The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-08-11
THE 0PEL0USAS RAILROAD.

Of late, quite an important link has been added in
the completion of an elegant and substantial bridge
across the Lafourche about four miles distant from
this place. This bridge was planned and executed
under the exclusive saperintendence of Mi. q. W. r.
Bayley, chief engineer of the Company and in point
OF design and construction, it will rank favorably
with any railroad draw bridge in the country. twill
support a much greater weight than can under any
possible contingency be required of it.
Under the present administration stock has consid.
erably advanced, and in fact, the affairs OF the Road
are in the best possible condition, securing beyond
cavii its early completion to Berwick's Bay, at a
much earlier day than was contemplated u few
months ago.
The work on the road west of the Lafourche to
BerW!ck's Bay, j. progressing with the greatest
rapidity. The rails are now down from the bridge to
within less than q mile Of the Terrebonne, at Mrs.
Tanners, where a depot for Thibodaux and the up
per portion OF Terrebonne will soon be built. This
section OF the road (between the Lafourche and Ter
%rebonne) will be entirely completed and the cars run
ming upon it by the 18th inst. Upwards of two
miles Of the track from Tigerville towards the Terre.
bonnie have already been laid and it is confidently
expected that the entire section, twelve miles, will
be completed and in running order by the first Of
october next-one month sooner than was at first
anticipated. This will secure to the road the ensuing
season at least 50, 900 hogsheads of sugar and from rs
to lOO,OOO barrels OF mOlasses, besides other frejgbts /:
tosether with all the travel between the Attakapas
and Opelousas countries and NewOrleans. We also
learn with pleasure that the Company is now in NO.
~gotiation with the Post Office Department at Wash.
ington for carrying the mail, which will afford an adj.
ditional revenue to the Company. In our opinion
the prospects of this road-the most important Of
any now being built in the south-are the most fat.
tering and all should consider it o special duty to
keep the road uppermost in their wishes, until II
shall have rachel Opelousas, its terminus in the fer.
tile parish Of st. Landry.
The road took to NewOrleans, during the season
over $4,000 hogsheads of sugar, 25, 900 barrels Of
molasses, and an almos innumerable quantity Of
ducks and other game and it was only 81 miles in
length. Fifteen miles more will be completed before
the season opens, which will double its receipts. he.
sides the amount of contract for carrying the mail
which they cannot but obtain if the Department
wishes in any way to add to the convenience or res.
pond to the wishes of the people. [Thibodaux Min.
erva. A
The above intelligence will be gratifying not
only to our citizens, but to those Of the Par
ishes West and North West of us, all of whom
have suffered many inconvenience and heavy
pecuniary losses, for want of Railroad commu-
nication with NewOrleans, and who have their
eyes upon the Opelousas Railroad as their fu-
ture reliance against similar losses.