New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-02-08
THE COAST RO4D


By oil means, let us have the railroad from
Nsworieans to Baton Rouge, along our flourish.
ing, beautiful, delightful coast. We 20 for it
heart, soul and pocket.
When the Directors Of the Great Northern
koad determined, we doubt not for wise reasons,
to leave the river, plunge through the gloomy
swamps and over the shaking prairies, which fill
up the space between the Mississippi and Lake
Pontchartrain; and by the shortest route reach
the nearest high lands, a poor, miserable broom
straw piny woods country, only fit to sustain
hll-dees, and produce pine-knots, we expe-
rienced pang Of regret and disappointment !;
and were nearly melted to open complaint and
clamor. We had been told in thousand and
one eloquent railroad speeches, that the Great
Northern Road would supply NewOrleans with
q country neighborhood. well adantea fo, ,,ro,
retreats forour faded citizens, where little vii.
lagos would spring up in evergreen forests, and
by the side of purling streams, where all the
rustic enjoyments and luxuries might be found
in profusion, and second Canaan opened to the
enraptured gaze of the long imprisoned Or.
lsanois But, alas these pleasant "countrv
thoughts" were destined to be cruelty pipped
In the bud, when the hard hearted and unnoetic
Directory in Union Row, intent upon erander
designs, cruelty turned aside from the nleasant
spots, from even inhabitable and ENJOYABLE rural
portions Of Louisiana, and hurried on towards
Mississippi, treating our own lovely State with
something bordering on contempt The effect
Of this action of the Board was to place bevond
the reach Of our citizens, under day or half
. days travel, the rural comforts and delights
which they had been induced to believe wonld
be among the chief blessings of this great enter
prise. The people were barely reconciled to
this disappointment by the argument that The
route selected shortened the distance n Nash.
vile some thirty miles, thereby saving ohont
half . million of dollars, and providing against
any future air line short cuts.
There still existed, and even now exists. some
prejudice against the company on account ~
this decision. But here now is presented n nlan
OF compromise which removes all this i'll FEELING
and restores our former good nature and nleae.
Ing hopes. 1t is the road along the eoast--from
the point ON the river whence the Great North.
ern taxes Its divergence swamp and lakeward-
TO our present Capital, the venerable town of
Baton Rouge. The directors and friends Of tho
Great Northern are actively bestirring them
selves in behalf of this new branch. 1t is wise,
polite and praiseworthy in them 1t will popu.
larize their own enterprise and produce gen.
eral unanimity of sentiment in the Legislature,
and out Of it. in favor of the Great Trunk Road
which is to connect this city to the Ohio and Ill
timately with our Federal Capital. This Coast
Road will be the great popular local road Of
Louisiana and Neworleans, whilst the Great
Northern will be tho road Of the South west and
he Opelousas, of the West Mississippi and
Pacific. The Coast Road will supply ms Will,
ready access to the fertile and beautiful fields
that brighten the banks of the great father of
Watsrs, afford our planters opportunities for dis.
playing their generous and liberal boanital;tv
in the entertainment of city fiepds give .
market 70 innumerable articles much aes;d-
grated by city folks, but little valued bv orr
country ffiends-such as fresh butter. egos