Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-12-29


J. p. BENJAMIN.
BATON RouGE, Crosse TErE AND OPE-
! LoUsAs RAILROAD CoMpANy.-Tc the kind
ness of the worthy President of this
Road, Col. j. Y. Durable, says the Sugar
I Planter. are we indebted for the follow
ing valuable information in regard to its
business and progress for the past year.
In order to complete the road to 1.-Two
MIA. q distance of twelve miles from the
Bayou Crosse Tctc, subscriptions were
received amounting to $4,000, which,
witt, the assets Of the old stock, and the
receipts of the old road, work was i'm
mediately commenced with thirty-five
newly purchased negroes on the Sd day
of January last. The road-bed Was com
pleted ready to receive the ties and rails
during the month of September follow
ing. Owing to the drouth which pre-
vailed throughout the country during
the past summer, it was extremely diff
fcult to procure ties-the contractors
being unable to run their mills in conse-
quence Of the drying up Of the ponds
and wells. But for this unanticipated
set back, the cars would have been max
ing daily trips to that point by the LIST
day of November. Everything is now
progressing finely, and by the middle of
January the section will be completed.
The entire receipts of the road for the
past year to Dec. l, amount to near
$36 5000; IN increase owe that Of last
year. The assets of the company amount
to $263,7S7, to which may be added the
rolling stock, valued at $4,000. The
entire indebtedness of the company
reaches the sum of S102,S5l, showing a
balance in favor Of the company over all
it's liabilities of $l60, 936; or, with the
rolling stock added, $l95,56l. This
showing will prove interesting to all
parties concerned, and we think will
f~avorably vie with the annual showing
of our other State roads. The cost of
the Livonia section will not exceed $500
per mile-one of the best and most sat
isfactory evidences Of the great cheap
ness of slave labor in railroad building.
How much the cost of railroads is re-
duced by employing slave labor, can be
estimated by referring to the costs OF
roads built by white labor under the
wrctched contract system.
The company, Immediately upon the
completion of the Livonia section, will
commence upon the third and last sec
ton, to the Atchafalaya river. The dis
lance from Livonia to that point is about
thirteen miles, and it is calculated will
be completed by the LIST OF January,
1862. The clearing and grading will
occupy the hands of the company about
seven months, while the remainder of
the work can be done easily in the re-
naming FIVE. All the necessary mate
rails, money and labor are on hand for
the purpose.
The value of this road to the State
cannot now besestimated. That it will
prove a rich harvest for all interested,
will not for a moment be questioned.
All that we ask in this connection is,
that our friends ON the other side of the
Atchafalaya river will hurry up on the
work to Alexandria, and from thence
where? Right glad are we to learn
that the residents of the valley of Red
River are now completely aroused to
the Importance of this road, and are
making all exertions to meet us at the
Atchafalaya. Then Alexandria will be
within a few hours travel of Baton
Rouge, and from thence eight to twelve
hours by steam to New Orleans.