The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-17

vol. I VI
tBy request we republish the following address
!. M N. the uaddo Gazette, of February %, 1881
I'm I11ress


tRv request we republish the following address
# s,n the Caddo Gazette, of February %, 1881
" an aooress
III , the citizens of Northern Louisiana upon the i'm
@ portance of the immediate construction of the
vicksburg and Shreveport Railroad.
y ~ the Citizens of Northern Louisiana:
% At railroad meeting held in the city oi
ii Shreveport on Saturday, the 24th Of January,
y 1859, the undersigned were appointed a com
II zlittee to address you upon the Importance oi
Il railway communication through our country,
!, connect us directly with the Mississippi river
u s.Vicksburg.
@ It is proposed to extend this road Immediate
i IL into the interior of Texas, upoE the same pa
n rsel oflatitude with the aforementioned places,
u md at no very distant day to continue it to the
Pacific ocean via El Paso. But as it is not ex-
il pected that Texas will be in a condition to as
sstst in building that portion of the road which
}es in louisiana and as it is the duty of every
Deope to provide for their own wants first, we
hall confne ourselves chiefly to setting forth
he advantages which are likely to result from
Its construction to that portion ofour citizens who
ives contiguous toit. Before proceeding, how
aver, directly to the subject, we deem it proper
% observe that we confidently expect such a
shangein the Legislation of our State as will en-
able US to incorporate a company under IA
Eorable charter secure to us the right of way,
and enable us to commence the work this spring.
We expect that the legislature will petition
Congress to change the provisions of the Act
granting certain overfoWed lands to the State.
and that when the change necessary has been
Effected, the legislature will grant us a proper
tional part Of these lands to encourage the con
struction of this road. Tn addition, we expect
the congress of the United States, during its
present session, to make US liberal grant the
public lands to aid in the construction Of this
road We expect these facilities by the State
and Federal governments, because after attract.
ing an unusual share of attention, this road re-
ceIved, upon It's own merits, the sanction and
commendation of the South Western Railroad
Convention by unanimous vote and because:
lst. In just how far a State is interested in the
increase OF the elements of her political power,
wealth and commercial prosperity, is the State
OF Louisiana interested in the construction of
this road; for it ascertain it will increase the
population OF the State with rapidity hitherto
unknown In her history; that it will add, with
in few years, more than twenty millions to her
taxable property, and bring to her a commerce
more than equal to all she now enjoys with the
great superiority Of her geographical position.
No one who has acquainted himself with the
subject doubts this, nor can any one doubt it
who will look at the map of Texas and inform
himself of the extent and resources of the coun-
Try this road is destined to develope It IS rea-
sonable therefore to expect that the State of
Louisiana will foster and encourage this work
with liberal policy, and we have assurances
that she will do 50. We expect aid from Con-
gress, because the precedent has been estab-;
lshed and lands have been freely given to other
roads less national in their character. and be-
cause the government the United States has
most direct and unmistakable interest in the
construction of this road. The government is
bound by its treaty stripulatons with Mexico,
and by It's duty to protect its own citizens, to
keepup a line ofmilitary posts upon the frontiers
Of Texas and Mexico. Five regiments Of SOL
ders are now stationed upon these lines and
the number will be increased this winter TO
sight. With the present want of facilities for
transportation, it will cost the Government
largely over million Of dollars per annum to
transport provisions and munitions Of war to
shese soldiers. If any think this estimate too
large, we refer them to the report of the Secre-
sary Of War, where they may find it fully con-
drmed. With Railroad extending from the
Mississippi through Texas, it would not cost the
Government over $500, 600 for the transporta-
lion of these supplies; showing saving to the
governmentin in this item alone, of 100000 per
annum, equal to the interest, at 5 R cent, on
8l60OO0oO, sum that is more than sufficient
70 construct this road to El Paso!
AS yet, no estimate has been made Of what
she Government will be profted in carrying the
mail, nor have we means at hand of making
shis estimate. The saving, however, would be
immense, and may be judged of by the fact
shat it is understood that the Aspinwalls will
realize several millions Of dollars clear gain
from their contract with the government to
carry the mail to California and Oregon. This
road will enable the government TO render
more efficient protection to its citizens with a
smaller force, by affording the means Of con
eentrating the forces in short time upon any
given point. Not only so, but the road will
develope population which in few years
xl supercede the necessity of keeping up any
Iorce at all upon this line. Such was the eff
lect Of removing the distractions in Red River
N our own State. The same population will
become consumers of imported goods which
pay duty, and thus this road will save the gov
ernment, upon one hand, a large sum Of money
annually in the cost of transporting army sup
plies, and carrying the mail, and upon the 9TH
ar hand will largely increase its revenues
That there will be continuous railway COM
nunicaton between the Atlantic and Pacific
within few years no longer admits of any
doubt. That this road whatever eastern ter
minus it may have, must cross the mountains
and reach the shores of the Pacific upon the
latitude of Vicksburg and Shreveport, may
also be regarded fixed fact. To meet the
views Of different sections Of the country, the
convention recently held in the city of New Or
leans recommended that this sroad should have
two termini on the Mississippi-one north and
she other South Of the mouth Of the Ohio riE-
es. Any one who viii look for a moment at
Inc map. must see that Vicksburg is marked
out by It's geographical position as the natural
terminus for the Southern line. It is within
Ten miles of the same latitude as Charleston.
shreveport, 81 Paso and San Diego, and a line
passing through these places will cross the
continent at its narrowest point north af the