Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-03-28
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HOunla Railroad.


subpin few remarks concerning the advantages,
and some estimates as to the probable cost OF a
Railroad from Terrebonne Station to Houma' or
to the head Of Little Gallon.
1t is to be presumed that the people of the Par
isl Of Terebonne are by this time convinced, to
some extent at least, of the immense advantages
of Railroad, not only as means OF conveying
their crops to market, but also as increasing IN
every way the business facilities of the community
generally. The Railway system of Louisiana is
yet in its infancy, and the Opelousas Road is but
Just getting fairly into regular operation. Every
month will add to its efficiency, and therefore the
advantages of Railroad will become mere and
more apparent to all The citizens of Terrebonne
as timc passes. Every planter residing on or near
a line of Railroad has command of the market,
both as to buying and selling He saves IN every
way. All bis expenses are reduced, and every
item Of income increased. The rapid and con-
slant appreciation of real estate pays him many
fold for the capital invested in building the road,
even If as a monied investment it is failure
Instances beyond number might be adduced in
proof of this, were it necessary. Twill give one or
two, merely as examples, promising that the
effect is of universal application. extract from
the American Railway Times:
ITO array statistics in support of the fact that
a railroad is about the very best investment any
can make, looks to US, like arguing
thu, fire will burn. First we present pregnant
little paragraph about Ohio, state whose popula.
ton in 1850 was more than twice as dense as that
of Virginia, and which therefore cannot be thrown
out Of the case wild and unsettled country.
Sin the year 1850, before the completion of its
railway system, the State Of Ohio had an aggregate
amount oftaxable property rated at $3.50, 634O,
and in the year 1855, after the completion Of the
system, the value of the same description of pro-
perty is set down at S899,677,355, very nearly
double Nothing can more forcibly illustrate the
wonderful effects of railway improvements upon
the prosperity Of State. We quote from an edi-
torial letter in in the Richmond Examiner, written
from the southwestern part of the Valley Of Vir-
gnia, through which region the Virginia and
Tennessee railway has just been completed, but
which had before, an admirable macadamsed
road and the bateau navigation OF the Holston and
Clinch rivers:
Il cannot help remarking every hour the mar
vellous change in the whole face Of affairs which
it (the railroed) has wrought in this before quiet
and secluded country, since my first visit to it in
1852. Already has it augmented the value Of
property in the region traversed by it, in an
amount more than double the cost Of the ,c0rk.
The recent assessment of lands has shown that
the increase ualue Of real estate in any four Of
the cosnfies its line has exceeded the total cost
Of tie Railroad and it would be low estimate
to state the increase in the value Of lands in all the
ten or twelve counties Immediately tributary to it,
At t,celre millions Of dollars. With twelve mil
lions Of value added to a single class of property,
and the greater portion of six millions of the cash
cost Of the road expended along the line Of the
work, you may well conclude that this south
western community has been thoroughly reused
from the quiet and inertness which characterized
it in its long period Of seclusion and isolation"
The Canadian Almanac for 1857, published at
Toronto, says:
Sew persons could have foretold the increase
which has taken place in tho value Of land in the
remote townships through which the Northern
Railway pad Leaving ont Of sight altogethe,
the sites of villages new formed towns. and Civ
ing attention solely to farm land within five OF
ton miles Of the track, the following results, de.
rived from unexceptionable sources, furnish 4
startling proof Of the local trade created by the
railway: Present average value Of land per acre
81; average value before construction of the rail
way, II, los; increase due 10 tho construction o.
the road. 81, other causes, l7,lOs. Whateve
may be tho future value Of Canadian railway
considered a. property only, there can Be no room
for conjecture rs to the extent and nature Of tn
advantages they impan to the section Of countr!
they servo neither can there be any doubt TIA
the fertile tovnshPs gain ten field more BY the in
crrsse ef property along tie line Of rsila0ay thai
they imuslue tAemseires ~ its constructions, ercl
,DAen they becs~e respossibte fov tie Whole cost
lie ,eerk seroi~g their toUnsAips." seia
Tho Ogdsnsbury and ChamPlain railroad il
New York, was built through very difficult Re
gion lts cost was very great, and ~ an issesa
~est il proved failure mainly because it va
out Of the line Of trade, and was nvalled by otbe
roads, but, the increased rslse Of tie lesds I'd
ljsiniag tie rosd, caused BY its esastvsetisa,
proceed ~ tie tag has to Be four tis.es, IN Il
aggregate. the total cost .f tie uAsle road. - y
Knight adduce hundreds Of such cases, but I'll
above will suffice for the present. It should
borne in mind however, that the average cost p
mile Of northern railroads is double or threble Il
a probable cost Of the Houma road. For eve,
!. dollar expended in \ railroad from Terrebonr
Crossing 70 and below Houma, Eve dollars will
gained in the appreciated value Of real estate.
I viii now give an approximate estimate
D cost, per mile. assuming that the average bar
will b eighteen inches. As the whole distan'
2 i nearly perfect level, entirely cleared and
cultivation sugar plantations, requiring MOTH.