The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-16

Coal, Block Coal, Iron, Mannfac.
lures, DC.
Correspondence of the Courter-Journal.l
MADIsoNVILLE, HOPKINS Co., KY,
December 4, 1869.
1t will interest you and many of
your readers to learn the progress and
condition of this section of your
State, and It's promise of great and
rapid Advancement In the future.
have recently passed over the line Of
the Evansville, Henderson and Nash
Vile Railroad, on tour Of observa-
ton of the advantages, facilities, and
prospects of this part of the country,
from the State line of Tennessee, at
Guthrie, through Hopkinsville and
Madisonville to Henderson, on the
Ohio River. 1t was source of graf
ification and satisfaction to witness
the condition of the country and the
prosperity of its population and its
certain future rapid advancement to
greater aud more enduring prosperity.
RAILROADS.
The people of the Green River
country within the last three years
have become alive to the importance,
and value, and even necessity. for
railroad facilities to the development
of their wealth. They have con-
tributed literally to the Elizabeth
town and Paducah Railroad and the
Evansville, Henderson and Nashville
Railroad, and other roads are pro-
jected to which the several counties
interested will give their aid literally
in building.
The EVansville, Henderson and
Nashville Railroad is already con-
structed from Henderson to Madison
Vile, 40 miles, and from Tennessee
line to Hopkinsville, % miles, max
ing 65 miles built and in operation.
There yet remains to be built 30 miles
from Hopkinsville to Madisonville,
and this is now being constructed. Re-
Gently a contract has been made with
Messrs. Hanson and Rutter, who it is
understood, enjoy the aid and inhu-
enee of the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad, to complete and equip this
road. The contractors are at work at
this place, and will extend the road
three miles into the coal banks south
Of Madisonville, by the 1st of March
next. They are preparing to begin
work, and gathering force for the
purpose at Hopkinsville and at points
on the ridge and billy country be-
tween. No doubt is entertained by
the most intelligent citizens that the
road will be completed and equipped
within ten months.
The ElizabethtoWn and Paducah
Railroad bisects the Evansville, Hen
derson and Nashville Railroad at
right angles, in Hopkins County,
about ten miles south Of this place,
in the valley of Pleasant Run, near
Morton's Gap. The ElizabethtoWn
and Paducah Railroad is graded from
Elizabethtown to Litchfieid, in Gray
son County, and several miles of
track laid down, with rails ready to
lay to LitchEeld, and construction
train at work. The grading is pro-
crossing rapidly from Litchfield to
Greenville, twenty miles from the
crossing of the Evansville, Hender-
son and Nashville Railroad. The
grading and masonry from Paducah
to Princeton is progressing satisfac-
torily. Within the year 1870 this
road can and ought to be completed
from EliZabethtoWn to It's intersec-
ton with the E., III. & N. Railroad,
ahording a direct connection by rail
between Henderson and Louisville,
adding another large contribution to
the growing commerce of your city.
AGRICULTURE.
The larger portion of the country
from Tennessee to the Ohio River, on
the line of the Evansville, Henderson
and Nashville Railroad, is of the
richest and most fertile soil, and in
Todd, Christian, Hopkins and Hen
derson Counties, 1t IS In the highest
state of cultivation. Few counties in
the State, lying contiguous, are more
fertile and productive. | know no
railroad in all the West that passes
over, for twenty-five miles, a more
beautiful country and richer farming
and than that along the line of the
road from Guthrie to HopkinsvilIe.
IL Is Ted limestone soil, undulating
anu rolllng as a prairie, and was, fifty
OF Sky years ago, a prairie country;
where not cultivated, and the whole
way lined with well improved farms
IN high state of cultivation II
presents beautiful and magnificent
prospect to the traveller.
The lands in Todd, Christian. Hon
klns, and He .erson, in productive
value, are equal to the best lands Of
Central Kentucky. Hemp and blue
grass will not grow SO well in this
section as in the Kentucky River
counties; but tobacco, corn. wheat
and all grain, clover, timothy and
other grasses 1t is believed, grow het-
ter and yield more TO the acre. For
| tobacco and wheat, probably there i
no section of all the West and South-
west equal to the lands in these conn.
ties and those adjoining. I heard a
claimed in Hopkinsville that Chris
tian County was the largest tobacco
producing county in the State and in
the world. l heard the remarkable
statement made in Henderson that a
semi circle described by a radius of
one hundred miles, with the center at
that point, from the Ohio River
above and below, would embrace an
area of land producing more tobacco
than any like area in the world.
The Evansville, Henderson and
Nashville Railroad, from this place to
Hopkinsville,. passes through the least
fertile of the lands on this road. The
lands are broken and billy, but the
soil fair, and can, by proper cultiva-
ton, be made good farming lands;
but this very portion of the country
is filled with inexhaustible
MINERAL WEALTH.
The whole country along the line Of