USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
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It will be seen by the above that the thoughts of all who contributed these motoes seem to take the same general direction. They realize that with a good stage in the Ohio river and with the coming of so many rail- roads, Evansville will become, in fact, the Gateway to the South, if not something still more. A pleasant fact to note is that Congress has just passed an approbation for the Henderson dam, which is the first great step
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towards making the Ohio a navigable river at all seasons of the year. When these dams, which are projected, are built, there will be a total absence of all sand bars which in the past have contributed so largely against uniform transportation from Evansville. The regular increase in population has been large, but nothing in proportion to what it should have been. A list has been made of the various cities of any size in Indiana, and it shows that the percentage of increase of Evansville is far above any of them. Not only does this mean an increase in population but in capital, and in value of materials used in manufacturing the products. The nearest approach to Evansville along these lines is the city of Indianapolis, which can thank its railroads for this fact. Aside from its being a railroad cen- ter, Indianapolis has absolutely nothing to commend it. Evansville, geo- graphically, has a far better location and when it comes to natural re- sources Indianapolis is not at all to be compared to it. For a time there was a great cry in the northern part of the state about the wonderful gas belt and Indianapolis took advantage of her proximity to the gas pro- ducing fields to do a great deal of advertising for herself. But time has shown that these gas fields do not last and they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past and manufacturers are turning to something more sub- stantial in the way of material for producing fuel and light. The great feature that governs all manufacturers is the cost of fuel. A manufac- turer cannot possibly run without a motive force, which must be produced either by fuel or water and in the state of Indiana there are no waterfalls large enough to be of any service. Therefore the only recourse is to turn to coal, which is absolutely the only thing which is practicable. The whole southern part of Indiana is one vast coal field. There are fifty mines within a radius of thirty miles of this city. There are ten mines within the city limits. This means an absolutely inexhaustible supply, and yet if it were exhaustible, we would only have to go a few miles across the Ohio river to get all the coal that we wanted, of a grade which is only surpassed by the very best quality of Pittsburg coal. Let one estimate the cost of get- ting Pittsburg coal from where it is mined to this city, and then let him take into consideration the nearness of this city and the natural outlet for getting to the South and the foreign countries as soon as the Panama canal is finished and he can see for himself that even Pittsburg, with all her cry of cheap fuel, is not to be compared to Evansville. There are in Warrick County, with superior railroad connections, twelve big mines which are in active operation and which furnish the very best quality of coal. A well- written work on the geology of the state of Indiana speaks very highly of Vanderburg County and its coal supplies. The statement is made that the coal is absolutely able to stand transportation of any kind, which is a very great point, as there is some coal mined in different portions of the United States which will not stand the weather. There is some cannel coal, but not near here, and it really is of little benefit to the manufacturer. All the manufacturer is looking for is the coal that will make good fuel, and when
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he can find a place like this, where good mine coal can be delivered right at his furnace door for 60 cents a ton, there is certainly no use of going much further into the matter of fuel. This, however, only applies to man- ufacturers who will locate here on the vast stretches of good flat land that lie back of Evansville, all of which are perfect in the way of locating large plants with cottages for the workmen all around them. But the far-seeing coal fielders have looked further, and will hail with delight the day when thousands of barge loads of coal can be delivered right on barges on the river bank, far cheaper than in any place in the United States and where they save the hundreds of miles between here and New Orleans and the Panama canal, which are now being wasted in the time spent to get as far South as this point.
