The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-06-13

BATON Rouge AND GlossE TErE RAfLRoAp.-Th
planters living on Bayou Crosse Tete, some twent,
I'VE mics from the mississippi, being very much pa
sosi, 70 get to market, resolved two years ago Il
n,naa nllroad to the river opposite Baton Rouge
II this they acted like sensible men, as thew ne
Iney went TO work III earnest, aud determined /,
ncip themselves 4 company was formed, d cl,arte
o9aanea, ana the work undertaken. The Ilal
aaotied 10 accomplish the object, however. 50 far a
the labor upon the. road was concerned. was mate
rally different from that hitherto pursued in con
slfaetlhg railroads in this State, and deserves carefn
consideration BY other companies engaged, or wl,ic1
soon; may be, IN similar enterprises.
This road is now nearly finished. and ia abroad,
uolhg more business than was anticipated. The lasj
ran, 1t is expected, will be laid in about two weeks
Inc west Baton Rouge Sugar Planter, of saturday
n. u ~ aitcie on the subject, expatiating at length
apen the novel system, (noyel in this State M Il
Wnlch this road has been successfully carried
through, and ~ IN unprecedentedly short s,ace a
ume. me manual labor on the road has been ne.
tpahpasned almost 8, exclusively by slaves owned by
the company. This was an experiment. Int one
which has proved in every respect successful. In
two years time these negroes have built the road
aha the only expense incident to their labor was
tne,f Ieeoing and clothing: They were obedient,
being only one during the whole period. The road
Is pronounced by competent judges to be of yerv sa,.
peilor construction, while, upon a rigid calculation
u Is estimated that it has been built at a much less
cost than by the usual contract system and f,no Ias
Dor. The slaves also remain on hand. nn;n;n,ed ~
value. oy Nn0te"sea
INC road has been built under auspices so favosa.
t ~ a snas ~ ~ Vt Tia m e9ntem9 ation to extend it
speaking pfthis, says: e'"e'
We learn that two or three Of the directors will
vlsit ope!onsas in July, for tile purpose Of presenting
se que q'lssn ! 70 the people Of 81. Landry. We hope
Tor slieh a response as will place the entire road I'M.
der contract at once. The route beyond the H,vop
crosses the best body of Wild lands in Iouis;ora
Wh,ea are owned principally by Hon. John Slideli
ane nessis. MeHafton. As these are gentlemen of
hold Of the question and g put 1t througi.n ~AN
inns railroad, short us it is, will prove an imnor.
TAM one, both to the planters in its vicinity and tn
tins city. Penetrating Il rich and comparatively mn.
developed region IN the very heart of Louisiana, it's
effects will be such as never fail to attend the can.
struetlon Of railroads under such circumstances The
p,ilee OF real estate will be enhanced, the products If
the earth quaarupled, population will RAPIDLY aue.
ineit, ana general thrift, and increase of wealth viii
undoubtedly follow. '""n
Push on the railroad column in Louisiana saw we
Let u rain or shine through the marshes and over
the prairies, lot the locomotive awake The e,,,aes
through the solitudes of the interior. It's fiery breath
does not blast, but only dispels the enid d,n3,S ann
clears away the growth Of noxious weeds he,n,d M na
the approach OF the sun of material. social and ;n,oI
iectual progress. Let us not stand still in this ,aca
Let every step gained but pave the way to sin
iufthef advancement TIL we place ourselves in the
trent fanHs % raltfoad States, and realize the count. |
less benefits certain TO flow from such a stntc of
things. Who could calculate the vast reson,css oF
Louisiana were her richisoil covered with a net .worh
OF railroads SO as to reach every important seeticn
Of It and connect the whole with this great CONNIE,
tial emporium! Though we have dome much all
ready, we are not yet fully alivs to the importapco
Of these developing regeneratfng engines, have not
yet pat forth an iota of our strength, do not Know
what we can do. Every man in the State ought IL
naVe SEINE direct peeaniary interest in some railroad.
What magnificent results would follow Wr mrs,
our standard of action, must exnand onr
vision so as tQ take in the full extent of Che subject
IN all Its bearings, and take the high resolve ~ bs
eqaai 70 .he emergency; Nor have we any time 10
lose. others are not idle, and we must not no. IN.
very ar is all asiir with intense activity. Let ne
guam II aud catch the spirit that is abroad. Lei ne
AYE iai'h, and show it by our works. ISeworleans