Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-02-10

according to the bill now before the Legislature
the BAYOU will be entirely closed but this is moi
the case The idea is to close it at Donaldsonville
and then have locks at certain distances, which
would always retains a suffciency Of water for ma
vigating small vessels, thereby converting it into
beautiful canal to be used for draining the swamp
lands and render them almost priceless.
That some would be greatly Inconvenience by
closing the Lafourche, we will not for moment
pretend to deny. But are there not more in pro-
portion who would be benefited by such an act
Would such measure inure the merchant in re.
ceiving his wares the artisan from obtaining en-
ployment; Or the planter from disposing of his
produce? 1t would not. On the contrary, this
whole extent of country would then become as it
were, a suburb ef New Orleans The planter
prices would afford him living profit his labor
and the capital he has invested in his business and
that too without depending upon the state of the
rivers at Pittsburg, St Louis or the Falls Of St.
Anthony And again, how delightful would it be
for convenience and pleasure to be within three or
four hours time of one of the largest commercial
marts and most agreeable cities, on the Western
| Continent! whose daily journals we would peruse
at our leisure in few brief hours after they have
been stricken off by lightning presses; and our
tables could be supplied with every delcacy that
its abundant and choicey supplied markets afford.
All our inhabitants of limited means could send
their fruit poultry, eggs ETC., ETC., to New Or
leans and would alike reap the benefits consequent
to the construction Of our railroad and Lafourche
would be in reality what she now is name-"T The
Paradise of Louisiana"
Even look at the benefits that our people have
already received from the opening of the Opeousas
Road to the Lafourche. Many of our Pensioners,
who in former times scarcely obtained livelihood
by their daily toil-now earn good living and put
money aside through the medium of this road
Our sugar estates from one end Of the Bayou to
the other would be increased in value fully one
TENTH There would be no annual outlay for main
tanning the levees.
Per contra 1t is said that the railroad would
adopt high and exorbitant scale of prices for
freights. If necessary, let the Legislature fix
tariff which corresponds with that charged by
steamboats, running in the trade. But the better
plan would be to elect directors who are themselves
interested in the price of freights and they would
very soon be regulated to the satisfaction of all
parties concerned We do not exactly agree with
Senator Kittredge that the road should be made
to follow all the meanderings of the bayou; but
that it should follow along its banks as near as pos
sible cutting off all the principal points and bends,
afording accommodations for both banks as much
as possible. We by no means favor the project of
air line roads trayersing deep swamps, even beyond
the periphery Of civilization, in order to save few
miles in length to gain nothing in business. 1t was
chiefly owing to this fault that the Nashville
railroad failed Of success several years ago,
and came nigh blasting forever the prospects
of railroads in the South. A railroad to prosper
should always pass through q country rich in
agricultural resources.
It is to be hoped that the intelligent and patrio-
tic citizens of Assumption will not be in too much
haste in opposing the bill of Senator Kittredge.
If it requires amendment las it does in of its
details) let them be made. Some oppose the bill
because they are Of opinion that railroad could
not compete against the steamboats,, and therefore,
could not sustain itself Those who entertain these
opinions should bear in mind that with railroad
they may have constant communication with New
Orleans, whereas with steamboat they only have
half that length Of time. We may again resume
this subject.