last in relation to the po-
litical antecedents Of Mr.. II. Q. Lord
On no account would Intentionally in
jurc the reputation Of any man by act or
word, and especially one whose life and
energies arc spent for the benefit Of others
as we'll as his own. 1t is just such men
as he that / delight to honor. What
would be the condition Of our country to-
day il we had no such men in it? For
forty or fifty years the Inhabitants of the
White Water Valley have been jogging
along on the "pod.auger" system, and
would 10 day be in the same condition had
IL not been for Mr.. Lord.
True il is, few years ago an effort was
made 10 get, US cut Of the hills and brush,
but for the want Of master mind OF will
and purpose, we failed, utterly failed, with
considerable toss Of time, patience and
money to quite a number Of gentlemen.
Contrast the present with the past, and II
must be patent TO all what the will aud
purpose Of one man can accomplish, and
at so small cost to tho citizens OF the Val.
Icy. Why, sir, believe every dollar do.
mated to the Railroad Company Of which
Mr.. Lord is chief has been already ro-
turned fourfold, tssay nothing about the
increase In tho value OF lands and town
property along tho whole lice Of the road
| am not fully posted In this matter at
other points, but here know property
has raised at least one hundred per cent,
and In many instances two hundred
There may DO n reason for this. Laurel
10 good point, perhaps tho best on the
line, aud the Company are making prep.
aratlone with an ego In that direction,
think, from the amount Of work thcy arc
doing. They have double track the
whole lepgih Of town, and have built q
very nice Passenger Depot, aud arc pre-
pairing TO bald large Freight Depot
They have also built two engine houses
aud turning table, and ut this writing
there arc no less than twenty.seyen freight
and three passenger cars standing on the
switch
The future growth aud prosperity Of
Laurel will, Ia my humble opinion, de-.
pend upon our Hydraulic Company. II
they succeed 10 getting a good supply Of
water, We may expect manufacturing es.
adjustments TO spring up. understand
II is In contemplation as soon "a Spring
opens to build largo Paper Mill and
Wooden Factory, which l hope may be
true.
Some persons seem 10 think / take
great amount Of trouble aud interest
myself very much about Laurel and its
prosperity. Well, sir, it is the best thing
l can do. As | am not possessed with
capital TO invest myself, | feel like indu.
cling others to take hold and 20 ahead,
fully satisfied in. my own mind it will pay.
/ have the nerve, but lack The means All
we want is manufacturing establishments
TO mako our town one Of the best in the
White Water Valley; AID If you can find
any more beautiful and picturesque valley
in the State, l have yet to see it, and |
have been al over il.
AS remarked in former letter, COM
mercc alone will never build up any town
or city. If j would, surely any person
who would step into the stores of Hazard
Geycr AID Henry would cxclaim, Your
prosperity must be unbounded, to see the
stacks and piles Of merchandise their
shelves aud counters are groaning under,
where you can procure anything you ask
for in the way Of merchandise, at fair pri.
ces aud on reasonable terms. These gen.
tlcmcn are doing their share manfully;
but there are others who have the means
but lack the energy aud enterprise, or are
afraid somebody else would be benefited
if they showed any disposition to be lib.
eral. Thank God, have always believed
| did not live in this world for self and
selfish purposes alone, but for the benefit
Of my fellow men. How far | have sue
ceeded in that direction, my circumstances
pecuniarily will tell ! love to live to see
Others happy and prosperous, and envy no
man his wealth but | cannot love or res.
pect tho niggardly and pcnurious man,
who, like the dog in the masgcr, will
neither cat the hay himself nor let the OK
eat it. Yours, &C.,
A. w. SULIENDERoER.