The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-07-23
vicksburg and Shreveport Railroad.

Vicksburg and Shreveport Railroad.
Mr. Coleman, the indcfatignblc President of
the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Texas Railroad
Company, is busy canvassing the northern pa-
rishcs of this State in favor of tina, road He
sc find reported in brief in the Madison Journ-
AL Some of his calculations arc interesting to
every citizen Of the State. We suljoin several
passages:
Mr.. c. said that he considered the subject of
great importance 20 the northern parishes of
Louisiana, the southern counties of Arkansas,
and the northern and northeastern portions of
Texas. The road would afford facilities to the
planters for shipping their productions to mar
kct Mt all seasons Of the year, and effect great
saving in time and expenses; that it would
draw dense population To the rich alluvial
lands of Louisiana The present population
of the twelve northern parishes was, in 1901,
about 10000, white and black, and in all pro-
liability this road would increase it within n
few years TO 100000 or 100000 The present
production was about liO. 900 bales of cotton,
the road would most probably augment il to
100000 bales. The value of li0, 900 bales, nj
$50 per bale, is s4,200,000 The value of
400, 900 bales, at $50 per bale, would bc Sl2,-
GOO, ,OO0---showing an increase of the annual
"NN' hS"tl E'iSNN,N'p' ipu' III IcSllt
of the improvement was only to double the
population, double the production, and of
course the income, the enterprise Is Of immense
value tn the country.
Mr.. Coleman said further, that The work
would greatly enhance the value of the lands
for many miles on each side. of the road iudg-
ing by the facts in other States where railroads
have been madc; that real estate will increase
three, perhaps five fold: and that much of the
land now of little value, would bc settled and
brought into cultivation. :" y
lie then undertook to show that tho people
of the country through which the road is TO
pass are able TO build it, and that true policy
required that they should build il by home
contributions or subscriptions of stock; and
that at all events no efforts should be made for
foreign aid until all eXcrtious for home aid
exhausted, that if Nicksburg and North Lou
isiana would perform their part nobly, there
was no doubt assistance from capitalists could
be obtained ii nccessary---becausc il was safe
principle TO ask assistance only when we have
proved that we arc willing to help ourselves to
said, we of the South should own so much
of the stock as TO give us the control of TIE
work.
Mr.. q. proceeded 10 show that the profits OF
the road would he cnumerativc. If the road
costs S3, ,00U, 600 he contcndcd that the travel
to and from Texas, North Louisiana and South
Arkansas--thc transportation of cotton, bug
ging, rope, dry goods, groceries, &c, would
yield at least 10, perhaps ls per cent; that to
take oil one-third for expenses would leave
still IL per cent per cent. for interest on
the cost, and per cent, net profit TO put in
the pockets of subscribers. y
MIR. Coleman lastly took view of this road
rs IA link in the great chain of connection bc.
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans In
this point of view, he highly recommended the
read. There is now certainty that the road
from Vicksburg TO Charleston and Savannah
would be made. BY this connection the peo-
pla of North Louisiana and Texas, and OF
Sauth Arkansas, have the convenience of rail.
road travelling from their doors to the South
Atlantic States TO the Northern States, tho
Western States, and all over the country; per-
forming journeys in few days, which now
require sevcral weeks, or even months Most
important OF all il would secure the trade of
the Pacific, of India and China, aud concen-
ira,c ii upon New Orleans, the great cotton
emporium of the South lie contentlcd that
the South had deep interest in everything
which concerned the prosperity of New Or
leans, which, from its position, was the most
important point in TAG United States, perhaps
in the world.