The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-08


for the purpose of interesting our
citizens in proposed new railroad.
Among the gentlemen were Joseph
and Thomas Cooper and Thomas
Martin, from Jasper County; Col.
Finley Preston, Col. Mortimore
O'Kean and VIM. Newell, of Olney.
At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
they were met at the parlors of the
American House by large number
of our leading citizens, among whom
were Mayor Baker, Chas. Viele, John
S. Hopkins, VIM. Heilman, NJ. Hen
ming, DIG. Mark, J. S. Jaquess, Geo
Preston, J. Fl. Morgan, Dr. Hallock,
III. E. Blemker, Geo p Hudspeth,
Dr.. Cloud, Dr.. G. Keller, DR., Bray,
Osborne Reilly and others. The
meeting was organized by calling
Mayor Baker to the Chair, and APP
pointing d. G, Mark Secretary
Colonel f. Jones. of Olney, Hi
nois, exhibited diagram Of the pro-
posed railroad, which is projected
from Nation, Illinois. the junction
of the Chicago branch of the Illinois
Central with the Terre Haute, Alton
and St. Louis Railroad, via Prairie
City, county seat Of Cumberland
County; Newton, county seat Of JAS
per; Olney, County seat of Richland,
to GRANVILLE, White County; and
thence through Posey and Wander
burgh Counties. Ind ana, to EVANS
vile. 4 5ai 7e '.a2Ii sf-H
He then 10 clear and forclble
manner, pointed out the great adVan-
tages tombe derived by Evansville
from the construction of this road,
which passes through one Of the most
fertile regions Of Southeastern Illinois,
whose people were largely engaged in
agriculture and dealing III produce,
and who desired short and direct
outlet to the Ohio River The dis
lance from Matteons to 0lney is fifty
nine miles, from iOlney to GRANVILLE
thifty!one, and from GRANVILLE to
Evansville thirty miles, making
total of one hundred and twenty miles.
Surveys and estimates had been made
of the road from Nation to
Obey, which, showed that the road
could be built atvery-little cost, lcom-
paratiyely,, being mostly through
level prairie, with but. one stream Of
any impprtance-the Embarras--to
CROSSE Thelipeoplei he said, on the
other Side, desired this outlet. and
were suxions to have our CO -opera--
ton, and we're ready to build the road
from NATION to GRANVILLE five
would build it from EvansVillet6 that
point. o q DsYilIG sb1mf3d pa
COT O'Keap made further axplaaTna-,
ti0ns relative to the means TO build
the road, . anda he, as we'll as Col.
Preston and others, pointed out the
absolute necessity Of building the
road, if the people oof Evansville
would retain the valuable trade
of that portion of Illinoisg Wespe
cially in view of the almost
certain construction. of the Inai-
annapolis, a5oVincennes and Cairo
RoadpIgi They had propositions
from Mt Vernon, and were en- route
to that city,to confer with the citizens,
but preferred this point as the ter
minus. and had come here first to soc
what acknowledgement they could re-
ceiye, nv I'D, 80 psual
Mr.. Newell also spoke to the same
effect, aud expressed great confidence
that the people Of Illinois along the I
line Of the road would prepare the
road feady'for the iron, and with the
influence of Evansville and the con-
struction tof the read hence to Gray
vile, would be able to secure means
for its completion. -
Mr.. j. S. Hopkins, Mr.. Viele, Mayor
Baker, and others spoke on the sub
jeGt0 gH lcoincidiDg with thei distin-
guished gentlemen from Illinois, as
to the vital importance of the road
to Evansville, and her future pros
perity. .eiftr
Mr.. Viele spoke strongly in favor
of this route, and also showed that by |
meeting at GRANVILLE, they could ac-
commodate their friends from Carmi,
McLeansboro, and Mt. Vernon, Hi |