Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-12-12
Railroad tn PIaauemine.

In the last Planuemine Sentinel we lind it
recommended for the citizens of that village to
use every exertion in their power to procure, at
an early period, a charterf for a Railroad from the
Park to the Mississippi, at Plaquemine village.
| We hardly think such a railroad would do much.
If bayou Plaquemine could be closed up the
year round it might answer a good purpose;
but while that bayou is open a railroad from
the Park to the Mississippi would be a mere
cipher while boats can navigate it, and the
prices to be charged for transportation across
would hardly enable it to compete with steam
boats under the present arrangements. Accor-
ding to our notions, PlaQuemine village owes
its existence and prosperity to the mercy OF
God and the negligence of the people OF Alta
kapas. That Providential raft at the upper
point of the village saves the place from being
swept from its owest foundation into lake
Chicot, and the negligence of the people of At
takapas prevent them from providing a more
direct, speedy and convenient route to New Or
leans than by way of Plaquemine. We wish
our ~neighbors at Plaquemine no particular
harm, but we hope and trust that before many
years we may be able to reach New Orleans
from Franklin in five hours without seeing that
village on our route: and ifsuch an arrangement
were made it would turn a great many Attaka-
pas dimes into a new channel, and we think that
the people of Plaquemine would see a decided
difference in their Observation-Disclosures Ban
ner. .r
Our remarks respecting a railroad from the
Park to Plaquemine need some alteration. In
deed, we have upon reflection somewhat chang
ed our mind upon that subject. 1t is wise to
be governed in our local views by the experl-
ence derived from similar experiments elsewhere
and railroads have hitherto proved injurious
to towns on the Mississippi. But our citizens
should keep a watchful eye to the interests OF
Plaquemine. Each section has its particular
interests and jealousies, and therefore, we
are warranted in entertaining and protecting
ours. Our neighbor of the Banner admits our
prosperity, and as the raft at the entrance of the
bayou and the Attakapas people, may in a mea-
sure contribute to that prosperity, we should
protect both-enact laws to prevent the drift
from being removed, and do all in our power
for the accommodation of our Attakapas neigh
bort, when they visit us, and with as little ex-
pense to them as possible. 1t would be a seri-
Gus matter indeed if we had to say goodbye"
to Attakapas; but more heart-rending and ter
rible, truly, to wake up some morning and lind
ourselves in the middle of Lake Chicot!
A good road Of some description we Ger
tainly ought to have, not only to the Park, but
from Plaquemine to the vicinity of Johnston's
Store on Crosse Tete. If it would be danger
ousto go to the expense of constructing a rail-
road, and as a McAdamised road is out of the
question, perhaps a Plank road (Which has been
highly spoken of at the North both for cheap
ness and durability would meet the required
wants Of all. In a country like ours, where
Improvement and Progress are the idols which
we worship, and which lend to every commu-
nifty its separate jealousies and ambitions, it
behooves each to watch its interests with a
sleepless vigilance, and to improve every means
of facilitating business and population in their
locality. If we are inert and careless, and are
so contracted in our views as to think only OF
the present, when the future teens with SO
many bright and golden prospects, we deserve
the fruits of our apathy-poverty and decay
It is seen from the above article what exertions
our sister town of Fsanklin is making to in
crease her wealth, widen her boundsF ies and
add to her population. We have already evil
dences of the public spirit that distinguishes
that communicated with a journal that has
no superior in the State for energy and ability
in the advocacy of pFopress and reformation,
it is incumbent upon our citizens to keep a
guarded eye upon Franklin, notfor the purpose
of endeayoring to thrawt her p~raiseworthy eff
forts, but for the object of not being behind her
in the race to wealth and distinction. Plaque
quemine has a valuable back country to contri-
butte to its advancement-indecd it is surround
ed by wealth and enterprise equal to any other
portion of the State-let US, then, make good
roads to facilitate travel and transportation to
and from our town, and we will assuredly see
it progress with a rapidity hitherto unknown
giving to every branch Of business and all de-
scriptions Of property, an impetus and a value
that will eminently repay us for our energy an
public spirit.
Policy OF THE SPAN1ARDs IN CUBA.-In this
island the spy system exists to an extent that
was moi, out done in Venice in the worst days
of her asistoeracy. The following incident has
been related to US BY q friend recently returned
from Hayana-says the Picayulne s.
"a short time ago two young men were dis