The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-02-03
Meeting.

Ra;lrooa proiects are multiplying.
Every exchange contains accounts OF
one or two meetings. Were all the
roads in contemplation constructed,
the State would be so g~ridironed with
tracks that travelling with wagons and
horses would become dangerous. Inc
probability is, however, that al least
two mr. three of the talked-of roads
will never be constructed, and we ad-
wise farmers no to dispose of their
teams uatil they hear the snort OF the
iron horse on their premises.
We have repeatedly expressed the
opinion that the improvement OF the
common roads is being overlooked IN
the mania for railroads, and that in
MANY instances the construction Of
good turnpikes would prove even more
beneficial than railroads. Short line
railroads have almost invariably prov
ed improbable and swamped all the
capital invested in them. The build
ing of q railroad ie not the greatest OF
the expenses. The running of the
ears and the incidental expenses con-
nectsd herewith, to say nothing of
the heavy outlay required to keep
the road bed in repair, make a
certain amount Of business absolutely
necessary to prevent the road going
into bankruptcy, even after it is COM
pleted.
Good turnpike roads. while they
cost something to keep them IN
repair, are not near so costly in the
first instance as railroads, and are
really more available for local pur-
poses. We honestly believe a good
turnpike to Boonville would result in
pouring into our city a greater amount
Of produce, daily. than would be
secured by a railroad. We may
be mistaken in this, but think
not. A farmer, although the
railroad may run through his
farm, unless he is fortunate enough
to have q station, and few can do
that, is compelled to hitch up his
horses and drag his produce through
the mud for miles In order to get it
shipped. Were the railroad a turn
pike he could at once convey his pro-
duce to market with less delay and
labor than he had to put forth to get
it to the station, and at the same
time save the freight. no Insignificant
item. Local freights on all roads are
heavy, and on a short road would
have to be unusually so to keep it up.
So much by the way.
We have received the copy of a
handful calling a meeting of the citi-
zens of Gibson County and Mount
Carmel, Illinois, at Patoka, on Thurs
day, the 18th inst, TO take into con-
sideration the propriety Of building a
railroad from New Albany to st.
Louis, via Patoka and Mount Carmel.
Of late New Albany has gone into
the railroad meeting business extern.
sively. She has three gigantic enter
prises on foot: n from New Alban.
to Terre Haute; another to Vim
cennes; and the third to st. Louis
In the meantime, one Of the two road
that she already possesses is about t.
be abandoned; or, at least, is in tn,
condition of a badly spawned horse
and is constantly changing hands.
The meeting at Patoka on the 18th
is for therpurpose Of selecting dele.
gates to a meeting to be held at New
Albany, some time about the 26tf
inst, and also to ascertain, if possible
what amount of stock and interesi
would be taken, should New AL
bany desire the construction of the
road. A correspondent suggests that
the road would be advantageous
to Evansville. 1t would, beyond
a doubt. and we hope it may
be built. We also hope some Of
our leading business men will make
their arrangements to attend the meet.
lug and represent Evansville in talk
ing up the enterprise. Every under
taking that is in the least calculated
TO improve the country tributary tC
our city, improves the city, and to tina
extent, if NO more, we are interested
in it. We are anxious to see hov
much stock New Albany takes in tn.
enterprise, because upon that, to
great extent, will depend the success
Of the road. We are aware that tn,
talking part of the road will have jus
tice done it in New Albany. But thr
cash subscriptions are what build:
roads.
Evansville has n or two enter
prises on foot. now, which are pro
crossing noiselessly. but none the less
surely. When they are all we'll nigl
completed, we think she will d;rec
her attention to a road to st. Loui
through Southern Illinois. Next {,
the enterprises on foot, we regard tn
st. Louis Road of most Importance
The day is not far distant when it wi
be built. In the meantime, if tn
New Albany project is successful, on
merchants will reap a rich harves
from it, in spite of a discriminate
against US in freights. which will IN
doubtedly be made.