The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-18
ANXIOUS FOR AN OUTLET
II. N. ELLIOTT, OF OwENsBORO, KY,
WRITES TO FAHNLEY 81 M'CREA.
He Gives Reasons Why Merchants
Should Support the Indian
apOlis Southern Road.

Mr.. r. n. Elliott, of Greensboro, Ky,
proprietor of a millinery and notion house.
is an advocate of the building of the In
dianapolis Southern Railroad and recently
wrote as follows to Fahnley & McCrea,
wholesale milliners of this city:
II want TO call your attention to a mat
ter L consider of great Importance, not only
TO your house, but to your entire city and
also ours. 1 refer to the indianapolis
way across certain streets. private prop
erty, etc, into the Union Station of your
city. II your people could only realize what
an important road the indianapolis South
ern would be to your town, and in what
close touch it would put you with the
South you certainly would not only use
every effort to withdraw opposition TO its
entering into your city, but, on the other
hand. would go before the Board of Public
Works as a community of wide awake bust
ness people and demand of them that all
opposition be withdrawn.
Il suppose you understand our interest
In the proposed road. We are assured by
those In a position to know that it will
come direct to Rockford, Ind, a town ten
miles above on the Ohio river and there
cross the river; then connect with one of
our Southern roads, thereby giving US
what We so much need, a direct Northern
outlet. AS we are now situated we are
compelled to go via Louisville or Evans
vile to get to your city and notwithstand
ing that roundabout way l find on can
vasing our city over 200 firms doing bust
ness with Indianapolis
Mr.. Elliott Enclosed an editorial printed
in an greensboro paper, which says:
1.-THE people of Owensboro are deeply in
terested in the building Of the Indianapolis
Southern Railroad. and they watch with in
tense concern all of the developments in re-
gard TO it. The latest phase in the matter
that has demanded their attention is the
effort of the projectors Of the road to get
into the Union Depot at indianapolis and
the opposition that has been manifested be-
fore the Board of Public Works. 1t is be-
Heved that the victory is won. and If so the
citizens OF Owensboro nave something for
which TO congratulate themselves. A short
time ago the CITY Council adopted a resolu-
ton requesting the Board Of Public Works
at indianapolis TO grant the desired right
of way, and this was sent TO them, along
with a petition signed by lis Of the manu-
facturers and wholesale merchants of
Greensboro, making the same request.
These were presented, and IL Is stated that
they had a pronounced effect.
Great as the benefit would be to Owens
boro in securing a northern outlet for her
products, fully as much good would come
from the ability to reach indianapolis,
which is one of the best markets for many
lines of goods handled at Owensboro. Just
at this time an inspection of the holiday
goods shows nearly as great a quantity
come from indianapolis as all other points
together. and there are many other depart
ments that are stocked from indianapolis
houses. II there was direct railway cOnnec-
ton the trade that now exists would be
multiplied many times, and we should be
able 10 reach that market with many things
that we have 10 sell. by which Indianapolis
would be greatly benefited.
Cities OF 1900 or 10000 people are not
rare in Indiana, but they are I'M Kentucky.
and a place of that size possesses a very
much greater Importance on this side OF
the river as a new market for a larger city
than on the other. Greensboro is now tied
10 a few markets. She finds indianapolis a
good place TO trade, but the inconvenience
OF access by rail makes it impossible 10 do
business there except the inducements are
great, which they are in some lines. With
a direct route and quick shipments the re-
suit would be quite different. 1t is, there
fore, hoped by the people OF greensboro
that the Board of Public Works of that en-
terprising city will throw no obstacle in the
way OF. what will be not only for us. but for
Indianapolis, an exceedingly valuable addi-
tion 10 the facilities of transportation"