The grading of the Big Four railroad is being pushed so rapidly that this giant enterprise can be said to be almost at our doors. There is no better conducted road in the Union than this and what its advent means to Evansville can only be a matter of conjecture, and we shall try to show further on that this is only the beginning, and it is a matter of common record that wherever a big railroad has found a good city to enter and has shown by the vast amount of money spent in coming in, that it has per- fect confidence in the future of that city, other roads are very likely to fol- low in their wake. There cannot be too many railroads. In the old days it was considered almost a crime for one road to parallel another, but the records show that in every case where this has been done, not only have both roads done a great business, but the entire country which they trav- erse has always been very greatly benefited. We now have the L. & N. R. R. to Nashville, Tennessee, the L. & N. to St. Louis, the Southern Rail- way to Louisville, Kentucky, and to St. Louis, Missouri, the E. & T. H. to Chicago, the I. C. to Peoria, Illinois, and to Nashville, Tennessee, the E. & I. to Terre Haute, the Louisville, Henderson and St. Louis, to Louis- ville, Kentucky. The Big Four will, of course, open up a through line to the great East. We have traction lines to Newburg, to Boonville, to Rockport and to Mt. Vernon and extensions on all of these are now being talked of and contemplated. With the building of the great bridge across the Ohio, almost directly in front of the city, a vast new territory will be opened up and more direct connection with the South will be had than ever before. The building of the little city across the river also means much for Evansville and it may be that some of us will live to see the day when what was once almost a piece of waste land with vast corn fields, across from Sunset park, will be dotted with residences. The greatest trouble we now have is the bonded debt of the city of Evansville, of which men- tion has been made before. The story of the game that was worked by the early railroads was told and also the selling of the bonds, or more vir- tually, the stealing of the bonds, for that was about what it amounted to and even so far along in this work it might be well to quote that splendid traffic manager, the late G. J. Grammer, when he appeared before the In-
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diana Railroad Commission in 1906. He spoke of what had been the method of the railroads in the past and turning to his old friend, Judge W. J. Wood, who was a member of the commission, he said, "Indiana was no exception and I need only remind Judge Wood of this fact. Take my old home Evansville. That city in the early '70s voted $1,100,000 to aid in the construction of railroads and what became of it? What did they get for it? All they received for their money was the railroads and common stock in the sale. What became of that stock? Every one of these rail- roads went into bankruptcy and the stock became worthless. What be- came of this debt? Evansville has been paying taxes for 30 years on this debt. They have paid more than double the principal in interest and still owe the principal." This is an evidence of the spirit that existed at that time, to encourage the construction of railroads. It is hard for a man to say what should be done about this debt that was foisted upon this city. That it is absolutely unjust we all know. That it is a great burden we all know. That it is diverting into the hands of foreign people, the good dollars that our tax payers pay out and which could be so well used for the betterment of this city, that we well know. If there could be some law got- ten up by which a city which had been so ruthlessly robbed, could com- promise a debt of this kind, even although it has been already compro- mised, 99 out of a hundred citizens of Evansville would vote for such an action. It is true that the railroads are here and we would not be without them, but think of what we paid for that worthless stock, and think of how we were beaten out of any money results from the good money which we put up. Mr. Grammer said at this same meeting, that there would be more railroads in Indiana shortly and by that he meant that they would come of course towards Evansville, if the projectors were able to raise the money for their construction. "The Big Four would have been in a year ago," he said, "if they had been able to make a certain loan." He says positively that he knows of three railroads that are not under construction, that are projected and fostered by strong people and that as soon as the necessary financial arrangements can be made, they will be built. Another point that he made was that there is no bad feeling between railroads and electric railroads. Good railroads are always anxious to see plenty of traction lines, for the traction lines bring money and business to the big railroads. Many people have thought otherwise, yet I question if any of them are as conversant with the situation as Mr. Grammer. One of the best business talks ever made in the city of Evansville was by G. J. Grammer to the members of the Evansville Business Association on October 12th, 1906. He was here at the time in the interest of the Big Four road, which came without asking for the contribution of one cent. Mr. Grammer always loved Evansville and was one of the men who never hesitated to show his firm and abiding faith in its future. Among other things he said, "Your city like many others throughout the country, has gone through a great panic (remember this is in the year 1906) but it then seemed to me that
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Evansville was more distressed than any other city, and that such distress was brought about to a great extent, by your inaction and the improper application of your facilities, the result of your natural advantages. No doubt it grew out of the depression experienced by almost every interest at almost any point in the United States. In all kinds of business your city undoubtedly felt its depression more than most any other point. I told you some of the natural advantages of Evansville and recited the old story which has been repeated so many times that some of us actually be- lieved it, that Evansville by location, by circumstances, of creation, by the methods pursued in building up its business after the war, and the many things that had contributed to its success, had gradually fallen away until that time that there was hardly anything here of value, real or tangible, and I was sure when I got through, that some of you gentlemen thought I was an optimist. I do not think so now and I did not think so then. Now, gentlemen, speaking of Evansville as a railroad center, we all know that Evansville is the shortest through gateway between the northwest and the southeast. This is something that everyone should know and a matter we have explained many times. You are 48 miles nearer Nashville and 50 miles nearer Atlanta from Chicago, than by the way of any other possible route. Notwithstanding these natural conditions, together with the large manufacturing and jobbing interest of your city, it appeared to me that when the period of depression came, everyone let go at once. For many years I was in charge of practically all the railroads leading north and east of Evansville and had charge of the traffic which originated north or east and passed through here, destined to the south. I practically made every traffic, dictated all policies, arranged the percentage basis, fought your fights early and late, as well as my own." He then went on to speak of the advantages of competition and showed that while in 1880 the gross earn- ings of the Evansville and Terre Haute were $600,000, in 1893 they were $1,400,000 a few years later and yet in the meantime there were three dis- tinct competing lines working north and east of Evansville. Continuing he said, "I have been a good while getting our people to realize the impor- tance of Evansville. I wanted to see my old home on the map and to know that it was a terminus of the greatest system of railroads that exists on earth." He then spoke again of the old time railroads and said, "I remem- ber years ago when we voted $300,000 for the Henderson and Nashville, $300,000 to the St. Louis and South Eastern, $242,000 to this combined road, $125,000 to the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville, part of the con- sideration being that they were to build shops. They built them (?) Then we voted $100,000 to the local trade or Air line. Every dollar of this $1,067,000, including interest thereon, has amounted to more than double the original principal and the interest you still continue to pay, was lost by these several roads going into bankruptcy. The only consideration you received for this money was certificates of common stock which have proven to be worthless. Your city and county in the early '50s each voted
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$100,000 to the' Evansville and Terre Haute, for which you received $150,000. Your subsidy of $100,000 to the Newburg line and Howell shops has also proven a great investment."
