The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-05-28
Railroads.

The planning Of new railroad lines
and the organization of new railroad
companies, especially in the Westand
South, has assumed the form of a
mania. Every county, and almost
every village, has its favorite railroad
schemes, and the number of railroad
meetings reported is most bewildering
to the clippers ofrailroad items. Vii
lagos aud townships, towns and coun
ties, are voting subscriptions to vari-
Gus roads with recklessness indica-
tive Of belief, on their part, that to
subscribe means never to pay, and the
money markets are being flooded with
railroad bonds. 1t cannot be expect
ed that all these railroad enterprises
will be successful. On the contrary.
it may safely be assumed that about
three-fourths of them will prove
melancholy and disastrous failures.
While the collapse, which is pretty
sure to come, may not be as fatal A.
that of the Internal Improvement
schemes in this State in 1S36-40, it
will be sufficiently formidable to pros
trate many of the finest industrial in
terests 10 the State. Warnings seem
to be UNDECIDED, for railroad madness
rules the hour.
But while it is evident that many
enterprises must fail in the end, it is
equally apparent that few must sue
coed and largely remunerate those
who were wise enough to select them
as the objects of endeavor and invest
ment. 1t is, therefore, Of vital i'm
portanee that our people make judi
cious selections in fixing their dona-
tions and subscriptions.
Heretofore, In discussing railroad
projects, cities seemed to be animated
by desire to obtain outlets to larger
commercial points. This Is still the
case with the rural districts, for the
larger the commercial centres with
which they obtain communication, the
greater will be the competition for
the products Of their soil, and they
will secure a corresponding improve
mens in prices But to the second
and third rate cities, experience has
taught a different lesson. They
are not so much interested in in
creasing the means of communication
with more powerful rivals, as in open
ing up new channels Of access to the
country which will, by these improv-
ed means Of transportation, be drawn
to them rather than attracted through
and beyond them. On this principle
Evansville is not so directly interest
ed in railroads connecting her with
larger cities as she is in roads which
will place her in easy communication
with the country aud smaller towns,
which may naturally be expected to
look to her for supplies, and the ex-
change Of their products. 1t is not so
much outlets as iRlets that we will
seek after, if we wisely understand
our own interests.
Cincinnati is fully convinced Of the
correctness of this philosophy. There
fore, in applying the ten million loan
which she was authorized to make by
the last Ohio Legislature, the main
point to be decided seems to BE-, in what
direction can she run her road so as
to make the country greatest in ex-
tent and richest in soil and resources
tributary to her The opening OF
new outlets to the seaboard is n mat.
ter Of secondary Importance Our
people cannot fail to watch these dis.
cussions with interest, for in the de.
cision made, we may be deeply con.
cerned. 1t will be observed that thre,
lines of road are under consideration
by the Cincinnatians: one termina
ting at Knoxville, another at Chata
nooga. and u third at Nashville, will
a probable extension to Decatur, Ala
hama. Should the latter route b
selected. Cincinnati will be trough
into direct competition with Evans
Vile for the trade which we nov
enjoy. of Tennessee and Alabama
bordering on the Cumberland an
Tennessee Rivers, and over which "