The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-28

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ment, WILLIAM IA. WALKER &C.
counts for It in a great measure by the
Is costly and highly useful bridges built,
the bridge oUer Pigeon Greek at Frank
LIN Street.-The fridge at Cody's MI
/ the bridge at Linrpeiler's Ferry" Il
will be borne in mind that Mr.. WALK
Err is the citizen selected by the De-
mocraey as the one pre-eminently
qualified by his known ability to take
charge of the important municipal
affairs Of our people-to inaugurate
and carry forward the public
improvements which will be need
ed by our growing city. If
elected he will most probably be
called upon to devise a plan for the
erection of costly and permanent
water-works; he viii be expected to
devise some way Of improving our
Harbor, now threatened with COM
plete destruction by the encroaeh-
ments Of the bar and the changes Of
the river; the Avenue to Oak Hill
Cemetery must be completed the COM
ing season; the growth Of the city
will require an extension of our bowl
dered aud graveled streets, and our
sewers; each year the demand for new
school houses increases; railroads are
being projected in two or three direc-
tions. Is Mr.. WALKER qualified to
take charge of these important and
expensive public works?
He says, in his Cards and editorial
articles, which constitute the little
defense which he has dared to make,
that he has had some connection
with such matters before and points US
to the " costly and highly useful bridges
built; The bridge over Pigeon Creek, at
Franklin Street; he bridge at C0dy's
MI; the bridge at LinrDeiler's
Ferry" He might with equal credit
have added to the list which consti-
tute the monument to Democratic
skill and economy in public improve
ments, the bridge and culvert at
MARTIN STINsoN's, in the Lower
Bayou, and the culvert over Locust
Greek all built while he aud the
Democratic officials had charge Of
county affairs.
Let US see how these sustain Mr..
WALKERS defense, and whether in
them any recommendation can be
found of his qualifications for the
Office Of Mayor of Evansville. The
examination is fraught with impor-
lance to the people of this city.
Taking them in the inverse order
of their Importance, we will state
facts which will be sustained by the
County Records and by the knowledge
of the old citizens Of the County, and
which Mr.. WALKER will hardly deny.
The Locust Greek culvert, which was
erected at a large expense to the
County during the last six years of
Mr.. WALKERS administration, before
it was finished threatened to tumble
In, and an additional wing wall was
built; and then, after it was COM
pleted, it became necessary to put up
new abutments to make the culvert
safe and secure beyond a peradUentgre
and hold up the wall. But notwith-
standing these precautions, very soon
after the work was received by the
County the wall sprung, the arch of
the culvert cracked, and, but for the
subsequent expenditures made by the
Republican County officials, the whole /
structure would have been long ago in |
the bottom of the creek.
At MARTIN STINsoN's, in the lower |
Bayou, in the first instance, a bridge
was built, which, despite the skill Of
our able Democratic County mana
gers. tumbled down after the Commits
sioners had received it. SO it was
determined to erect one Of the costly /
and useful" improvements to which /
Mr.. WALKER refers with so much APP
parent pride. The stone culvert, I
built at heavy expense to the County, /
has been "caved in for some time, /
and the water-course completely OBJ
structed. A heavy outlay IS now
necessary to make this costly" af- !
fair " useful"
Mr.. WALKER accounts, in part, for /
the heavy taxes of his administration
by the costly and useful" bridge at .
LINxwEILER' ferry. He forgets to