New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-05
Report upon the Stalking Out of the Located
Line between OpeIousns and Sabine River.

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. l7th 1857.
VIM. G. Hewes Esq. President N. o. o. g. W. R. Company
SAfer the preliminary examination of the country north
and opeosas in September and October of last
year the Board of Directors under date of December 19h 1856
definitely fixed and adopted location for the central line of
their road between Opeousas and the Sabine river or eastern
boundary of Texas. -.#-....-. . t......
This line is correctly maps deposited
in the Office Of the u s. Commissioner Washington
City D. in office of the Secretary of the State of Louisiana
in Baton Rouge in the u s. Land Office for the South
western Land District in Cpeousas, La -.l -...nl
Pursuant Of the Board of Directors Ihave made
and completed an instrumental survey this line bet the
Opeouss the Sabine river for the of OBJ
tanning the necessary for estimating closely and for placing
the whole under construction Stakes were driven every one
hundred feet and taken at each station and inter-
mediate where necessary or the line
shown upon the maps filed above has been strictly followed
and adhered there being but two tangen or straight lines
between opeosas and the Sabine the one about
miles, other sXtyfve miles i'll length The total
distance including the opelousas and Pine Prairie is
about niney-two and ahaf miles.
The instrumental survey fully confirmed the preliminary
examinations regard to the favorable character OF the route
the comparatively low cost Of construction easy gradients ana
lands obstacles worthy of the to
the rapid aud cheap construction road on the line
adopted fixed The maximum grade will be thirty feet per
This though greater than had anticipated is yet
maximum of stclass roads in country and
remarkably light. ...
For the first twenty miles from opelousas the line ira
level country alternating with prairie and hard
tile truly valuable and this section generally affords many
plantations and private residences that will be
much sought after when your road IN operation II Is
beyond all question very beautiful healthy and desirable To-
caly The five miles extending to the Texas bound
Tompsons Bluff, ayerses the pine woods the entire
distance with the exception of river and creek bottoms whch
contain growth of oak, gum, beech maple ash hickory
black jack sasafras etc. etc. The wild grape oi species
aordng large and good fruit grows Spontaneously and
very iuxuanty through the pine woods generally notwi'h
standing tile periodical fires We're stop put TO these desruct-
i've burnns the lands would rapidly improve on fertility as
is proven by experience in the parish OF eSoo where smr
pine woods hickly covered with large underground
black jack. hickory, sssaras etc. etc. The eSper epce Of
many years. testified by the most respectable residents,
that very arge proportion of those pine lands WILL
without artificial he bale OF cotton per acre for years
in succession. 1t customary TO compare all lands in Louisiana
with the Mississippi bottou aud to term all that t" much be,
low this standard worthless 1t will not do 10 make such
comparison it is false and deceptive.
The of your road its operations the oppage of
annual fires and the gradual settlement of this section will
work great change 1.-the present aspect Of things
The pine generally of the largest and finest description and
valuable for timber lumber and such products turpen
tine rosu Springs of cold and excellent water
abundant bad unwholesome water is unknown the rivers
and creeks mostly supplied from springs throng with
while game deer and wild keys fill the woods.
Limestone perhaps suitable for MARBLE but certainly ar
torpS lime equal the best Thomason and in quantities
| TO ineNhaustible is also found. ....
The and only OF this portion of State
mo;eness from marker itwh New Orleans by
of road and make very valuable at once The spon
aneos growth IN such lGSuriance the wild grape Indicates
soil admittedly adapted to The culture of the vine cre
bly, Informed taa German has raised and
barrels of excellent table wine acre land from
the native grape cultivated lands your
than ever convinced that have acted wisely and dciousy
in adopting this your main line Texas in all aud
respect superior any Detailed maps, pFofles
Of The line will be made and submitted they
be prepared. Very uuIy, ycpTs, etc,
/ &. W. R. RAYLEY,
| oe5 Il CHIEF EDgiueer.