Washington sentinel., 1853-12-15
From Che M. O. Creacent.

Opening of the Great Pacific Railroad.
On Saturday last gallant company assembled at
Algiers, in compliance with an invitation of the
superintendent, TO participate in the festivities at
tending the opening of the New Orleans, Opelou-
sas and Great Western railroad. The guests,
numbering about two hundred, comprised mem
bers of the city press, presidents of the different
railroads, members of the legislature and OF the
city council, citizens generally and distinguished
strangers Among the number we observed the
commanding figure of the Mexican General Ro-
bles ex-Chief Justice.Eustis, Gen. John L. Lewis,
and that Nestor of the bar, Col John II. Grymes,
together with other notable hdJitnes not less dis
tngushed for their talents than for their impor-
tant public services.
At a few minutes after eleven O'Clock, the COM
pany left the foot of Canal street. on a ferry.boat
provided TOR the occasion, serenaded by brass
band, and arrived at the depot al Algiers. There
few minutes leisure was offered TO examine the
extensive buildings of the company, which are
laid on grand scale The depot is a spacious
building, and is laid off with view TO very large
business. The locomotives upon the road is one
OF the finest ever constructed, and capable of
speed of something like sixty miles 10 the hour.
The tracks, laid with t rail Of heavy iron, on
crossties of cedar, and in point of frmness and
durability is second 10 no other work of the kind in
the States guagc of 81 feet is given 10 the track
thus insuring il against vibraiion and mparting
greater security with capacity for extraordinary
speed.
AT few minutes after 70 o'clock the order Of
all aboard was given, and the train moved off.
As the locomotive was placed on the track re-
versed, and was only guided by its fanges the en-
gineer did not think it advisable TO move al very
rapid rate. The distance however, of seventeen
miles was accomplished in about orty-f minutes
Along the first Two miles of the road and a half
mile back from the river, the land is low and
marshy. Beyond Gretna the region of plantations
commences, and immense sugar fields spread our
TO the right and left. The green and luxuriant an
pearance of the cane fields, stretching away TO
| magnificent distances, afforded a pleasant relief
TO the eye of the long pent up denizen of the town
| Spacious and commodions dwelling-houses dot The
river shore in front of all the plantations and these
are fanked with the white cottages of the black
| laborers, and surrounded with orange groves
covered with a profusion OF ripe and delicious
fruit To the right of the road, and some ten miles
above the city is the Destralam plantation, with
its magnificent mansion, constructed in the Gothic
style, with towers and turrets, resembling those
strange structures of feudal times we read of in
black letter volumes, and conjuring up odd fancies
OF mailed warriors, ladies' on white pallreys trou.
badours jingling love fances 10 sentimental mis-.
ses of cross-bows twanging from the castle keen
and of the blood and wounds From these scenes
OF culture the laundering train passed rapidly to
the region OF swamps, where the cypress hangs
IT'S solemn drapery of moss; and then again into
broad patches of marsh tenanted by aocks Of
wild iowl that sprang from their concealment in
Termed haste. and sped away on whstling wings
Ihese passed, sugar estates again INTERVIEWED that
stretched away TO the horizons edge. In the
midst of one Of these the train stopped having
arrived at the present terminus ofthe road.
FOR brief hour the company had leisure TO
amnse themselves in the very undgnifed recrea-
ton OF sprawling on the gras, after which the
music summoned them to cold spread of various
luxuries lanked with formidable array of bot.
ties Divine.
AT three o'clock the train started for Agers, and
this time with the locomotive going head foremost
the cars ratted along at a most astonishing pace
gong a part OF the time at the rate of ffty-five
miles an hour. The run home was made in about
twenty-five minutes, being an average speed of
over forty miles an hour.
Ihns passed of the opening day of perhaps the
greatest enterprise otthe age and thus were made
the first revolutions of the iron wheels, that are
one day to rumble upon the distant shores of the
Pacho Ocean. The great Pacific railroad has
beginning is reality and tho
friends ofthe enterprise can work on, with high
hope that at no distant day they may be enabled 10
rejoice over its completion. There is to be no
tagging in the good work, and its course is on
ward t