New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-11-07
The opsiousas Railroad


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The Opsiousaa Railroad.
Speaking of pleasant pleasure trip to Tiger.
vile, the present terminus of the opelousas
road, sixty-six miles from New Orleans, the
Ihlbodaux Minerva, of the 3D. inst, takes occa-
sion to pay the following deserved tribute to
the managers Of the railroad, together with other
observations. 8gs, n leza s545S N. I
Thanks to the industry energy and busness
Of President Hewes the present Board of Drrcors
that the people Of the interior have been at ths
day, supplied with cheap and expeditions means ~
transporting their products market whenever prcss
may hold out Inducements In times gons BY it VA
often Impossible for those planters from
bic water courses 20 profit by fluctuations that sbe
market was occasionally subject to- now through the
means Of thus Railroad all the same footina,
difference there be, it Is Of those hetooa 81
out from market, those living the line of this road
those residing in the interior Terrebonne or the
still more distant regions Of the Atakapas will nroft
alike Communication has been made cieap and ar All
times accessible. The wondrous results of steam "a
motive power have placed heretofore isolated portions ef
the State without natural advantages in cnsa
with New Orleans the great of trade Ana lands
that have been considered vslueles command ths
most exorbant prices and indeed the wilderness il
beginning TO blossom like the rose.
Further along the Minerva says: '
We learn that the company have just closed contract
with gentleman for completing the grading etyeen III
| aInrpa fnr.s
on that section OF the route Immediately That section
Of the road lying between The Boas and Berwcks Bsy
we are told is also under contract being pushed
forward with the greatest sacrty In fact nothing II
spared the part OF either the President or
advance the work the portion vet to be comnIetsd
ne friends and patrons Of the road may assured
Is strictly true and II deyoyes upon the good Deo
Pile Of the Attakapas and Opeousas Districts 10
ball in motion until the road shall have reached wash
parish of ST. Landry. ~
This road is bound to be Of overshadowinp
Importance to the progress and prosperity If
New Orleans. Hence the deep interest all citi-
zens manifest in its advancement.
Sf8ENF IT .ssmF
INTERESTING JUDICIAL DECISION On the
24th nlt., in the United States District Court,
sitting at st. Louis, Judge Wells delivered the
opinion of the Court in the case of the Mem
phis Insurance Company vs. Oliver and David
R. Garrison. The points are as follows:
6 In the year 1S49 a large amount of cotton,
three hundred and eighty eight bales valued at
$500, was shipped at Memphis and other
points in Tennessee for New Orleans, on the
steamboat Convoy, Of which boat the defend
ants were owners A bill Of lading was
given by the boat, under which the cot
ton was to be carried and delivered,
dangers Of the riuer only ercepted >
The boat and cargo, in the month Of Feb
ruary, were destroyed by fire, which it was ad-
mitted did not arise from any fault or negli-
gence OF the master, crew, agent, or owners of
the boat, The Memphis Insurance Company
had insured the cotton against loss 6y IRE
They paid the loss, and about a year thereafter
brought this suit against the owners of the
boatto recover the value of the cotton, claim
ing to be equitably subrogated or entitled to all
the rights of the original owners of such cot
ton.
&c The Court held: 1st That the complain-
ants were entitled to sue in equity to recover if
the defendants were liable. ID That the ex-
ception in the bill Of, lading of dangers of the
river only did not include fire-6re was not a
danger Of the river within the meaning Of the
bill of lading. though it did not proceed from
any fault or negligence of those managing the
boat A decree was accordingly rendered
against the defendants for the value of the cot
ton" '' '@s t7fN Ns5 9lgl
Commenting on this the St. Louis Democrat
says: "This decision is highly important to our
commercial people generally, and will occasion
much comment among steamboat owners and
others. North and South. The case hangs upon
a very nice point, and perhaps majority will
not be willing to admit the distinction made be-
tween dangers Of the river and dangers on the
river" 1t is stated that the case will be taken
to the Supreme Court Of the United States.
AZ THE STEAM ENGTNE.--An eloquent lecturer
before the American Institute Of New York, af-
ter alluding to the immense benefits resulting to
mankind from the discoveries Of science, thus
thrillingly apostrophized the steam engine:
"Behold the gianto Of the nineteenth century
how he is compelled to tug and strain the tire
l. 49, c.1.l. .k
usefulness and labor See how bravely he bears
us through the storm Insensble to cold and
careless Of sleep, behold the snow that bloekades
our path fly before him in the dim starlight
With mouth full OF fire, and nostris expanded
with smoke, hear him laugh de6antly at the SOL
stitial rays beneath which every other laborer
would melt. See him furrow the billowy ipe
for millions of miles, and interchange the growth
of different zones. He spans the sea with bridges
lie enters the factory, and sezipg the central
crank he plies its complicated machinery with
inconceivable velocity and power He weave.
our garments and earves cur furniture FL,
multiplies our thoughts in book and newspaper
and impels them through the world. He bores
his way through rock and mountains, and leaves
an avenue for the flow of commerce He grinds
the grain of continents, and carries it to meet
the necessities of man. He clenches the tough
quartz, and crushing it in his iron fist, compels
it to surrender the golden treasure il so tight
ly held. He lifts and exoayates he flames, and
saws, and hammers, and yet with infinite and
ETHEREAL delicacy, he points the finest needle and
draws the metallic threads. No labor is too un-
dignifed for him to perform-no task too heavy
for him to accomplish. He delights in noise and
dirt and SCOT. and smoke He is not afraid OF
his dainty fingers. Wherever work is to be
done, there is ~ home. Whenever a difficult
lob is placed before him, his iron muscles fairly
thrill with joy. See how, in the few years Of
his wonderful activity, whole forests have gone
trunks. And who shall say that this laborious
Titan has yet fully got himself into harness
In Paris, anothaearias are ohliead to mt MI