Locomotive, Volume 8, Number 11, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 May 1849 — Page 2

ment of the country by. the construction of the best and most approved, thoroughfares within the available means of its citizens. To accomplish objects so desirable, and at. the same time so replete. with benefits and blessings, ought at once to admonish our citizens to look to the best sources for imformation and advice. Had the oft repeated and earnest warning of the -author of the following article been paid more heed lo at the time as should have been the case the ruinous ( if not disgraceful) system of 1836 never would have been adopted. The same forecast is apparent in the suggestions 'and views which follows, as marked the course of their author at the period referred to. D. TO THE CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS. In compliance with the request made at a late meeting, I attended - the Rail Road Convention held at Steubenville, Ohio, on the 26th April. The object of this Convention was to call public attention to the importance of continuing the Central Pennsylvania Road, from Pittsburg nearly west, through the centre of Ohio to St Louis.' The Convention agreed mainly in opinion, that the route should, commence at Pittsburer, cross the Monoeahela, then by way of Steuben

ville, Cashocton, Newark, and Columbus. From the latter place the citizens of Cincinnati think that the Road should go on the route now nearly completed, by the way of Xenia to Cincinnati, thence to St. Louis, either by Mr. Mitchell's route or by one still further 'north which it is alleged may be made on better ground and through a iicher country, and would pass near Greensburg, Edinburg, Martinsville, and Spencer. The Delegates from Springfield, Dayton, and Indianapolis suggested that the nearest and best route would be through those places for reasons too well known here to need be repeated. As the Convention lasted only two days, and there were but few delegates from the western part of the route, they could not properly occupy much of the "time. A brief statement of what is doing in this State was however listened to with apparent interest. ; ' " From the discussions, and from conversations with many of the delegates, I learned some matters which, it seems to me important to be known more generally, but in attempting to communicate them,1 it should be recollected that information obtained from conflicting statements, and opinions hastily formed, should be received with cation. My object will be effected, if those who are interested will enquire further and judge for themselves. Nothing will probably be done this year at Pittsburg on the proposed route. The Central Road wilL not be completed from the Eat to that city for about two years, and its means and energies will be mainly employed in that direction. Virginia has not yet authorised the construction of the six miles within its limits, though this will doubtless be done, so that unless a commencement be made at Steubenville, nothing will be done at present Were this to take place, and the means there, and on the route are ample, the road might be made to Coshocton, 81 miles distant, and then its importance would force it east to Pittsburg and west to Columbus. There does not however appear to be a good prospect at present, for the good people ef Steubenville are much more ready to vote that others should make them a Road, than to make it themselves. The cost of the Road from Stiubenville to Coshocton, -would be about $15,000 a mile, thence west it would be cheaper, while it would be much greater in the direction of Pittsburg. In the mean time another route is in contemplation to run north-west from Pittsburg through Ohio, which shall dass near Canton, Manillon, Wooster and Mansfield, to the Columbus and Cleveland Road, or south-west to Bellefontain, to connect with the Road from this place, or north-west by way of Fort Wayne in the direction of Chicago. This route seems to meet with favor at Pittsburg, and it is alleged that $200,000 of stock will be subscribed by the city, an equal sum by individuals there, and $20,000 more by Alleghany city, while with what canbeaddedon the lino will complete the Road 45 miles to the line of the State of Ohio. .The counties in Ohio on the line will also, it is understood, - sub; scribe stock, so that there appears to be no great difficulty in completing the Road to Mansfield, 164 miles Irom Pittsburg. As this Road aims at diverting the trade of northern Ohio from the Lake, it will be met at once with competition, and to obtain business its rates must be low. The subscription of stock by Cities, Counties, and Towns, when bonds are to be issued, and money borrowed for the purpose, will probably be as liable to abuse, as the public works by the States, in times gone by. Money will not in general be judiciously expended, unless by those who have an interest in the income to be realized. The time has however arrived, when Rail Roads mvst be made, for the people in no fertile part of the country will sit still, and sae the enterprise of other districts, run away with all the profitsof industry. If therefore those who have the means t.nnake Rail Roads, and when property is to be vastly increased in value by them, will not take the lead and do their duty, they will be forced to do so by taxation. It will probably be best to combine the interest and watchfulness of individuals, with the aid to be received from counties and Cities, and in this way the advantages of both may

