The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-31
@south Branch Of Pacific Railroad.

South Branch of Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. n S. Goodale railroad commissioner, has circu-
lated petition among the business Of our city
which has been namerousy signed BY them which reads
as follows:
70 tie Honorable tie Senate and House of Repre-
seatites Of the United States Of America III congress
assenbled:-Whereas the Union Pacific railroad is
being constructed to the Pacific coast the citizens
of Shreveport in view of the great benefits which would
result thereom to the people of the State of Louisiana
respectfully request your honorable body provide for
the construction of south branch commencing at the
junction ofthe Leavenworth Lawrence and Fort Gibson
railroad running south through the Indian nation to
point Red River, by means of which the rivers and
railroads of the State OF Louisiana would be connected
with the said Union Pacific road improvement which
would only augment the national resources but also
materially develop the resources of Louisiana.
We notice that Galveston, Houston and many of the
towns as far north as Marshall have petitions of
similar character, and that members of the convention
now being assembled at Austin determined to add
its petition endorsing the demand of the people.
This subject is one of neless importance the State
Of Louisiana than Texas, and trust that legisla
tors and large cities will do what they to influence
SO important national enterprise.
1t is the opionion of those interested that congress
will provide the to construct the road through
the Indian nation if such demand is made by this part
of the SOUTH who are SO vitality interested in this en-
I terprise
Too much Importance cannot be attached to this i'm
porant undertaking and trust the enterprising gen
tlemen who have taken the matter in hand will be sue
cesSu Should congress in its wisdom elect to furnish
the material aid have hesitancy in saying the
public would be the gamer by it.
Il TINE DONE THE WoRK.-It will be recollccted by
many of old merchants that the feet of government
transports with troops for this place. accompanied
by numerous spectators with their merchandise. Some
of them believe were here before the troops arrived
Among other things landed on the wharf we noticed
lot Of ploughs from Pttsburg and many were the re-
marks Of citizens "That yankee is sucked in sure
said gentleman to u.s. 1--WE have need of such things
| as these now "Better have taken EN- to Greenland
said another and still another thought the and
the poughs would do better in fddlers green. Even
an old darky wanted know what dey brot dem things
here for" Time has workeda change. Those pioughs
and hundreds of others have disappeared and still the
CRY Is for more We recolect very we'll asking
one of our leading merchants who was on the
eve of starting north to buy goods if ne was going 10
lay in much iron. mo" said he there will be INT
little demand for it here" He never was more misak
en- in his life. That same man has sold more iron in
three months than he ever did before in the same num-
Der of years. Time has changed his mind. Who of
old merchants does net recolect the observations
they made seven months ago, after another OF
our storehouses were filed with merchandise by new
comers How they congratulated themselves upon
their foresight in not laying in a stock That these
fellows to break, and they would be able to
buy goods dirt cheap before fall Manys the time We
have heard these and similar observations. Yet time
has wrought change, wonderful change, in their
opinions and actions. Time is great institution for
working changes So mote it be-
| COMPOUND INTEREST NoTEs.-An exchange saws a
compound interest greenback note is having three
years to rum in which interest whatever is paid until
the principal is due but which the accrung interest
is compounded every six months. 1t is legal tender
for the principal only. ten dollar therefore is
worth at maturity by compromising the interest about
eleven dollars and niney-fve cents or nearly twelve
dollars The holder is entitled to present it at the
treasury, and to receive in lawful money, in round
numbers, twelve dollars. BY the law as it now stands,
the note is at no period to be legal tender for more
than ten dollars and much expressed the face
of the bill itself
BAGDAD.At the last accounts this ancient town was
in the possession Of the liberals 1t was captured by
eight white men and 1913 colored soldiers belonging to
the 1lS o. S. coorcd infantry, under the command Of
Col A. f. Reed of Gen. Crawford's staff The attack
ing party lost only five while the mperiaists lost
| twenty-five killed aud wounded
/ FREE LABoE.-It is rather early in the season to
form an opinion either for or against the free labor
system now undergoing trial with our planters; yet
we think we have good to congratulate ourselves
I upon the start we have made Most all Of the old
planters Of this parish have commenced working in
earnest and new ones have filed the places of others
and, like a new broom, are sweeping things clean
! The freedmen are working much better than many o.
! DIS expected, or even hoped for under the crcum
stances Many OF the planters have expressed them
selves agreeably surprised arge planter, from the
upper portion Of the parish stated that his hands were
doing as well as they ever did. OF course, there are
some exceptions but as general thing that is the
usual expression very few of the old planters are
not cutvating this year, preferrng to wait awhile and
see the result OF their more adventurous nclEhbors
Our rich bottom lands are all taken up as well as most
Of the hill places, though, at present, the supply Of
labor is not equal to the demand. We have made
! good beginning, and hope for good end. I
4 MODIFICATION OF THE LABOR oEDER-Major Gen
Baird las issued circular, making alterations in
the labor regulations set forth by him in circular No
30. The following, which we copy from the New
Orleans True Delta contains the original sections and
the amendments together.
The first refers to the blank forms Of contracts &C.
and reads as follows:
Contracts made otherwise than thus prescribed viii
not be regarded binding by the bureau, as mer
ng its interference to enforce them, unless for the
! protection Of the laborer.
\ The amendment is:
In the last clause of paragraph l, introduce the
word above" before the word prescribed
The second repeats virtually that very obnoxious
clause prescribing the diet Of the aborers plana-
tons, and the darkes will now be allowed eat some
thing better than meal and bacon, in case they
! can get it.