The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-07

Matt0on Railroad, that IS. now under
contract and graded for five miles
south Of Olney. That road complete
would put US in direct communication
with Chicago, at GRANVILLE. 1t would
cross the Cairo & Vincenues
Road. and at once give US
competing eastern road, be-
ing the same distance to Indianapolis
as by the E. & G. r. r. GRANVILLE is
the largest shipping point on the Wa
bash, aad she is asking for and seek
ing an outlet to the Ohio River. This
road we need badly. l can't conceive
how we can do without it. Give US
this road and you restore to US por-
ton of the best trade Evansville ever
had before the building OF the %. and
NJ. r.. r. 1t will pass through
White, Edwards, Wabash, Rlchland,
Clay and Efingham Counties, lllI-
nois. being among the richest aud
most productive counties In the State.
These counties want an Ohio River
outlet for their large surplus Of pro-
duce. From this section alone Evans
Vile will receive more hogs to be
slaughtered and packed here Ia one
year than she now slaughters in'three; /;
that alone would make Evansville
the great porkopolis of Indiana.
Again. the large shipments OF wheat
and corn would seek the Ohio at this
point. being the nearest to water nayI-
CATION, which is the cheapest OF all
others. There is also raised in these
counties large amount OF tobacco,
and here it would find a ready and
cheap transit, and sell at remunera-
tive prices to the producers. In, the
last thirty days tobacco has been
shipped to this point from Olney via
Vincennes, and sold here on the
breaks for better prices than the same
grades were selling for IN Cincinnati
or st. Louis. Give US this road and
YOU secure the bulk fof all the busI-
ness from here to Mattoon, and we
will have the impudence to go
further. and divide the trade with
Chicago. Evansville is afraid of no
competition. Then open up your rail
roads and let the young eaglets soar.
Again. we are asked to give one hun
dred thousand dollars more towards
the completion of the e.. IL. d N.
r. r.. I say let as gfUe "a, 1t by so
doing the road can be completed, and
we can keep the road in the interest
Of this end Of the lice. IF we do not
give it. the road will be sold for pres.
ent Indebtedness, and L ask who Will
pav so much for it as the Louisville q
Nashville Railroad as tributary to
their road. IF you are at loss to
comprehend my meaning, l would re
fer YOU to the lock and dam monopoly
| in Green River, as to its workings.
| We all know and appreciate the bepe-
fits that would accrue to Evansville
bv the competition of this road, and
I hone the City Council will act
wisely and vote the 100000 for the
road. Bury your prejudices, and let
the best interest of the city actuate
your decisions.
Again, the Pennsylvania Central
| r.. r.. propose to complete the AIR
/ Line r. r.. to Indianapolis, costing
/ them about Sc, ,O00, 600 If donation
of S4OO 900 can be raised along the
| line of said road, they ask payment OF
the same when the road is completed,
and not till then. If we give to that
road 100000, and thereby get the
road at an early day, we will lose
nothing. Let us not act Higgardly,
but act wisely and promptly IN
building such roads as will, in few
short years, multiply our numbers
into hundreds of thousands, then we
will have population to assist us in
paying both interest and principal OF
our railroad bonds. If we pursue the
stand-still course that has character
lied us for the last few years, you can
set Evansville down as having attain
ed to her zenith. Now, | have briefly
stated some of the advantages to be
derived from the building of all these
roads. I have my choice as to which
/ would prefer, but if am unable to
get my choice at this time, | will not
throw cold water on all the other
enterprises In the railroad line. Let
us ali work for the general good, and
success will crown our efforts.
Respectfully,
HIRAM r.. READ.
| EVANSVILLE. July 8, 1869.