The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-16
The Narrow Gauge Coal Railroad.

Pursuant to a petition filed yesterday
with the board OF county commissioners,
il seems probable that the question of aid
ing the construction OF the Indianapolis
and Sullivan coal railroad will be brought
before the citizens OF Center township in a
practical way. An election is asked to
vote a donation of 500 O00. While the
Sentinel has most earnestly urRed the
building of the coal road, and still does so,
1t has not suggested any definite Itan by
which the requisite means should be pro-
vided. The amount of money which is
asked from this city Is but q tTifie COM
pared with the magnitude of the sdvsn
tsge which must certainly accrue If the en-
terprise is conducted in proper manner.
II is for the citizsns to consider and deter
mine in what way they will provide their
share OF the means required. There ought
not TO be a moments difficulty or besits
ton in carrying out any we'll considered
plan for accomplishing the object in view.
The road must be built. 1t will be built
the only question is, how soonH Shall the
generation of business men by whose
hands the destinies of the city are now d.
rected enjoy the donors and the substsn-
tisl fruits of this enterprise, or must they
b9 reserved fo- later and wiser genera
ton? The road will be built, and
the mineral wealth OF THIS state will, one
day, form the basis OF vast and solid indus |
tries here at the focal point OF the great
railroad system of the West. Even If il |
should be proved that the native citizens
of Indiana have not enough of the manu-
featuring genius to use their exceptional |
opportunities, the more appreciasive capt. |
talists of Europe would, in the course Of |
time, take the inviting field. The testi- |
moDy of so respectable authorities as the |
great English iron master, Mr.. 1. Lothian |
Bell, who was here few months ago, and |
now of the government commission OF !
Germany, and, finally, of all competent |
judges in regard to Indiana Goals, point out |
conclusively the road by which Indisnap-
oils must seek for her highest and certain
prosperity. We have great agricultural
resources; our pork, beef aud grain trade,
our facilities for the distr button of mer-
chandise, all these unite to insurs the
promise of grand future for this railroad
city. But what are all these compared |
with that prosperity which is built upon
factures? The smoke of furnace, rolling
mills, steel works, machine shops, four
dries and factories for utilizing the timber
AID ksolin of the slate would be
the banner of substantial greatness
and commanding wealth. This Is the
OF Indianapolis to bring
to her doors the tribute OF all the vast
West and Northwtss 10 return for the
manufactured material with which the
state abounds. Cheap coal will DO IL all,
and cheap coal depends only on cheap and
easy tran sportstion. There is abundance
of it. its quality is the best, 80 admitted
by all the highest authorities, it is easily
accessible to the miner and near to the
point where it is required to be used. All
that remains is to bring 1t here at the
lowest possible cost. A well-mar aged,
narrow guage railroad will do this. If one
such road is not suffi ;ient, more may b.
built. Doubtless there will in the course
of time bs several lines to different coal
fields from this city. But now is the time
ID build the first one which will domon-
state the problem of cheap fuel ard It's
benefits to all classes. lis compensation
will be Immediate, direct and universal
by reducing the fuel expenses of every
family and business concern in the city.
In this alone full indemnity will be at
once secured for the cost of the coal road
as has been shown repeatedly in these
columns. There Is. then. no possible OBJ
lection to the enterprise, but every In
terest demands its esrlv prosecution.
Orth and Morton.