Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1862-01-04
Baton Rouge, Grosse-Tete 4
Opelousas Railroad.

odIO4 AVvO
Opelousas Railroad.
We have been favored by Col. j. V.
DuRALDE, the President Of the Baton
Rouge, Grosse-Tete & .Opelousas Rail
road, with a copy Of bis annual report to
the General Assembly, from which We
extract some interesting items.
Tie business of the road for the year
had Slightly decreased, owing to the
war, but had, under the c%ircu,nstan :es,
exceeded the expectations Of the Com
pany. The receipts were over $4,000,
from which deduct the expenses, about
$4,000, and the remainder appears as
the nett profits II tie year. The Presi-
dent has every assurance that but fer
the war, the receipts would have reached
100000 for the same period. In this
he is sustained by the other officers Of
the Company, and many citizens resid-
ing along The route and at the different
termini.
The liabilities Of the road are briefly
summed up, and show a total Of $685.
$50 05. To meet which, the company
hold assets to the amount of $274,691
80, which leaves a balance in favor cf
the company Of $l78,s35 "a.
This Statement. shows a healthy con-
di,ion Of affairs, and reflects the highest
credit upon the able management Of the
road. l. would have been much better
for stockholders in other roads of the
State, had similar economy and manage
ment been displayed in their operations.
Here we have a finished road OF near
thirty miles in length, and yet it does
not owe a dollar that it cannot pay at
maturity, besides leaving a heavy sur
plus Of assets on hand, to which may be
added the road itself and the numerous
buildings belonging to the company
II a better showing Ear Be mace by any
road in the Confederate States, we have
yet to learn of it.
The State is a stakeholder in the road,
40 far. to the mount Of $40. 90. which
under a special act of the Legislature,
is a subscription Of one-fourth Of the
sum total paid in by other stockholders.
The President in his report urges the
General Assembly to give the States
assistance towards its completion to the
Atck afalaya river. The late State
Convention authorized the Legislature
to grant assistance to railroads at tue
rate of $4,000 per milo where the road
is cleared, graded and ready to receive
the iron. The last section, from 1.-Two
MIA to the Atchafalaya, is in that condit-
ton. With the bonds Of the State,
which will amount to $4,000 more, the
section can be finished, and which will
terminate the labors of the con- pany.
The iron necessary to complete the work
is now 10 New Orleans, and can be bought
readily with the State bonds. Every
thing is ready to continue operations on
the last section, and but await the action
Of the Legislature.
The completion Of the road will rem
der it y Of the most valuable in the
South. Built at an exceedingly cheap
rate, it contrasts strongly with the cost
Of other roads III the State. This road
has been, add can be, worked cheaper
than any other road in the South. The
employment Of negroes to do all severe
labor, has proved successful in the high
est degree, and that it is cheaper and far
superior to similar white labor, the re-
suits fully shadow forth in the great suc-
cess Of the road. It is the determine
ton Of the present management to per-
severe for the future 10 all the economi-
49, I