Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-11-15
Extension Of the Opelousas Railroad.

We find in the Natchitoches Chronicle
of the lst inst, a report of the proceed
ines of a railroad convention held in that
place on the 9th and 29th ult., for the
purpose Of considering the best means
and the hest route for the extension of the
New Orleans, Opelousas aud Great Wes-
tern Railroad through the western par
ishes of this State, with view to its
connection with the Vicksburg and Texas
road, and with the Red River parishes.
The experience Of the last two years has
shown the extreme uncertainty of tho
navigation of the Red River, and brought
forcibly to the minds Of the people Of that
region the Importance Of making efforts
to secure a land communication to the
Mississippi river and with New Orleans.
The extraordinary difficulties of the past
have thus had one beneficial effect, in
rousing the people of the interior to keen
sense of their own wants and active
measures for effecting permanent relief.
The convention was organized by the
appointment of the Hon. J. G. Campbell.
President; DR.. Il. H. Patterson, Vice
President, and J. D. Wemple. Secretary.
The parishes represented were Natchi'
toches, Sabine, Caido and De Soto. A
committee composed of Gen. P. A. Morse,
Of Natchitoches, DR.. Patterson of Sabine,
Mr.. Creswell, Of De Soto, and DR.. Estes,
of Caddo, reported series Of resolutions
to the following effect:
That the people Of the parishes repre-
scented in the convention are able and
willing to subscribe money and labor
enough. with the material aid derived
from other sources, TO build the road re.
quired to make the connections described.
That, in order to interest the greatest
number Of persons in the early success Of
the enterprise, it is necessary for the
people on the line to become stockholders
by liberal subscriptions of money and
labor.
That the real estate in the parishes
should be submitted to voluntary assess
ment upon scale to be graduated by the
distance from the line OF the road, paya-
bic on its completion.
That the stockholders, whose landed
property is assessed, should present the
company with such security Of the pay
ment Of the assessment as will enable
them to negotiate loan, the subscription
in each parish to be expended as Ear as
practicable within its limits, and the road
to be commenced Immediately, at the
northern terminus.
Committees were appointed to confer
with the Opelousas Company, on the sub.
iect Of these recommendations.
Mr.. Bayley. the Chief Engineer of the
Opelousas Railroad, was present at the
convention, and is employed in making a
reconnaissance for be location Of the
road.
Additional resolutions were adopted On
the motion Of Gen. P. A. Morse, on the
subject Of the land grants to the Opelousas
Road, made at the last session Of Congress.
II appears that lands on the route Of this
road have been to a considerable extent
taken up at private entry, and the amount
may thus be found to be deficient. The
resolutions ask Congress to pass an act
making provision, in case of such deficien-
cy, when fully ascertained, either by
specific grant of lands, or by extending
the limits along the line Of the road, with.
in which the granted lands may be select
ed and also to extend the benefits of the
grant to the branches which may be re-
quired, to form connections with other
roads, or with Red River.
The committee on this resolution is
Gen. p A. Morse, S. NJ. Hyams, and
Thomas Hunter.
The convention was addressed at va
rious times, by Gen. Morse. Judge C. A.
Billiard. DR.. Estes, and Mr.. Creswell
and separated, we are told. with Jealous
determination to carry out the plan of i'm
provement by every means and e1erion
within their power.-Picayune.
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHs ON RAILROADS..
The experience Of the last year or two
ought to lead every State Legislature to
require that every railroad should set up
and use constantly its own telegraph, con-
Meeting every station on the route, and all
with the office Of the superintendent
With reasonable care, collisions would
then he impossible. Some roads have
proved this. 1-'' -'~-
The Eric Railroad has such wire, and
a thorn,,0h evston, of ~o,,cc,,r:o.&:o. I'll 4