The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-29

will.
GEN. JAMES NJ. sHACKELFoRD
Was then called upon, and he deliv-
cred an impromptu address. He
started out by paying a high tribute
to the energy Of our business men,
and said that he was glad of the privi-
Iege Of meeting the old pioneers, some
Of whom had stood God father to this
city. They are old in years, but young
in spirit and enterprise. He knew
that he stood before live men-enter-
p7ising and public spirited men-who
were willing to devote their undivid-
ed energies to the business and com
mercial interests Of our city. To the
visitors from our own and sister
States, he said this day marks an
epoch in the business history Of
Evansville. 1t has been said, " there
is a tide in the affairs of men, which,
taken at the food, leads on to for
tune;" and it is the same way with
cities, and Evansville proposed to take
the tide at the food. Those bold
spirits, Martin, Gardner & Co.. and
Weldon, Brothers & Co., had the
foresight to perceive our position, ge-
graphically and commercially, and
although commencing under difficult
ties, had pressed on successfully. So
far as building up city was concerned,
he would not give a half dozen car
penters, shoemakers, blacksmiths and
tailors, and one ioundryman with a
blind horse, for one hundred mill
ionaires who had no energy. Under
the greatest difficulties, one of the
finest tobacco markets in the West
had been established. He said one
great need Of our city was railroads.
Look at what had been done without
and think how much more
trade would be brought here if the
Evansville, Henderson Il Nash-
vile Railroad was completed" lie
expressed himself in favor of all rail-
roads, and would vote for a railroad
in any direction. Our city offers
the best market for tobacco on the
Ohio River, as our merchants will
show you to day, for they have back
bone" He said that our tobacco
men lived up to their pledges, and
gave the seller every cert due him.
Tobacco was sold here on its merits
alone. He again referred to the rail-
road subject, and said. no difference
where you run a road. as soon as ii
strikes the corporation line, the value
of property advances. Build all
the railroads now projected. and in
less than FIVE years-mark my words
our population will increase one hun
dred per cent" In conclusion, he
extended a cordial and hearty well
come to all strangers present, and
said, IF you want to sell tobacco on
its merits, bring it right here, and put
it on our breaks, and our merchants
will give as big prices as in any other
market, as they will show you at the
sale to-day"
After music by the Crescent City
Band, Mr.. Keen then called on
AFRO DYER, ESQ.,,
Who responded in a few short aud ap
propriate remarks. He said it was an
old saying that the man who caused
two blades of grass to grow where
only one grew before was a public
benefactor, and the same applied to
the men through whose energies bust
ness was increased and multiplied
He knew nothing of buying and sell
ing tobacco, but the fact that $500
hogsheads had been sold this season,
against none last year, was a matter
worthy of record. Our city fears no
competition from the Mississippi Val
ley; the fact has gone forth abroad
that our warehousemen sell tobacco
fairly, and give the planter all that he
is justly emitted to. He compared our
tobacco men to the steamer Diana,
which ran twenty miles an hour, and
some Of the passengers wanted the
captain to 60 slower, but he replied
that it could not be done; the boat
had to go at that lick, or be tied up.
Our tobacco men are bound to con-
duct business squarely, or close up
their establishments.
HIRAM E. READ, ESQ,
was next called on, and responded as
follows;
tits a source of qualification and
pride tb me to know that / have con-
tributed my mite towards the build
ing up in our midst an institution
like the tobacco trade. 1t is almost
impossible, at this early day, to est
mate the benefits that must accrue to
US from its establishment. What
branch of trade has not already expe-
rienced its beneficial results, and as
its results are so patent to US all In
this, its infancy, what may we not ex-
pect in its mature age. Well dol
remember, in years gone by, an effort
on the part of the business men of
Evansville to establish a tobacco
trade. We went so far as to lease the
ground and procure house suitable
for the reception, inspection and sale
of tobacco. But the parties having
charge of the warehouse seemed not
to be imbued with the elements of
success, and it went down. But a
new era has dawned upon us. New
and live men are at the helm-men
that know no such word as fail, and
success must and will crown our
efforts. Have we not the geograph-
ical position? Certainly we have.
Stick a meg here and radiate 10C
IL 49, .l:.-aaL:o-. aal -=a.-