Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-11-03
The Opelousas Railroad.

Among those present, were Mr.. Hewes, the Presi-
dent; Mr.. Seger, the Weep President; our friend,
Geo. W. R. Bayley, ChiefEngneer; Messrs. Fol
ger, Squires, Commandeur, Directors; and numer-
GUS guests from New-Orleans among whom were
Col Seymour of the Bulletin, Mr. Wheeler. Of the
commercial firm Of Wheeler & Blake, and Charles
NJ Waterman, Of the firm of j. Waterman & Bro,
besides others whose names do not now recur to us.
The occasion was worthy of some unusual mark of
public demonstration; especially when We reflect
that the road was completed one month sooner
than at first anticipated The festivities of the day
closed by uncorkng several bottles of Pipers best
Heidsick, which caused sentiments, apropos to the
occasion, to follow close one upon the other. "The
day we celebrate" was proposed, as matter of
course, in bumper" and drank to the bottom.
At near two o'clock all were again in the cars, and
before .nightfall the dinner party of the rural vii
lage were walking the paved streets of the Crescent
Cty-a feat which, two years ago, required as ma
ny days to perform as it now takes hours.
Thanks to the industry, energy, and business
qualities of President Hewes, and the present Board
Of Directors, that the people Of the interior have
been, at this early day, supplied with cheap and
expeditions means Of transporting their products to
market whenever prices may hold out inducements.
In times gon by it was often impossible for those
planters removed from navigablc water courses, to
profit by the fluctuations that the market was oc-
casonally subject to; but now, through the means
Of this Railroad all stand on the same footing-if
difference there be- it is in favor of those hereto
fore shut out from market; those living Oh the line
of this road. Now, those residing in the interior Of
Terrebonne, the still more distant regions of the
Attakapas, will profit alike. Communication has
been made cheap, and at all times accessible. The
wonderous results of steam as motive power, have
placed heretofore isolated portions Of the State
without natural advantages, in close proximity with
NewOrleans, the. great center Of trade; and lands
that have been considered valueless, now command
the most exhorbtant prices and, indeed, the will
derness is beg inning to blossom like the rose.
Where is the one among us, who would have
been willing to acknowledge three years ago, that
the iron-horse would, on the Sd day of November,
1855, be seen snortng with lightning speed over
The broad prairies and almost bottomess swamps
that intervene between Algiers and the present
terminus of the road at Tigerville on the banks of
Bayou Black! But yet such is now literally true.
[trequres no prophetic eye to foresee the immense
advantage and benefits that must rebound to New
Orleans. They are not merely visionary, but real
angible, and unerring evidences, not only of her
nture, but also that of the entire South Western
portion of our wide extended country There is not
he least shadow of a doubt that Texas, our grow
ng neghbor on the West, once this road reaches
he Sabine, will take in hand and complete what
louisiana has but just begun-a road from New-Or-
cans to Houston, and eventually to the shores of |
he Pacific Ocean.
One of our Houston contemporaries in an article
reating this important subject, says that that City
3 nearly on the same degree of latitude with New
orleans, and by an air line railway, only about five
legrees apart. The Opelousas Road is already
md, save the crossing of the Trinity River there
re but few distractions to the building of the road
rom Houston to Berwick's Bay. This line lies to
he north of the Gulf; it would pass through rich
md productive country; all the sugar and cotton
aised along it would, Of necessity, be conveyed to
Sew- Orleans. The immense herds of cattle which
ange on the extensive prairies of Texas, would
lso be taken to New Orleans Thus would all the
PRODUCTS Of that growing State find the best market
f the South; and Houston would become the
reat forwarding Depot for Texas.
We learn that the Company have just closed
ontract with a gentleman for completing the gra-
ling between Tigerville and Bayou Boeuf, who in
ends to put large force on that section of the
QUITE Immediately. That section of the road ly-
ng between the Beuf and Berwck's Bay, we are
DID, is also under contract and is being pushed for
7ard with the greatest alacrty. In fact nothing is
pared on the part of either the President or Di-
ectors to advance the work on the portion yet to
e completed. This, the friends and patrons of the
Dad may rest assured, is strictly true and it now
evolves upon the good people Of the Attakapas
nd Opelousas Districts, to keep the ball in motion
ntil the road shall have reached Washington, its
hartered terminus, in the rich and fertile Parish
st. Landry.
Mr.. A. BEATTY AND THE "VAcHERY LANDs."-
II II