The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-05

community generally, by pubnshlhg IN Your paper VIZ
accompanying letters-one from Colone Yard TO DR.
Taylor, and one from Dr. Taylor to Dr. George They
are, the purport of the letters indicate IN answer
note which wrote to DR.. Taylor. have no author
ity for giving them publicity but feel that it will no
be breach of confidence to do They are highly
interesting, and evince kind and liberal feeling to
wards the bestsinterests of Shreveport.
DR.. Taylor's letter will be answered in few days
Respectfully, w. W. GEORGE
Shreveport, La, July 30, 1857.
MARSHALL, TEXAS, july IS, 1857
DIR. George-Dear Sir: Until the present time bus
mess has prevented my answering your letter. tht
subjectof connection between the Vcksburg, Shreye
port and Texas railroad and the Southern Pacific rail
road regret to learn there exists that want of union
in your midst, of which you complain, preventing
satisfactory settlement of the question of RAILROAD
crossing Red River. | sincerely hope that IN thu
accomplishment of its settlement the best interests
Shreveport will neither be forgotten disregarded
The belefand desire of us Texans in the commence
ment of road that Louisiana would give us II
short time temporary connection between our IN
tended State-line terminus and Shreveport and at
time not far distant completely finished road and
unbroken track to the Mississippi river But, from
being disappointed the necessity forced tx
reach Red River through our lake-on which at Swan
sons landing, near your State-llne, we are making
temporary terminus. This course we had to pursue
in order to charter and to make the road
full, in carrying to shipping point heproducts this
State so generous in her rich donations for railroaC
purposes Could we have possibly dispensed with the
building of our road to the lake. we would have done
so: but we were so situated that we could not.
Three weeks will complete the grading of our road
from Swansons landing to few miles beyond this
place; making several miles more than expected
have completed and for that portion of the road the
ties nearly all procured and delivered Iron
for twenty miles is at etermnus, and we
have locomotive on the ground ready for use. The
IL. 4. AZ L.
grading in SO easily done that many persons who
have been engaged on the work, are beginning
anxiously to enquire after contracts. New sec
lions of the work have been and will continue to be let
out. Some of planters, lately initiated into the
business of railroad grading speak of giving up plant
ing and farming in order to employ their force on the
road they make more money by grading for the
company than they can by cultivating the soil. 5
Texas will ere long, have built link for the south
ern inter oceanic chain of railroads She will be true
to herself and to her southern sisters in forwarding
this great enterprise We have wished a connection
with the Atlantic through Observation-Disclosures north
ern louisiana Will Louisiana give us that connec-
ton? Will she give it on terms not oppressive? When
will the Shreveport road be prepared for connection
with the Southern Pacific road? Are you authorised
to say at what period your road will be completed to
our State line? VIII Red River be bridged fora con
tinuation of your railroad track? When will it be
bridged? In forming this connection what will you
require Of and what will you grant to, the Southern
Pacific railroad company? Where will your depot on
Red River be erected? VIII it be built on the bank
of your river, will it be placed one two miles dis
tant from that stream!
Texas can, and will, connected with the Atlantic.
If she be connected through upper Louisiana,
she well knows where she find good and protita-
bic connection, which will carry her to the Atlantic.
Our first wishes in regard to this MATTER are well
known that it would be useless to speak OF hem. Our
future action depends not on ourselves but will be
1.Jl e
enterprise is greater than our own. We of Tex
will be, have ever been, not only true to the
interests of, but generous towards, sister
States of the SOUTH in every thing connected with
great interoceanic enterprise. All shall ask i'll
turn for ourselves will be honorable and unoppres
sive union-one which will be best for Texas-best
for your own citizens-for the south-for whole
country and for the commercial interests of the whole
world There should be no break in the railway from
our Stateline to the Mississippi If we will all act
properly line roads will be the highway for the
worlds commerce. Cotton-the king OF Commerce
makes the world dependant us-an unbroken line
of railroads from to ocean, our continent
would make the world more dependant on u.s. Will
we haveit? Can minor interests prevent it? Texas
is not blind to- or unmndfu Of herown best interests
Louisiana cannot be- One portion of your State
New Orleans-has acted nobly towards our railroad
and trust the people of upper Louisiana will not let
her exceed their generosity. Give us close connec
ton with Red River, and give bridge. know
you will do it, You cannot refuse request so reason
able If Your river is not brdged at Shreveport where
goes the trade from the rivers above2 twill certain
ly find its way to the bank of Red River, opposite
Shreveport where it be sent either down the river
over the railroad to the Mississippi your railroad
depot is ortwo miles from the river bank, and
bridge shall be built where goes the trade of Texas?
To Swansons landing; and from thence your road
will be landed opposite Shreveport. Where will be
the railroad landing for goods from abroad destined
for Texas and the upper Red River country? VIII it
not certainly be opposite Shreveport? 1t is not difficult
to see what will save and build up Shreveport. viii
your young city perish, will she grow up mighty
emporium.
This is for you, and for your people to determine I
have never known you personally, think, however
have learned your nature and character; and, from
these, could expect nothing less from you than justice
and generosity Would you and build up your
town, then what should you do? would you do justice
to your neghbors, who for many years have assisted
in building up and sustaining your commercial i'm
portance, what should you do? Act generously b.
wards your ne ghbors in Texas, and think can say
with truth will prove pillars, strong pillars, in
tanning your growing town. Act otherwise, and we are
forced away from you. I hope you will excuse the
candor of my reply to your letter. shall at times
be pleased to hear from you My heart is deep in the
southern North American inter oceanic railroad en-
terprise. The sooner the connection of which you
wrote has been brought about the sooner will other
links be brought into existence, for the completion
3f the entre connection by railroads across CONT
nent between the two great oceans of the world.-l
-FOUR town [ sincerely desire to see sustained and
sincerely believe thata generous will certain
y and bring up. In regard to the course pur
sued by the president and others connected with your
'oad, others must speak. | was not director when
feelings generated between those con-
lected with the interests of the two roads. Col Ward
was, and his reply to enquiries made by in regard
the matter, have thought proper to enclose to you
met DR.. Young in New Orleans a few months ago.
md spoke to him on the subject of connection be-
Ween roads, and he assured me that his best eff
orts would be made to carry the Vicksburg road from
Shreveport to our line, he possibly could
with the means he had for that purpose and through
he provisions made for its construction He assured
ne that his best efforts would be made to carry the
Vicksburg road to the line soon possible and said
lis company would do every thing they could to CON
7ey iron &c. for to the Texas ine after their road
could reach it from Shreveport. The doctor could not
say when your iron would be procured; and under the
most favorable circumstances from what was said by
nm, was convinced that charter would be lost if
waited the completion of your road from Shreveport
o our llne before could receive iron There was
90 much uncertainty connected with the progress of
your road from Red River to the Texas-line for us to
nope for speedy connection with it; and from the To-
,atiOn of your depot, feared such a connection
would tax heavily citizens in the transporta
ion of their products to the shipping point on your
liver.
Col Wards reply to my enquiries has heightened
ny letter, which trust you will excuse.
ReSpecttulyr fre RI