The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-26


One Of the pIeasantest and most instructive
affairs of the kind in which it has ever been our
good fortune to participate. was the excursion
party which yesterday morning went TO Kenner--
pleasant both from its occasion, which was the
inspection and trial Of q passenger car recently
built by Messrs. RaouI, Sons Bodley at their
works at Independence. La. and from the happy
manner in which it passed of-and instructive, be-
cause few hours spent in the company Of tue
men who composed it, could not be other wise.
But TO begin at the beginning:
AT IL o'clock yesterday we proceeded to the
Jackson Railroad depot. where we found quite an
assemblage, comprising some OF our most pr0mi
nent merchants, and number OF railroad men
from different parts OF the country. all occupied
IN discussing the various merits OF the lion Of the
hour, the new which, decKed IN all the bravery
OF fresh paint and varnish, seemed to challenge
the criticism which it elected. nasty survey OF
the outside of the car satisfied us OF its excel.
lence. and We passed 90 10 the interior. There it
is that ibe Adorable complete workmanship OF
the builders displays itself to the best advantage.
The paneliiDg, with itsfvarety Of pine oak, ASH
holly, magnolia cherry and other woods made
beautifully bright and smooth, not with varaish
but by being polished, each piece a study for al
artist, and all most tastefully arranged. The luKu
rlously essy seats, the handsomely painted ceiling
The transoms OF staine glass; each beauties well
worthy OF being more fully descanted upon than
our limits will permit. Suffice it TO be said that
every appointment of the car is as perfect
ss any OF its class have ever seeo
which came from Northern factories. But
its GROWING merit is that every portion OF the
wood work, save two mahogany doors, was cut
from the forests of Louisiana, and that everything
else about it, except the bare wheels-for the
truck was made at lndependence-is the product
OF Louisiana factory. We had no idea, till the
ocular demonstration was yesterday given US
that our people were capable of such taings, aud
II was truly q delightful surprise. &c is, however,
but another illustration Of the maxim-God's own
truth Labor. onnta c6nci" an illustration.
TOO. that, Ia these times OF general depression,
comes home TO Us with telling force. Too much
credit cannot be awarded Mr. RaouI aud his co.
workers, who, encountering at every step obsta-
cles apparently insurm0untable, have yet pressed
steadily on. Till they have finished work ia the
consummation Of which may be read happy
augury for the future I; q future which will be
just what We choose 60 make (which if we |
waste, the present will be worse than the past |
but which will be, if we go to work in earnest |
has placed in our hands, infinitely fuller of sub |
stabtia blessings than any dlate-belttna period 10
which we cen look back.
But while we are descanting upon possibilities |
yet TO be, the car has started. and in its almost |
motion (if that be allowable expres-j
sion) gives rs new proof Of the skill with which /
IL was constructed. To demonstrate its superior |
excellence in this respect. Mr.. Raoul invited the
party into the forward car, that a comparison |
night be Instituted. While settling the qIestion
Kenuer was reached. when, nobody knew exactly |
how, each gentleman found himself with a glass
10 his hand, which, Ia a few monents, became
filed with something; and before
general consciousness was recovered, Mr.. Meek,
of the Times, In neat little speech, proposed the
of the Southern Car Works and their |
protector, Mr.. Raoul, when the glasses suddenly
became empty.
Other gentlemen of the party, the CRsscrsr's
-