It is unfortunate that Captain Grammer did not live to see his hopes realized. His whole heart and soul were bent on getting this great road into the city he loved so well, and to which he came when only a poor young man. His speech put fresh life into the hearts of many who heard it and it is doubtful if there ever has been an address made before the Business Men's Association that carried with it more actual weight. This work would gladly reproduce it in full, but for the fact that much of his talk was about railroad rates which would be of little interest save to those directly interested in shipping.
Mr. F. P. Jeffries, speaking along the same line, says :
"While I was general manager of the Evansville and Terre Haute rail- road, I made one of the greatest fights of my life to maintain Evansville as an important gateway to the south. Other great railway systems were seeking to divert traffic through other gateways, and in the rate meetings I fought the battle for Evansville almost single handed. Now, fortunately, the once isolated railroad, which was the football of Wall street, is part of a powerful and extensive railway system and no longer has to fight but can command her rights. Evansville will become the most important gate- way between the north and the south, for it is the quickest and most direct route from Chicago to southern points. Package freight now reaches Au- gusta as quickly from Chicago as from New York. The improvement of service and quickening of schedules will not only send an ever-increasing procession of freight cans through Evansville, but will increase the strip- ping advantages of Evansville merchants and manufacturers.
"I am here to help in the upbuilding of Evansville as well as the Evans- ville and Terre Haute railroad, and the officials of the great railway system I represent are fully in sympathy with my ambition to make the Evans- ville gateway the greatest of all."
Mr. Jeffries has come back here to live. He is a railroad man of the very first class and will be a welcome addition to the "pushers."
The organization of the Big Six Chair company, another big industry has added to the fast growing list of manufacturing plants in Evansville. The new company was organized by Benjamin Bosse and his associates in the Big Six company and will be affiliated with that concern.
The factory will be erected on the site now owned by the Globe Lum- ber company near the Maryland street bridge. The Big Six company holds an option on that property now and immediately upon organization the Big Six Chair company will take over the option and the property of the Globe Furniture company. Plans for the building, which alone will cost $30,000, are now being prepared by Clifford Shopbell and the construction work will begin as quickly as possible. The building will be of brick and modern in every respect. All the machinery will be of the newest
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type and will be thoroughly up to date and capable of turning out the high- est quality of chairs economically.
The management of the new concern is under Mr. William Haas, who was for a long time with the John G. Newman company. It is the inten, tion of the promoters of the new company to turn out nothing but first class furniture and in order to do this will endeavor to secure the most skilful labor possible. The new factory will be on the Big Four's main line.
THE WHITE CITY.
This seems, at this writing to be the commonly accepted name of the little concrete city which is being built on the point of land in Kentucky just opposite Evansville.
For many long years this point has been looked on simply as a place for a good corn field, and, in fact, the very finest grade of corn is raised there. At certain seasons of the year it is subject to overflow but this does not harm it as a rich alluvial deposit is left on the surface. Again the water does not "wash" it to any extent as Nature has arranged for that by making a "cut off" some three miles above here, through which the water runs, meeting the Ohio again above Henderson. Not even in their wildest dreams did any of the old citizens ever think that this beautiful point of land would ever be converted into a little city. Years ago even the ferry boat was discontinued and those who wished to go to Henderson went by rail or boat. But others saw the advantages in this delightful spot and are now taking advantage of it. Mr. J. A. Brown, of the Crawford Development Co., proposes to spend $600,000 on the tract, and do so at once. In an interview with him the following facts were obtained :
In bringing about the materialization of his dreams of a modern Utopia, a city of graftless and politicianless people, housed in concrete residences pumped from the bed of the Ohio river, and governing themselves on the style of a communism remodeled to fit advanced sociological views, Super- intendent J. A. Brown of the Crawford Development company announces he will expend $600,000 by the end of the year.
A further development to heighten the already keen and curious inter- est the people of Evansville are taking in the new city being erected on the Kentucky point came when Mr. Brown stated he had almost certain information a bridge and two railroads, one steam and one interurban, would cross the river near his tract.
