The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-08-24

that the CITY Of Evansville. Indlana,
has taken a vote upon the expect
encv of building a railroad south for
the Durpose OF reaching the iron orc
IN Southeast Missouri. This is wise
move bv the citizens of that city, but
we think there should be no doubt In
tbeir minds as to where this road
should cross the Mississippi. It they
want to reach our minerals this is
their point. Ii is the near
est and cheapest route they can
possibly run to our rich mineral
noun aims. If the cnterpri i8g citi-
rs of Evansville take charge o. this
road we may expect to spe il COM
pleted soon. The number OF in
habitants in that clty Is about
twenty. seven thousand. but they are
made up Of live Yankees, who ua-
derstand their interests. A number
of years ago when they began TO
agitate the question Of building the
Evansviile, Terre Hau and Fort
Wayne Railroad, it was said by many
outsiders that they were going wild
and that the road could not he built
within the next hundred years. But
what followed? The road was built
aud in running order in such a short
time that it made other portions of
the State wake up, and the result was
that that enterprise alone put
the State into such spirit Of
railroad building that she soon be.
come cheekered with railroads in
| every direction, and the conse-
quence is that it has added many
millions Of wealth to that State.
The city Of Evansville has several
heavy iron foundries, and as fine
mechanics as can be found in the
United States. They build as fine
engines in that city as in any other
in the West, and this is just what We
need. We want railroad connection
with such a city, and then we can
exchange our iron and products for
their manufactured articles. AS soon
as our railroad is completed we will
| be able to furnish any amount Of raw
material. The country southwest Of
us abounds in as fine Hemitite
iron as can be found in the world,
and cur railroad will pass
through the region where It is locat-
ed. We have no doubt that If the
President of the State Line Railroad
would open negotiations with this
| Evansville Company that an arrange
ment could be entered into which
would be beneficial to both. Ii Is
evident to every enc acquainted with
the location Of the route that this is
the most eligible point for the cross
ing of the Evansville Road. Besides
the road will be shorter and eau be
built cheaper.
Il would make one of the best pay.
ing roads in the country, from the
fact that it is q direct air line from
the East TO California. This road
would strike the Southern Pacific at
| Fort Smith, Arkansas. This is the
direct air line By laying a straight
square on the map it will show any one
that this line crosses the river at this
point, which is entirely beyond fTeez-
ing point. This gives open aud direct
communication with that great coun-
try, California, passing through the
| best part of our State and Arkansas,
giving Tree access to our lead, tin, cop
/ per, nickel and HemItite iron ores.
| Also to our mountains paint Cfevery
f! hue and color. Nearly four years
ago, when we emigratcd to this city,
and made a tour through the southern
part of this State, crossing the beauti-
1 tul running streams, with their line
| valleys of productive lands, bordered
with fine chalk, paint and lion noun
/ tains, we were astOnshed to think
! that a white man could inhabi q por-
ton of such GodgIYe country and
| not let the world know Of its existence
by developing its resources, thereby
encouraging emigration. But upon
Inquiry ne soon found cut the cause
of the neglect of this beautiful do
main. lit was under the control of
slavery, and they knew if they en-
couraged emigration that It would
open up communication with the free
States, and that their negroes would
leave them. But, thank God, that in
stitution has passed away, and this
beautiful country is in the hands OF
freemen, and liberal men are fiooking
in and taking up the rich soil and
mineral lands. That country viii soon
be improved in a way which will de-
| velop its resources and enrich
! the State. In former times the
poor were taxed to keep up
the State Government, the lands
owed by the rich we're not taxed,
but the scales are turned since the
establishment Of free schools, free
speech and free press. The rich are
now taxed aud the poor go free, and
by this just system, our country,
which was but few years ago lnhab-
tied by Wild beasts, will soon be
checkered with railroads, cut up into
small farms and dotted with school
| houses and churches; not churches
South, but North and South jointly.