The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-01-25

ApAAA1SS
company will permit. Its true much less work has
,een done on this line Of railroad than the two]
.ailroads before reviewed, but it must be remem-
1ered that the Vicksburg and Shreveport Railroad
,assses through a comparatively new and thinly
settled country, and that thas not like the Great
Northern and Great Western Railroads, received
powerful aid in theforn Of private and city corpo-
rate subscription. Asthe roadiprogresses the yaES
liable donations Of public lands, made by Congress
though impaired BY Act of Congress OF Sd March,
1885,, J will become valuable assets for future ex-
tensions besides the country is increasing daily in
population and wealth, which additional resources
taken iii connection with the immense western ira
vel which will followthe completion of the Southern
railroad from Vicssburg towards Montgomery, and /
the extension OF the Southern Pacific, westward,
must at no distant day insure the completion OF
this great highway than which none in the State
has been conceived in CHER spirit Of sefrelant
or prosecuted with more prudence,
ability and industry
The Baton Rouge and Crosse Tete Railroad.
when regarded in connection with the proposed
New Orleans and Baton Rouge Railroad, and its
present contemplated extensionto towards Alexandria
and Opelonsas rises TO high position in our rail
road system. The road has been well managed
from the beginning, and all its available resources
will be faithfully applied to the extension OF the
road beyond the Bayou Crosse Tete. The Direc-
tors of this enterprise have adopted the true policy
which should govern all our railroad companies;
they have increased their negro forces SO as tosbe
of other labor, and are now most ac-
lively engaged in the proposed .extenslon
1t is source Of qualification to inform you that
within my knowledge, the State has not IN single
instance granted its aid to an unworthy enterprise,
or to one which is not at prcselt entirely solvent
and which wlnot realize all the benefits antlclpa-
ted BY the most sanguine projectors. In due time
Fl viii place before you the various reports OF all
the railroads in which the State is stakeholder
| REPORT or THE BOARD OF cURRFScY---THE BANKS.
II affords me great satisfaction again to place
before the Legislature the workings Of our Bank
ing system, as exhibited in the accompanying re-
port Of the Board of Currency for the past year.
With the fixed specie basis, net regulated by the
fluctuations of commerce. it may be proudly said
I that our laws regulating the currency, have Sc
cured for the Stateof Louisiana, the true Federal
! standard, wherewith to measure the products OF
our Industry and Of our vast nterlortrade and our
paper money has in sealjtV become the certificates
1 of gold and silyer convertible on demand.
Hope the Legislature will watch, with Jealous
eve, any intentional deviation from the wise pro-
visions of law governing our Ranks, or any change
| in the checks and safeguards thlown around our
present Banking system. Whilst our laws are
stringent in their provisions as regards the man
aeenent Of our mohetary Institutions the security
thus given to the public, has in no wise DESTROYED
their efficiency in afordng the customary 1aeili-
1 ties to commerce, as evidenced by their regular
annual dividends Of from eight TO iiteen per cent.
The Act passed by the last Legislature requiring
weekly statements to be made by the Banks through
the Board of Currency, has been put INTO operation
and found 10 work we'll This regulation gives adj
ditional guarantees, on the part of the Banks, by
c,usnrs the balances to be paid every Saturday in
con nnder the immediate superintendent of the
State authorities, instead of leaving this important
5 matter to. the voluntary action of the Banks.
No additon to our Banking capital has been made
4 durine the year; but the Citizens Bank has estab
flished d Brunch at Shreveport, to which it has
transferred $780, of its capital. The location
Inf this Branch. in the center of an immense agri
cultural countrv shut out, during low water iron
, all communication with the city of New Orleans
viii doubtless prove Of great advantage to arg'
norton Of our Northwestern parishes IN acliitat
! ing the movement Of their crop to market.
STATE ENGINEER.
Il refer YOU for information to the general repor
r of the State Engineer for the operations OF tina
i department, up to the ID day OF January, 1856
the day on which the present Board OF Publ
: Works organized From lis report you Will q
S once perceive the Indebtedness OF that department
Z and the necessity of prompt action on the part
e the Legislature to discharge that indebtedness
i, This will facilitate the new Board IN Their iutur
transactions, aud at the same time terminate mail
It the connection of that officer with that branch
/ | :. l.: bau hnnn cn n
a iayorably connected
Q SWAMP LAND COMMISSIONERS.
8 The reports from the four Swamp Land Comm
5. s;oners will place YOU in full possession OF the
g Iahors for the mast year. Many Of the importal
3 works ordered BY the last Legislature have bee
e comnleted and some are in an incomplete stat
= owing to.ther magnitude and the shortness OF Il
= season adapted to Levee work.
: : fTnon the very important subject OF Levee,
q most respectfully renew the recomInendatio
y made by me last year to your predecessors. !
~ object Of greater moment can claim your ate
# ton.
q nrpoRr OF THE sUPERIsTEDENT OF PUBLIC EDUC
40 This elaborate document will give all the init
&c maticnsnecessary to full understanding OF 7
lssjconditon of our Public Schools The entire s
'al tenn of public education requires remodeling.
~ STATE SEMINARY OF LEARNING.
% Iearnestly recommend to your favorable cons
ala Grafton the State Seminary OF Learning, estt
he lishcd and now under military organization NJ
lid Alexandria.
he 4 Ehe State Of Louisianahas been most fortuna
cir N the selection Of the corps Of professors VINO n
tn Ihaye charge of this Institution. an annual app
j. nr;ation from, the General School Fund oftwen
If i've thousand dollars, would endow this INSTITUTE
It's and place ii upon lasting and solid foundati
q. In consideration of which the Institution co
educate forty eight young men Annually tone fr
Law each parish of the State who should bind tht
ted selves after the completion oftheir education
on teach a common school for two years. BY i
W. arrangement We would have teachers berl4t
lon reared in our midst identified in feeling and in
hat est with orr institutions, and not be, as we