The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-16
RAILROAD MEETING.
NEW COMBINATIONS /!
Evansvlils's Opportunity.

The city was crowded with railroad
men yesterday, among the most noted
Of whom, in addition to those men
toned in yesterdays JOURNAL, were
Charles Butler, Of New York, Presi-
ident ofthe T. H. A. & st. Louis Rail-
road; Geo. w. Parker. Vice Presi-
dent; Col. Tom. Bowling, of Terre
Haute. one Of the Directors of the
same road; Col. II. q. Moore. of st.
Louis, and Col. D. L. Phillips. of
Springfield, I'll.
At2P.M., the strangers from abroad
met large number Of our most prom
inent citizens in the Directors room
of the Evansville National Bank,
with Mr.. John A. Reitz, President
of the E., G. & P. r. R. in the Chair.
Col. Phillips explained at length
the object of the meeting, so far as
himself and friends were concerned,
to-wit: desire to induce our people
to consolidate the E., G. & P. r. r.
with the st. Louis, Belleville & South
ern Illinois Railroad, to meet the lat
ter at Duquoin, seventy-fve miles
from st. Louis and ninety miles from
this city. He showed that the parties
interested in that road were amply
able to build it speedily; and he set
forth the advantages to accrue from
such consolidation. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Parker, and he by Mr..
Butler, giving further details.
These gentlemen all argued in favor
of the advantages that this proposed
route would give our people. by div
ing deeper into Southern Illinois,
than by the route via Mt. Vernon,
They had, however, no definite pro-
position to make. Their main OBJ
ject was to extend the BelIville
branch to Cairo, making a direct line
from St. Louis to that city, but they
were anxious to secure an Eastern
outlet, and if liberal subscriptions
could be secured along the line, they
would heartily cooperate.
Mr.. Reitz stated that the Board of
Directors had as yet taken no decided
action, but were ready to accept the
most satisfactory offer for alliance OF
construction.
Mr.. Cloud. of Illinois, gave brief
account of the organization of the
roads west of the Wabash, and their
consolidation, and believed the pro-
posed extension to Duquoin would
be highly advantageous to Evansville.
Mr.. Phillips stated in reply to in
quiries that there was not any portion
of their line not covered by their char
ter, and that their position is abso-
lutely legally unassailable. He was
corroborated by Mr.. Townsend, Sec
rotary of the consolidated road.
Col. Bowling. of Terre Haute, de-
sired to see Evansville the great COM
mercial city of the State. He had
hoped Terre Haute would have
achieved that honor, but was now
satisfied to have her stand second
on the list. Terre Haute lad
secured great number Of roads
without investing much money
They had contributed 100000 for
the extension of the E. & @. Railroad
to Danville and Chicago. That mon
ey was invested in a road to be built
by responsible men, and Evansville
should follow the example.
Mr.. Winslow and his friends after
wards had hearing in favor of tie
desirability Of the straight line route
via Mt. Vernon, and stated that all
arrangements had been perfected in
New York to secure the money where
with to build the road, whenever
parties here and on the line were
ready to take hold of the matter.
A private meeting of the Directors
of the E.. ca p. Railroad was held last
night, but their action up to this
writing has not transpired.