New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-08
MOBILE .G.acD .WETV ORLEANS R.4IL.
ROAD

~ CblA-3S sIst - " CuLIS.1etD IL
RO.4D,
1t should, every one knows, be the policy of
our city to foster and encourage every enterprise
calculated to develop the resources of the South
md bring the products of the neighboring
States to build up and increase to the utmost
extent her already vast commerce. As public
servants we have always considered it our duty
to lend aid to the opening Of those great avenues
through which we confidently expect an endless
tide of wealth to pour into our midst, and add
az incaleulable energy 10 trade, and substan-
tal character to the prosperity of New Orleans
We have cheerfully worked for enterprises of
this kind, although in many particulars obec-
tionable, because we were aware that no project
Of human invention could be perfect, and were
we'll satisfied that the benefits which must result
from such enterprises would far outweigh the
objections drawn from their necessary faults in
the outset.
Knowing the source whence emanated the first
opposition to thespresent important work, we
were then disposed to believe the scheme one of
personal speculation and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 1t
| seemed therefore necessary that we should be
extremely cautious in the matter of pronouncing
| for it; nor would we ever have done SO without
| having closely examined and analysed every
thing connected Herewith
The public mind has been much excited on
| this subject, and although the late controversy
has satisfied many doubts of the final success of
the New Orleans and Mobile Railroad enterprise,
and overcome much Of the prejudice against it,
the hostility Of the orginators of the opposition
still exists, and there are not wanting impartial
observers who believe their motives and conduct
| will not bear investigation. We hope the un.
pleasant duty of entering into such an exposition
| will be spared u.s. nor do we wish to compare
the merits of the different railroad enterprises
| completed or under way, with the one of which
we are speaking
The gentlemen under whose auspices this
great highway of travel and trade is springiug
into life, having as their main object the desire
for the speedy construction of the road, knowing
full well that the legitimate proceeds would am.
ply compensate their services and the investment
of their capital, willingly modified their propo-
sition to the City Council to meet the objections
urged against it and obtain the unanimous sup.
port of the people. This, however, does not
satisfy the antagonists of the project, and con-
dieting interests perhaps render it impossible
that anything short of its entire failure should
1t can hardly be expected that they will main.
tain a passive hostility and refrain from at.
lacking the enterprise at every assailable point,
but its friends are content that it should be 50
assailed, for the good sense and understanding
of the people, whose interests in the matter are
and uus 4ha E,,a
decision.
The principal objections of those unfriendly
70 the Mobile and New Orleans Railroad, are,
that there was no guaranty, if the city suhscri
he'd the 81 500, 00U, that it would be applied to
the road, or that the road would ever be co II.
pleted and that the company was permitted to
reserve to itself the surplus earnings of the
l'ontchartrain Railroad until the completion Of
the extension.
To meet the first of these objections, nothing
can be fairer than the proposition of the Direc
tors. that the city bonds shall at first only issue
for o half million; that a fresh call for a like
sum shall not be made until an equal amount OF
private subscription shall have been raised ten
per cent, of it in cash; and that the third hall
million from the city shall not be called for until
sixty miles of the road shall have been compile
ted To satisfy the second objection, the com
pany agrees TO relinquish the future proceeds OF
the Pontchartrain road to the fund for the con
struction of the new, until the time of its com
pletion.
By the first of these concessions the progress
and final completion of the road are secured to
the city in reQuital Of its subscription By the
second, large amount in support of the work