The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-16
New Orleans, Opeiou.as and Great Western
Railroad.
OFFICE N. o., o. AND G. W. RAILROAD Co.,
New Orleans June g. 1868.

OFFICE N. o., o. AND G. w. RAILROAD Co.,
New Orleans, June 6, 1868.
The New Orleans, Opeousas and Great West
ern Railroad Company. desiring that connection
shall be formed between their present terminus at
Berwick's Bay and the Houston and New Orleans
Railroad, which terminates at the Sabine river,
and which when completed 1.-THE distance being
I63 miles) will connect New Orleans with almost
the entire railroad system of Texas, the presi-
dent and directors of said company, therefore,
propose to such party or parties as may under.
take to fill up such gap the following terms and
conditions, to-wit:
/. Will lease the right of way and the franchises
now possessed by said company from their present
terminus at BerWick's Bay to the town of Yer.
milionve, the grading OF which is almost entirely
completed for these sixty three miles, and will, at
the same time, lease the right under their charter
to build the branch railroad from Vermionville
to the Sabine river, at or near Orange, the same
having been already located by resolution of the
board of directors. The distance between these
points is 100 miles. The company reserving to
itself the right Of way and transportation on pay
ment of proporiionate freights and passage money
from the present terminus of the road to any ex.
tension towards Opelousas of its road beyond
Vermilionville.
O. The said lease to continue for q term of years
to be agreed upon between the company and the
lessees. At the end of the lease the property to
be valued by disnterested parties, the railroad
company to select three and the lessees three the
two, If need be, to call in an umpire, whose deci'
sion will be final. The railroad company reserv-
ing the right to purchase said property at such
valuation. but if not then promptly paid for by
said company the lease to be extended for
further term of years, and so on until finally pur
chased and paid for by said New Orleans, 0pe.
lousas and Great Western Railroad Company.
The grading already made between Berwick's Bay
and Vermilionville to be valued by competent engi-
neers at the time Of entering into contract, but
not to be paid for by lessees until the end of the
first lease, herein provided for.
3. The parties leasing to obligate themselves to
connect with no other railroad which might here
after be built terminating at or near the city Of
New Orleans, and further oblgating themselves
TO do no act which will infringe the rights under
the present charter of said company, aud also to
hold said company harmless against any loss
which might result from acts committed on that
portion of road now proposed to be leased.
4. Should the lessees succeed in obtaining a
land grant on the line of railroad beyond Ber
wick's Bay, it will be and remain the property Of
said sssees, this company claiming none of its
benefits, and mourning no portion of the respon-
sibility attending it.
S. transportation to be furnished said lessees
over the cOmpany's road, as follows, viz:
The president, directors and officers Of the
road, including engineers, superintendent, road
masters and bridge builders free Of charge.
Transportation of lsborers going out TO be
charged oDe-third the regular fare. Provisions
and supplies TO be charged one'half Of regular
rates. Material, other than iron and cross-ties to
be charged one.half of regular rates. Iron to be
charged one dollar per ton, and cross-ties f any
fifteen cents each. Lessees to load and unload
the cars.
g. The road thus to be built shall be first class
railroad IN every respect. The guage TO be the
same as the cOmpRny's road-say feet inches.
The iron used not 10 be less than IS pounds per
yard.
I. The said lessees to obligate themselves to
commence said road within four months, and have
it finished and in running order to the Sabine
river, connecting with the Houston road at or
near Orange, within three years from date of
signing the lease.
of the contract the lessees will be required to ex.
ecute bond TO an amount, and with good and
satisfactory security TO the satisfaction Of the
board Of directors.
9. The company reserves the right to reject
any and all bids.
Another proposition, and for which proposal )
are also invited, is to lease the road, inclu ding
depots, stations, rolling stock etc., from Algiers,
opposite New Orleans, TO Brashear City, includ-
ing the franchises of the company beyond to
Texas, under the following conditions:
l. That the party or parties proposing to lease
shall state the least number Of years he or they
will lease the road, on the following conditions:
2. The accrued interest to October l, 1868, on
the mortgage bonds, (said bonds maturing il
1881 to be provided for by the lessee.
g. The semi annual interest on the same bonds
accruing yearly after date, and payable on the
FIRST days Of April and OF October Of each year
say $l60 900 per annum, TO be also provided FOL
4. the road to be built over the route from Der
wicks Bay to New Iberia, thence to point at Of
near Vernilionvie, thence in q westerly direction
to point on the Sabine river, connecting with thu
Houston and Beaumont road.
s, The building of the road TO be commenced
within four months after signing the contract oil
lease. to be prosecuted with all dispatch. and t
be fully and finally constructed within thre'
wears from the signing Of the lease.
6. The grading. culverts, etc., now made be
yond Berwick's Bay, to be taken by the lessee q
valuation 70 be sscertsned by experts, one Il
be appointed BY each party, in case OF disagree