The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-11-08


Quite large number Of our oitl-
zens assembled at the National Hall,
on Saturday night, 70 hear speeches
in favor Of tho city subscribing $780,
600 to The Evansville & Carmi Rail-
road.
The Crescent City Band furnished
some elegant music FOR the benefit Of
those present, at the close of which
the meeting was called to order. and
DR.. II. W. Cloud moved that James
Swanson, Sr., be called 10 the Chair,
which motion prevailed.
Colonel DENLY was then called for.
and he rose and said he should like
to hear from General Shackelford
first. The General was then called
for, and he responded in weIl-timed
and sensible address. He said that
he was not very we'll, but he felt such
an interest IN the future Of Evansville
that he felt it his duty to be present.
He did not appear as an officer, nor
as an agent, nor as an attorney for the
railroad company. but came as q
friend of the city, as friend of the
railroad. He thought it hardly worth
while to talk much, as he supposed
nearly all present we're in favor of the
subscription. In his opinion the
Carmi road was only second in
Importance to the Evansville, Hen
derson & Nashville Railroad. Two
and half years ago we were called
upon to aid the latter road, and we
had responded By voting the bonds.
What had been the result2 The road
is not yet finished; but. if we ask our
business men whether they have been
benefited, they will reply, I'm
meusely." That road is worth to-day
to this city four times its cost, and
when finished-whieh will probably
be in less than one year--Will be
worth millions to US.
Turn, then, to the Carmi Road. By
its construction We open up a new
and rich country not only to Carmi,
but in FIVE years we can 90 over that
route direct to. San Francisco. La this
age we learn many truths only By OBJ
servation and comparison. Look at
Louisville; ten years ago she was
dead; but she built the railaoad to
Nashville. and other roads, and is
now one of the Invest cities in the
West. Her citizens are growing
wealthy by the great increase Of bust
ness. Look again, at Cincinnati and
Chicago. What has made them?
Railroads. Look at Inaianapo-
lis. an inland town. What has
built it up? The war, partly,
but she would have been nothing
without her great railroad oonnec-
tions. You cannot point to any city
of importance that has rot been built
up by railroads. We have as live
little town as [ ever saw, but we must
build railroads if VIC would improve
and build up our city, add to its pop
ulation, and increase its wealth and
prosperity. Every dollar that we pay
to railroads is like the money that
was given to the steward and was re-
turned tenfold. Whatever builds up
a city benefits its citizens, no matter
whether rich or poor. He referred
to the manner in which our Padu-
cab and Tennessee River pack
ct trade had been built up. Money
had been subscribed to guarantee the
boats against loss, but the trade had
sustained the boats from the start,
and had also brought thousands and
thousands of dollars to our city. He
would urge every one, as a good in
vestment, to vote for the subscription
of 100000. The day that the road
reaches the Wabash, it will add one
million dollars to the wealth Of our
city. He did not believe there was a
city in the West surrounding us that
could compete with US, if we only
had railroad facilities. He closed by
earnestly urging every one in favor of
the future progress of our city to
vote for the subscription. His re-
marks were frequently applauded.
Col. DENLY was next called on, and
he made a frst-rate speech. He
started out by saying that railroads
were the question of the age, and we
must be up and doing. The world is
agog with improvements, and we must
keep pace with tho times. He took
occasion &c refer to the Directors Of
the Carmi Road, and was fully salts
fed they would do what was right
They were hard listed and energetic
men, who had helped to build up on,
city, and he was willing to trust them
He referred to the great benefits tina
had been conferred on the city b,
one Railroad. Before the Evansville
and Charlottesville Railroad, (oul
little one-horse Railroad, as man!
called it, but, in his view, most ex
oellent, safe and well-managed road.
was built, in 1852, we had about 400
inhabitants; and at that time, tn
real estate and Improvements wer
valued at $1,500,00O. Now we hav
10000 inhabitants, and the valu
alton of the city property i
tower S16,O00,000. Before that roat
was built, if a man desired to g.
to Indianapolis he would take boa
to New Albany. and then 80 on tn
cars; or else he would go q short dis