be gained and the evils incident to both avoided. Had the private wealth of Cincinnati, constructed a Rail Road to the best part of the interior of this State, that would have yielded from 6 to 8 per cent, the Voters of the City Would not have said that a million of dollars should be loaned, when but few of them thought of enquiring about the. income. What is done in Ohio will scon be done here unless public spirit and prudence on the part of our citizens prevent it. No one can now say how many Rail Roads will be required by the routes of the country. Soon after James Watt, one of the greatest men of his day, invented the Steam Engine, he Was written to about manufacturing thetn.- His reply in substance was: We can make at our establishment all the power that will be wanted for the world." Had he lived to the present day he rriight have seen thousands of shopsy for the construction of Steam Engines. So those who now think that a few Rail Roads will do the whole business of the country, will ere long see their mistake. - .. . ,( :. . There is no danger of too many, if they be made from a good country to a good market, for the very business will sustain them. Yet.it is of the utmost importance .that there should be prudence and economy in their construction and management fot a bankrupt Railroad will be a great nuisance wherever it is found. The noisy advocates of Free Trade in Virginia and Illinois have, in their wisdom, determined that Railroads shall go in their bounds, not where business requires them, but where they will aid in building up some little town. This policy appears too absurb to be opposed with argument, and it cannot be long till it is abandoned S. MERRILL. Gentlemen Editors. While laboring to improve the minds of your readers, you have doubtless made the discovery that " creature comforts" are no serious obstacle in the way of mental developement, or in other words, you admit the propositon that the material and spiritual man necessarily sympathetically act and re-act upon each other. I suppose the theory alluded to has been often exemplified in the case of all persons who have traveled much, and who could discriminate between a good and a bad Hotel. In the one case the weary one is comforted, and his spirits rise, and he is reinvigorated for the journey, in the other, his wants are mocked; there is nothing to cheer him; his spirits droop, and he quits the spot sinning mayhap cursing. These thoughts have been elicited, by being a few days ago a guest in the Prairie House, Terre Haute, which, after having been closed several years, was, alter the most thorough renovation, reopened on the 1st of the present month. The house, you are aware, was erected by Chauncey. Rose Esq., the present proprietor, at an expense, including furniture, of $33,000, and for beauty of locality, as well as for its ample and tasteful exterior, has always attracted the attention ot the traveler. It is undoubtedly the largest and best arranged Hotel in Indiana, and the present landlords, Messrs. Topping & Buntin, are gentlemen that know how to make,a guest comfortable and at home, and they will not fail to do it! Those that call once, will certainly never again pass it by. A. B. ANSWER TO ENIGMA LAST WEEK. Snort House.

THE LOCOMOTIVE.

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1819.

Wanted Immediately. Twenty-five more subscribers to the Locomotive in this city, to make our circulation within the corporate limits even 400. All friends to the Locomotive are earnestly requested to make a little effort on its behalf to raise its- circulation to that number. Also 100 more subscribers in this county wanted. - Apply at the Locomotive office, opposite Brownings. Danville Poets. We see some poet in Danville publishes a piece of poetry in the Advertiser as original under the signature of " a Hoosier," that brings to mind an anecdote that is going the rounds. A student read an excellent piece of composition before his class, and after he finished, his Professor asked him if it was original. He said it was, for it had "original" marked over it in the paper he took it from. The Advertiser's correspondent might say the same thing, as the poetry was published in the Locomotive six months since.

The Grave Yard. We were much pleased on' a recent visit to the grave yard, to see the numerous new and handsome tomb-stones and monuments erected by the living in token of remembrance of the dead, as well as the taste displayed in ornamenting the graves with flowers and shrubbery, but we were pained to see the manner in which the shrubbery has" been mutilated, and the flowers taken and broken.' Others besides ourselves have been pained to see this, and complaint has been made to the council, who have determined to have the yard and all its shrubbery and flowers protected. The Marshal has been ordered to arrest and fine all that take flowers from the graves, and we are assured he will do it,1 regardless of age or sex. We give this timely notice that all may understand the matter, and act accordingly. We are glad to see so many visiting the grave yard it is becoming a place of great resort these pleasant evenings, and there is no place where so much profit can be derived from contemplation as in the final resting place for all ; but it is great sacrilege to destroy the tokens of affection placed as sentinels over the silent dead. " Singular Divorce Case. A couple were divorced by our Circuit court this week, the circumstances of which are unusual and worthy of note. - The applicant for the divorce was Mrs. Sarah

Apple. It appears she married a Mr. Apple in the

year 1827, and that shortly alter their marriage ne enlisted for five years as a soldier in the U. S, Army. J3ome time after he had been in the Army, a fellow soldier informed Mrs. A. that her husband was dead, and that he had assisted in his burial. On this information .Mrs. A., in the year. 1831, married Mr. Henry Apple, with whom she has lived 18 years. A short time since the first husband returned, after an absence of 1 years, and Mrs. A. then applied for a divorce from him. The Court granted the divorce, and 15 minutes afterwards she was married the second time to her second husband, with whom she has lived for 18 years respectably and happily. See marriage notice in the proper column.

Little Lakes Phenomenon During the last.

veek we have noticed numerous little lakes in various parts of the city, and particularly one on Meridian street north of Washington. There is something singular about theso lakes that we would like to be informed of. All can tell where the wa

ter that they contain comes from, but no one can tell where the outlet is we went round and round one, and could see no possible channel by which the-water could escape, and yet are convinced it does escape, as we have noticed the water gradually recede from a mark we make on the shore. Wonder if the street commissioner can explain how it is We pause for a reply. We learn that Blythe & Iledderly's pork house, on the bank of the river, has been informed against as a nuisance, and suit commenced before the Mayor. The Grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons will hold their next annual communication on Wednesday, the 23d inst , and the Grand Lodge or Master Masons will hold theirs on Monday, the 28thfnst.