The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31

ROckpOrt, Ind, Citizen Wants In
dianapOIis Southern Built.

Samuel o. Graham, a prominent Demo-
crat of RockpOrt, Ind, was at the Denison
last night. Mr.. Graham is here in the in
terest of a mining company of which he
is president. While he spends a great deal
of his time in Colorado, where he has his
mining interests, he still claims Rockport
as his place of residence. He is also prom
iEently connected with a number of large
manufacturing establishments in Rockport,
among them being the straw board works,
which is said to be one of the largest of
its kind in the world, the new national
bank and other interests. Mr.. Graham
said last night one of the greatest boons
that could befan the people of southern
Indiana would be the building of the In
dianapolis Southern Railway. He said it
would be of inestimable value to the peo-
pie of Indiana and of that region of Ken
lucky in and near Greensboro There is
a great deal of interest in the building of
that road by the people" Mr.. Graham said,
and | am voicng their opinion when l say
II should be built The people of Owens
bOro are willing to build branch ten miles
long to a connection with a southern out
let if the road is built into greensboro.
They will also assist in erecting a bridge
or treStle at that place. The City Council
of greensboro, in recent session, passed
resolutions asking the Board of Public
Works of indianapolis TO grant an entrance
of the road to the city"
Mr.. Graham became very enthusiastic
over the proposed building of the road. In
continuing he said:
THE people of Owensboro, KY, and
Rockport, Ind are anxiously awaiting the
action of your Board of Public Works, and
sincerely hope that all impediments to
their entrance can be overcome.
THE Importance of the indianapolis
Southern to the people of the southern part
of the State and to Indianapolis is be-
You'd calculation, as it will enable all this
section of the State to have direct COM
m here hN-
enabling your merchants to secure the
trade that now goes TO Louisville, Cincin-
natl and St. Louis.
''Owensboro, the second largest city of
Kentucky feels deeply interested, believ-
ing that by the construction of this road
a bridge will eventually be built over the
Ohio river at RockpOrt thereby giving
greensboro a ~-rect connection to Indian
apolis, and to indianapolis a direct con-
nectiOn through to the South.
Being familiar with the situation | will
say that the best point on the Ohio river
for bridge between Louisville and Cairo.
is at Rockport, as the river at that point
is narrow and rock bottom, and on the
Indiana side there is a natural bluff high
enough for the approach. Then look at
the natural resources along the line of
this road. Coal in unlimited quantities in
Spencer and Dubois counties that equals
the best Goals of Ohio and West Virginia
shown by analysis; the stone fields of
oolitic limestone and sandstone; the only
undevelOped timber land in the State to
say nothing of clay, shale and other min
erals.
"Owensboro and Rockport have been.
making wonderful progress in the way of
manufactures within the last five years,
and by the construction of the Indianapolis
Southern they would grow rapidly. The
stock business between R"ckpOrt and In
dianapolis on the line of this proposed road
is not equaled by any other section of the
State
Our people, and, in fact, the whole
southern part of the State. are simply
crazy for the construction of the Indian
apOlis Southern Railway, and we cannot
understand why Indianapolis does not let
them in with open arms