The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-02-05
BATON ROUGE, CROSSE TETE AND
OPELOUSAS R4ILRO4D.

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BAToN ROUGE, CROSSE TE7E AND
OPELOUSAS RAILROAD.
We invite attention to the very lucid and
satisfactory report made to the. Governor, BY
the President Of the Company, Mr.. y. ".
Durable, published in our columns to day.
Seldom do we see q report Of the operations
Of q railroad company for twelve months detail
snch Interesting facts, and presage so much
encouragement for the future
The reports from Presidents Of Railroad
Companies TOO often disclose confusion and
financial embarrassment, in this report all is
light encouragement and qualification.
Since the completioniof the road to Bayou
Crosse Tete in June 1857, no farther efforts
have been made in track-laying and grading.
The hands IF the company have been employed
~ Q general repairing of all The a purtepanees
connected with the road, besides making brick
and procuring timber for future operations.
Last September with a view TO the future
extension Of The road, the directors ordered a
survey Of the route from the Crosse T'ete ter
minus TO be made to the A.tchafalaya in the
direction Of Alexandria on Red River. Tie
Surveyors report which is appended to the
PRESIDENTS, and which we laid before our
readers q short time after it was made, pre.
sented one OF the most eligible routes for the
extension Of the road ever made in the Missis-.
sippi valley. The President in his report, as.
sures the public that the road will be couple.
Ted to the Alchafalaya terminus Us The sug-
gestions OF an enlightened policy may dictate.
In other words so soon as the means are real.
lied from the friends Of The enterprise to do so.
We presume that this desideratum is nearly
accomplished, at least we hope. so.
The operations Of the road for the last year,
together with the present assets and liabilities
o. the company present very gratifying results.
The total. liabilities Of the company are set
down at ~S68,T4l,6l, while the assets amount
to $l63,363,0OO.
The available means Of the company on
hand together with such MS are now due and in
process Of collection will enable The company
to meet all of its liabilities without a resort 10
the sale Of the'33 negroes now in possession Of
The company, or the $4,000 Of bonds Of the
city Of Baton Rouge.
The receipts for the last year including
ire!ghts, passage and mail service have been
$30,269,0O. while the disbursements have
amounted only to $24,sl3,52, and one half OF
this amount being appropriated to the liquida-
ton Of liabilities incurred for the purchase of
locomotives.
The President assures us that the actual cost
OF operating the road per annum will not ex.
coed Sl2,000,0o, This estimate of annual en-
pehse is without precedent for q read of this
length, either in the history of railroad enter
prise in the United States or in Europe. And
beyond this the cost Of extension per mile to
the Atchatalaya is put down at the low figure
OF Ss,o42! We regard the prospect which is
now presaged in having this road connected
with our Town, US the harbiuger of a vast tide
OF business and profit to the people of St.
Landry.
HnNNN. IT,