Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-10-07
The N. o. and opelousas Railroad.


With the view of satisfying ourself, and the
public more particularly, of the present con-
dition and future prospects of this great public
enterprise, we devoted two days of the present
week to personal examination of it, from the
plantation of Drs. Ewing kittridge on the
Lafourche. to the depot in Algiers, opposite
New Orleans; and the result Of our observa-
tons, though cursory, are the most satisfactory.
Much has been said, and much is still being
said by the opponents of this great undertaking
to throw it into disrepute; but time will even
tually prove that all predictions in it's regard,
made with view of retarding or bringing about
a total failure of the work, will and have had
no other effect than to add to the zeal of its
real friends, the advocates Of progress and i'm
provement. We must frankly admit that the
many false representations that have been made
to us, from its first inception up to the present
moment, and the present location of the route,
have had a tendency to create secret misgivings
in us as to its future success; but we are now
clearly of the opinion, from the information that
we have derived from personal inspection, and
from that obtained from those who have a
large amount of practical experience in the
construction of railroads over districts of country
similar in every respect to that traversed by
this railroad, that in due course of time it will
be equally as good, if not infinitely superior to
any road now in operation in the United States
Much of the present track, though only laid
temporarily for the purpose of aiding in the
construction of the road, is excellent, and fur
nishes abundant proof Of what it will be when
entirely completed as contemplated by the Com
pany. 1t should act as astmulus to its friends
in lending the necessary aid to insure its final
completion. All those who so nobly came for
ward and assisted in starting the railroad ball
in Louisiana by subscribing to its stock-and
thereby gave it life at the cradle, should, now
that it has passed from its swaddling clothes
to youth, not fail to continue their kind aid to
rush it on to manhood, and eventually reap the
benefits of their bounty, by its adding wealth to
their Golfers by the advance in the price of their
lands, and by afording sure and easy transit
for their staples to a market at all seasons, and
at prices greatly reduced from those now de.
manded and received.
The portion of the road now finished and in
operation, is that lying between Algiers via the
branch at the plantation of Ewing & Kittridge
on the Lafourche seventeen miles below Thibo-
daux-the connection having been completed on
Wednesday last. We are fully assured by G.
W. r. Bailey, Esq, the present general super
who has had charge of the work
since the first of August last, at which time
Messrs. Bates, Benson g. Co. surrendered their
the entire road from Algiers to
the Lafourche crossing will be completed and
in full operation by the first of the ensuing
month. Mr.. Bailey further informs US that
the great outcry that has been
made by the opponents of the road, and disap-
pointed Office seekers, that the entire cost of the
same has not exceeded fifteen thousand dollars
per mile which, it must be conceded, is much
below the average cost of any other road ever
constructed in this or any other country. The
locomotives, cars, &C., are the very best. In
fact, we learn that the whole management is
now the most satisfactory. Even the grumblers
with difficulty can take hold of anything to make
capital Of. I'VE hope that all this may be
and we doubt not that it is-true to the very
letter.
That portion of the road which traverses the
prairies has been freely taken hold of by its
enemies to discourage the enterprise, by assert
ing that it is impossible to make any work that
will stand permanently on such foundation.
But we are fully assured by Mr.. Bailey that
this is no obstacle whatever to the completion of
a track as permanent as though it had for
foundation a solid bed of rock-so far as safety
is concerned. All that portion of the track
traversing prairie is to be filed in with sand,
the alluvial deposit Of the Mississippi. The
operation of filling in will be commenced imme-
diately, and continued until completed. The
time required to effect this will vary from one
to two years but the business Of the road will
not be retarded thereby.
We have been induced to offer the foregoing
not from mercenary motives, but with
a view Of rendering justice to work almost
national in a general point of view. When we
reflect that at no distant period it will connect
the Atlantic coast with the shores of the broad
Pacific, and the products Of the Indies will find
their way to market through the means of this
mighty enterprise, which will be pushed for
ward ny the Empire State of the South, with
alacrity; and thereby occupy in reality, the
position she now fills in name only, we cannot
but feel pride in having it in our power to say
that we live in an age which will be pointed
back to in the future as one Of progress and
one in which the inventive and
expanding mintef man successfully battled
against, and usurped supremacy over obstacles
which were declared insurmountable, by many,
and almost in conflict with the laws Of nature
itself an age which has clearly established