The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-08

DISCushIOm OI the MERITS OF the Dill
ferenE Proposed Routes.
General Good Feeling by the Meeting.
Pursuant to previous notice, very
large number of our citizens assem-
bled at the Opera House last night.
to hear the views of different gentle
men in regard to the building of the
Evansville, Carmi & Paducah Rail
road. A large number of delegates
were present from Carmi, McLeans-
boro, and Enfield, Illinois, and Mt.
Vernon Indiana.
Previous to assembling in the Opera
House. the Crescent City Silver Band
played several of their best airs on
the street, attracting a large crowd,
and giving the visitors from abroad
chance to hear the best band in this
State.
After the audience had assembled
in our beautiful dramatic temple the
Evansville Cornet Band appeared
upon the stage and played one of
their best pieces in splendid style.
The meeting was then organized
by calling Mayor Walker to the chair
and appointing the reporters of the
city papers as Secretaries.
Mayor Walker announced that the
object of the meeting was to hear the
views of the different gentlemen
in regard to building a railroad
through Southern Illinois, and to
hear suggestions as to the best and
most practicable route.
ROBERT A. HILL,
President of the Evansville, Carmi &
Paducah Railroad Company, was call
ed upon to more fully explain the OBJ
ject and intentions of the Company.
He spoke at considerable length, and
referred, in the course of his remarks,
to the great good that railroads had
accomplished everywhere. If our Gov
eminent had spent half the money In
building railroads that had been
squandered during the. late desolating
war, the whole face of the country
would have been covered with a net
work of railroads, and towns and
cities would have been built up, and
an increased impetus given to every
branch of industry.
The day was when you could build a
city without q railroad, but that day
has gone by. We only have one rail
road from this city to the North, but
that railroad has built US up. We
must build road to protect our own
interests. We are bound to do it, or
we will have to emigrate. We may
say we have got a Southern trade, but
how far does it extend? He spoke of
the various railroads that were in
progress of construction all around
US, and showed that we must take
hold and build railroads ourselves.
A company has been organized, and
be was present to invite our citizens
to take hold and give substantial aid
to the enterprise. He said no matter
where a railroad was proposed to be
built, it would be found that all par
ties would not be suited. Some
wanted it to go to one place, and some
wanted it to be built to another. We
were not strong enough to be able to
do anything unless there was unity
of action. He spoke of the difficult
ties under which they labored in first
getting up the company. He had
carried the subscription paper in his
pocket for two days, without a
signature, when DR.. Cloud put
down his name first on
the list. He assumed all blame,
if any, that was attached in regard to
the location of the route. The Di-
rectors Of the Company were men
who held millions Of dollars worth of
property in our city, and they were
interested in building up the city and
adding to the wealth and industry of
our population. There was some dis
traction, because the word Paducah
had Deer introduced into the charter.
By going to Paducah we go through a
country rich with coal and other min
erals, and would open up an immense
trade to this city. We want to build
the road so that when we cross the
Wabash River we branch out one
way and go to st. Louis, and another
and go to Paducah. Persons had
charged that himself and Mr.. We'll
born were bought up in the interests
Of the Evansville and Charlottesville
Railroad. He denied the charge, and
explained the history of the organiza-
ton of his Company. He closed by
thanking the meeting for listening to
his protracted statement, and invited
the audience to remain and hear what
the delegates from Mt. Vernon and
Southern Illinois had to say.