Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-02-28

complete, selfsuPPorting and remunerative
a. it will be. with the trade and travel OF
Texas and Mexico flowing through it, and
the business to be expected from the sue
cessful prosecution Of the Tehuantepec
enterprise-wi!l. in connection with the
steamships, produce an income OF six per
cent. ON its cost. cause large apprecia-
ton Of the stock, and make the unsn5scrlb.
ed portion of the capital (about $1,7OO,-
OOO) available in payment for work. Fur.
,hermore, the conditional subscription OF
the State would then be received, and the
whole Equivalent to about $2.OOO,OOO)
be added TO the present means of the Com
pany, realizing the full capital Of $6,0OO,'
600. pa
As to the financial condition Of the Com
pany it appears that, thus far, they have
realized from all sources, in cash, about
s2,6O0,O0O; for which. Notwithstanding
many drawbacks, they are able to show
road completed to the Bay-a distance of
81 miles, with ii miles OF side tracks and
three expensive bridges-at cost of about
100000 for 81 miles, or about $24, l76
per mile-probably as cheap and good a
road $50 says the report) as any in the
United States. In addition, continues the
report: -. .... ,s.
We have lands at Gretna swamp lands
enough for all the timber We may need
depois at Alsiers, Des Allemandcs. La
fnurchc, Terrebonne, Tigerville, Bayou
Bnuf, and will have one 10 build at the
bay, with spacious wharves at the termini
OF the road, at cost Of about 100000,
and full equipment at cost OF S237 900.
Beyond this. the credits yet unrealized and
the stock Of material on hand amounts to
$7l3,535.
As to the past years business of the
road, we quote further from tho report:
The result Of the years business, as
compared with the previous year, is very
satisfactory: d.. ...-
The gross earnings Of the passenger
trains In 1856 amount "a. 80 s9s IS 4
In l65S....... ooseao ~
Increase. -. 80. .''- 49," %
Or about %94 per cent. H.-'
Tho gross earnings Of the freight .-.-
trains The past year were si!sM 81 -
| In 1885,. 1922 q :.
Increase ---- v0SsVS9 -
Or about i03H per cent @ "i 1888
The transportation expenses Of the pas.
senger trains (s22,230 6s) are equal TO
about 26l per cent. Of the gross earnings,
and Of the freight trains ($72,426 81
equal to 592 per cent. The total expenses
on the whole gross earnings Of passenger
! and freight trains, taken together, amount
to 451 per cent. A very large increase Of
business may be carried on, particularly
in passengers, with very little additional
|expense, and this important advantage we
NAV reasonably expect to realize the COM
ing year. Ha aeHi naaa Ell esoiad
f. The total amount Of sugar carried on the
road was l9. ASP hhds.; molasses, 1926
! barrels, and 2.3ll half barrels; heeves
and calves, 1887 lumber, l56, 1877 feet.
The report Of Mr.. Bayley, the Chief
Engineer Of the road, contains como very
interesting facts and suggestions with re-
gard to the best route for extending it into
Texas. He is in favor Of the shortest and
the cheapest route by way Of Iberia to the
Sabine river. He estimates that this con.
nectior could be, made for 81 1895 900, OF
for $l5, 1000 per mile, while the lands TO he
realized from the United States grant he
/ thinks would reach sos, 900 acres, which,
al IS per acre, would yield 92,525. 900.
With regard to the importance Of the trade
Of Texas to New Orleans, and the bes,
means Of securing it, Mr.. Bayley makes
some jus: and timely observation, and We
close by a short extract in those connec.
tons: ~
| The commerce, the trade Of New Or.
leans requires that the immense business
Of Texas should be secured to her, particu.
larly when it is certain to be diverted BY
other and rival routes to the West and
North, unless the Opelousas Road is SO
constructed as to make it the interest o.
Texas to ship to and trade with New Or.
leans. This can only be effected by az
fording the shortest and most direct route
from Texas 10 New Orleans, thus cheap
ening the cost Of transportation and gain.
} ing time. These conditions are gained by
building your road TO the Sabine on the
route for il mentioned, viz from Opelou.
tsas to the Sabine at Thompson's Bluff
| about four and 1 half milss below the pa.
frallel Of latitude 81 degrees north. The
!, whole distance from New Orleans to the
Sabine will be about 257 miles. Betwee1
, New iberia aud Sabine, by this route, the
road can be built for less than 9l5, O0C
per mile. including iron, track laying
I cross.ties, &C.; or for everything exceP