Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-04-07
Opelousas Railroad.

The receipts OF this road Tor the Hohth Va ~"'
exceeded our calculations by upwards OF three
hundred dollars, they being sl7,So3, OF which
am cunt s11,77o was for freight, and 1888 for
passage making the total receipts since its opening
to the Lafourche, in November last, the rise Of
sew enty thousand dollars, being an average of
fourteen thousand dollars per month, which should
be congratuatng to the friends of the enterprise.
The work on the road, at this time, is progressing
employed on the sections between the west bank of
the Iafourche and Tigervie. The best Of feeling
and harmony generally to prevail on all sides
and from every quarter. The management is re-
presented to be the best and most satsfactory-all
owing to the business capacities of the President
and new Board of Directors, who seem to have at
heart the interest of the company, and neglect
nothing that has tendency to increase the interest
and augment the zeal of those whose good the road
when completed, is destined to effect.
We take pleasure in laying before our readers
short biographical sketch of the President, WILL
LIAM G. HEwEs, whose interchangeable exertlons
in favor of the road since his assuming charge have
been productive of the very best results and render
ed its completion in time for the transportation of
the ensuing crop to market, beyond all cavil. We
extract from the New Orleans "Semi-W eekly
Creole
"Mr. Hewes was for many yearslargely
engaged in commercial pursuits, perhaps to larger
extent than any other house in this city with New
England commission business. He is really and
truly identified with New Orleans and all its in
terests, and, perceive is still engaged in com
MERGE Time and the great cares Of heretofore
extended business have dealt kindly with him; al
though his head begins to TEEN with venerated
greyishness, he looks as hale and hearty, appears
as active agile and vigorous as man OF two score
Fortune has not been so generous with MIR. Hewes
as with some of his compeers, he however holds
very elevated and eminent standing in our COM
munity Though the severe revulsions COM
mencing in 1887 and ending in 1912, Frustrated
ard impeded his commercial career, yet, at the
present moment, there is no individual connected
with commerce and business, who possesses purer
reputation, more enlarged proficiency, or more
liberal ideas than William G. Hewes. On the Or
ganizaton of the Commercial Bank OF this city, IN
1882 he was elected its first President, which office
be filed for several years This bank, it will be
recollected was selected on the removal OF the de-
in 1884, as one of the repositories of government.
In our view the bank becoming beneficiary of
government, laid the foundation of its subsequent
suspension and forced liquidaton-the government
deposits reaching at times to over two million OF
dollars IT. however, fortunately completed one
most important requiston of its charter under Mr..
Hewes' administration, the erection OF the present
Water Works. which furnishes our city with water.
Mr. Hewes was the agent of many eastern factories
for the purchase of cotton his purchases for Amer
lean OF home account were generally considered as
bearing comparison to Vincent Notes purchases
for foreign account. We believe the introduction
!of stamping the name of the purchaser on the end
of the bale of cotton originated with Mr.. Hewes,
though Nolte and others adopted it, Nolte claim
ing the invention; and it was what attracted the
notice of Mr.. Francis Barring when on visit to
our city in 1921, while walking the levee in COM
pany with Nolte to see SO much cotton going on
shipboard branded v Nolte l. Co.
A few weeks since Mr. Hewes was unanimously
elected to the Presidency of the Board Of Managers
of the Opelousas and Great Western Railroad, and
we hope, under his supervision and direction, the
road will soon show the judiciousness and wisdom
Of the selection, and prove what the original pro-
prietors contemplated work Of utility, benefit
and usefulness.
We have alluded to the locality of Bienville
street, as being the center OF eastern commission
houses. Mr.. Hewes removed afterwards to Cont
street, near where the old Bank of Orleans stood
now the corner of Exchange Alley. We recognize
the present Secretary of the Crescent Mutual In
surance Company, Charles J. Mansoni as one in the
service of Mr.. Hewes at that time, and afterwards
for long term Of years resident of Mobile. Mr..
NJ. still preserves activity, and his rugged, hearty
countenance indicates health and longevity. When
commerce commenced moving into the old faubourg
St. Mary, settling in the old Sixth Ward; now the
densest and most thickly settled of the First Dis
trct, the Boston merchants ever alive to the natural
instinct and sagacity Of their race, led the van;
many locating on Camp and Common streets;
among these was Mr.. Hewes afterwards forming
connection with our worthy creole citizen, Mr..
Edward Durrive; and this firm continued till after
the termination Of the great financial and CONNER
cial revulsion in 1912 and 1S43."