"How soon these roads will come, I cannot say," stated Mr. Brown, "but they are coming. I can finance a company provided the people in Evansville will give $500,000 and the people in Henderson county $125,000. That the bridge carrying steam and interurban lines, wagons and pedes- trians will prove to be a paying proposition goes without saying. There are lots of people in Evansville who do not know what is coming to this section of the country."
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Asked if the steel trust or the American Tobacco company has any in- terest in his proposed new city, Brown replied :
"The capital behind this city comes from non-corporate sources. There are millionaires behind it. But the steel trust is not interested. Some peo- ple liken my proposed city to the one builded by the steel trust at Gary, Ind., and see a connection between my place and its, because Mr. Carroll, a purchasing agent for the United States Steel company, is a partner in the Crawford company. At Gary the steel trust grinds every dollar it can out of its workmen. Here, it will be different. Everyone will be on equal terms. This will be no selfish town.
"As for the American Tobacco company, it has no interest here. The tobacco factory we will put up here will cover two acres. Everything in the smoking and chewing line will be manufactured. The American To- bacco company has gobbled up everything it could over the country and even made Liggett & Myers of St. Louis come into the combination. My factory will fight the trust."
The site of the new town, where foundations for a power plant and a spacious three-story administration building are practically done, was vis- ited yesterday by Mayor Heilman and other city officials. The mayor laid a concrete block which Brown promptly dubbed the cornerstone of the city building for the new Kentucky burg.
Brown stated last night that he has had his eyes on the Kentucky penin- sula opposite Evansville for twelve years, ever since he came here that length of time ago to purchase hardwood lumber. Brown for many years was an assistant to the contractors in the building of the Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific and Nickel Plate railroads. He is informed in detail about every nook and corner of the United States. Mrs. Kate Hawley, the New York woman who is one of the partners in the Crawford com- pany, is the daughter of the contractor who finished the Union Pacific line from western Montana to the Pacific coast.
"For twenty years I have been studying out a scheme for a model city," stated Brown. "I believe I have something new for the entire world. Every house must set on two lots. I will build houses and sell them on rent with interest added, as is a well known plan. There is no place in the United States, so far as I know, where concrete houses can be built so cheaply. The river is a great bar of sand which will be pumped up here, used to erect houses and to fill in the low ground to fifty feet above zero on the gauge. No known flood has ever come this high. Fifty concrete residences will be put up this year, as well as the public buildings."
Touching on the advanced sociological views he will endeavor to put into effect, Brown said:
"With the deed to every lot will go the condition that it cannot be re- sold to a colored man, that nothing but a residence can be erected on it, that it cannot be sold or transferred to anyone without the consent of the
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board of governors for the community, that no man can own more than two lots except through inheritance.
"There will be no jail, no city court. We will have a deputy sheriff and when a man does anything criminal he can be taken to Henderson. Many of the people who live here will come from New England to work in the factories. This will be a great manufacturing point, in time. The city will stretch from a point opposite the foot of Fulton avenue to above the water works. A park will follow the river line, flanked by a wide driveway.
"Every week the community members will hold a meeting and settle affairs among themselves. Arrangements will be made for credit to the sick or unemployed in the big community store. Residents will not have to buy here, but as they will own the store, as well as the public buildings and water, power and light plants, it will be to their interest to trade here. With every deed there goes an interest in the public buildings and munici- pal utilities."
Brown stated that he was a student of Herbert Spencer's synthetic philosophy and was applying some of it to the new community. His pres- ent plans are to lay all of the water and sewer pipes along the present ground level and later cover them over with sand pumped up from the river.
It is often the case that when a party of men get together and discuss the present status and the future of the city of Evansville, the question always comes up, "How is it that the whole country does not know about Evansville? We have so many natural advantages that they ought to pre- sent themselves to the people of the country." Yet it would be very amus- ing to ask some of these same men how much they know about their own city and then listen to their replies. For instance, a few days ago I met a well-posted business man who has lived here for many years and who would be assumed to know all about his own city. To my question, "What is the area of Evansville?" he stood a long time and then said, "Well, tak- ing in the distance out Main and up and down the river and the water works and Howell, I should say that it is about three miles square." How many public schools have we here?" I asked him. He studied quite a time, running over in his mind and said, "We must have at least 12." So for the benefit of this gentleman and others interested, I will give a few figures which are absolutely true, or were about three months ago, for since that time buildings are being projected on the flat lands back of the city which will result in quite a different area. The present area of the city of Evans- ville is over seven miles, containing 4,480 acres. The estimated value of the real estate now in Evansville, leaving out that which has been recently added, is $35,000,000. The estimated population of course, is 75,000, though it will soon be much greater. Instead of a dozen public schools, we have 24 in which are 262 teachers and at the least, an enrollment of 8,867 pupils. Another thing known to very few is that we have 16 private
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