The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1857-07-04
PROGRESS OF THE SOUTHWEST.

PROGRESS OF THE SOUTHWEST.
It has been our good f0rtdney during dhe
season that is past, to be the chtoniclers of
much intelligence very gratifying to all in
terested in the material development and
progress Of the great SouthWest-we say the
season that is past, more in deferetce to for
mer usage, than because the phrase has any
peculiar significance at the present time, es-
pecially in connection with the subject before
US; for summer and winter alike, our great
works OF internal Improvements now advance
regardless of times and seasons. There is no
holding up, as formerly, when summer ap-
preached, no relaxation of the energies on
the contrary, this season at least, our enter.
prlsing companies seem to have gained new
spirit with the return and advance of the sum.
mer. First of all In progress, as perhaps
first in Importance, destined as they are to
connect us SO closely with all parts of the
Federal Union, to whose destiny otir own is
so indissolubly linked, are our great railroad
enterprises. Northward and eastward, the
first link in the magnificent chain, the Jack
son Road, is already completed and in opera
tlon threefourths Of its entire length while
the work on the remainder is far advanced,
And at jackson, the centre of great system
in itself, the road there converginZ, will,
from present appearances, be ready, on our
arrival, to meet us. The Southern Road is,
We believe, under contract to the Alabama
line, and every where rapidly progressing.
The Vicksburg and jackson Road has been
waiting for us for many years, while the Mis-
sissippi Central is fastening with all speed
on Its course southwark These great lines
completed, as they will be in a few months,
and we shall have direct railroad communi-
cation with the entiro North and East.
| And directly westward, the prospect is
equally cheering. Thanks to the Opelousas
road, our time to Galveston has already been
cut down to less than twenty -four hours. And
by recent decision of the Board of Directors,
as our readers are already aware, that ener.
gitic company have just resolved to push for
ward their great enterprise to the Sabine,
there to connect directly with roads, many of
them already far advanced; spanning the en-.
tire State of Texas. And not the least among
these is our own Southern Pacific Railroad,
whose stccess. now happily reorganized and
controlled in our midst, is no longer q subject
Of doubt. Here, of ITSELF is system of rail.
road which, developing and commanding, as
it does, an entirely new trade of inexhaustible
resources, is sufficient to build up CONNER.
cial metropolis setund to none in the country:
We have necessarily, in this general re.
view, passed over many railroad enterprises,
not only important in themselves, but espe.
cially SO In their relation TO those we have
already mentioned It is not, indeed, till
we view the railroad system of the Southwest
as whole, every part closely linked with
and dependent upon the other that we get
any adequate idea of the mission it is to per.
form in the development ola region of coun.
try unparalleled in extent, and inexbaustible
in resources, And of this system our own
city is now and must ever continue the cen.
tire, destined, by the very felicity of its stu.
alton, and most justly too, to reap the first
fruits Of enterprises planned and carried for.
ward to happy consummatiOn, for the most
part, by our own citizens.
Nor have these great homs enterprises, con.
ceived on scale SO magnificent, and carried
on at such an expenditure of time, labor and
capital, wholly exhausted the energies or re.
sources Of our people. They have found the
means, at the same time, to open new route
to the Pacific, over which the wealth and
commerce of the world, soonef or later, il
destined to pass. And here again, we can
get an adequate idea of the real Importance
Of the Tehuahtepec transit route to US only
by considering it in connection with the grand
system Of railroads before alluded to. To
gether they place US on the great highway of
nations to whom all will ungrudginly pay
tribute.
From the very nature Of things the growth
and development of the entirs Southwest was
for long time slow ; it is only now beginning
to show its giant strength. Enterprises at
all commensurate with the nature and re!
quirements Of the country; we're necessarily
on too grand scale for new people, of many
wants and limited means Besides, their i'm.
portance and Success depended, in great de-
gree, upon other great enterprises, slow them.
selves in maturing It was not, moreover,
with the Southwest, as with many other parts
Of the country, where little railroad or a
little canal sufHced to develop its entire re-
sources. Here q great system of roads was
necessary, the completion of each of which
was essential to the SUCCESS of the other and
of all. Happily, however, we can now see
our way through, and though we must wait
some months yet for the full consummation
and realization Of our labors, still it is some
qualification to contemplate, though in the
distance, the splendid future that awaits as
as section, city, and people
(Pscaym'se.J
Sp1RITUALIsM The Boston Traveller
says; 7. w. Higginson, Of Worcester, propo.
ses to lecture occasionally, after the present
summer, upon the Rational Of Spiritualism
He eovs IN a iakkar ko tL~ IL. .