The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-03-31
letter from Washington.

Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. D. c., March Is, 1860.
IL. E4itor-I wish very much that had the time
give you all that has been SAID here III reference 70
the immediate extension of the Southern Pacific rail-
road the natural advantages of your little city as
commercial point and the vast amount OF trade des,
tined to be transacted there soon as the fafoaa
shall be exte;ded out into the interior OF Iexas.
Col Hail. the President your roadl Is here ara III
various conversations with the leading politicians aha
moneyed men of the country he has made very deep
impression in favor of the line OF 81 to the racine,
aud particularly in reference to your particular Sec
ton of the road and the operations OF the present Or
ganisaon The idea of railroad OF only forty miles IN
length repairing the roadbed thoroughly and meeting
promptly all the expenses and IN ADDITION pay
inc debt of some fifty sixty thousand dollars III
one season by newly organised company, IS some
thing almost unheard Of in railroad enterprises and
well calculated to forcbly impress the puohc nina
And yet these facts being made apparent here:
One very significant fact which has struck my mind
with much force, as well as others with whom have
couversed is that President Hall is not proposing to
sell stock but only wishes to borrow money upon the
bonds of the company endorsed by the best men and
most substantial MERCHANTS of Louisville, Kentucky
This is conclusive evidence to my mind that those who
are best posted are satisfied that will pay WELL With
this favorable condition Of things before your citizens
should think that every spare Or unproftahy en-
poyed dollar in the whole country would be Invested
in the road either loan 80 the company, or for
the purchase of stock. 4 very little consideration
with reference to the route of the road the fertility OF
the SOIL and the snubrity and pleasan,ness OF the eli
mate of the country through which it is to pass, will
CONVINCE the most slorsighted and obtuae minded
that it will be among the best paying roads OF the
whole country. One great advantage that your road
has over the other contemplated rontes, is its ad
valced CONDITION, present thorough organisation, and
the further fact that the portion competenis pay
hand nf tapp in lirh
money would be more securely or probably engaged
and at the same time stimulating and building up the
agricultural, mechanical, and commercial Interests Of
yonr section of the country.
Another question which is provoking good deal Of
discussion here among politicians, capitalists and rail
road men, is the division OF the State Of Texas into
three new States territories, in the Judgment of
Congress may most likely to restore its citizens
to peace and tuetadc. So the good people Of your
sister State need be surprised find themselves in
territory under territorial governor appointed by
the President.
There are IL goodly number Of Texans here from
nearly all sections of the State, with every shade of
political opinion 4 large majority Of them are urg
ing division. Some hunting Office while others
looking after some cherished and long delayed
railroad enterprise.
Congress, think, will adjourn at an early day.
Many of the reelected members seem to be DESTROYS
of resting spell in which reflect upon the past and
contemplate the future. The Presidents inaugural
and appointments to Office have made favorable u.
preston upon the public mind and one that argues
well for the future of the country.
Very respectfully, yours, yiAToR.
UPPER RED RIVER lNsURANcE-A writer in the
Crescent of the 19t evidently Of the members of
the board of underwriters of New Orleans gives the fol
lowing for the high rates of insurance above
the raft:
With To ri tO and from
Red river which appears to be the partioulargevance
of the Times writer, that tariff the result Of long
experience of the dangers of navigation that river
and the inpossiby OF getting possession of property
from wrecked boats after disaster had happened.
boat load Of cotton when accident occurs to it in
any part of the river below Shreveport seldom loses
than few bales totally, the remainder being re-
covered either in a sound or damaged condition and
brought down TO the city but if boat is wrecked in
Upper Red river, what cotton is sound is carried off
into the woods the bagglng stripped off so that it
not be identified, and the underwater is compelled to
pay total loss to the factor who insures it, For
some time past owing, presume, to the high premium
which former heavy losses compelled underwriters to
charge them, the boats have generally run without
insurance greater is manifested in their manage
mcn in consequence, and disasters have been of such
rare occurrence that the Board of Underwriters intend
ed on the annual revsal of the general tariff May
to lower the rates risks p aud from the Upper Red
river, when other changes will also lie made to meet
the improved character OF other risks provided for in
the tariff
We congratulate our friends above the raft on abe
prospect Of having their rates of insurance reduced.
THIS BlLLTo STRENGTHEN THE FvnL1c CEEpIT-The
foIlowil bill, which passed Congress on the 5th has
received the signature of Grant, and is now a law:
BE IN enacted, etc., That, in order to remove any
doubt to the purpose of the Government to dis
charrn all inst nhipaonS n the DuI1iic rre1fOrs and
to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of
the laws by virtue OF which obligations have been CON
tractcd it is hereby provided and declared that the
faith Of tic United States is soemny pledged to the
payment in coin Or its equivalent CT all the obligations
of the United States not bearing interest," known
United States notes and of all the interest bearing Oh
legations of the United States, except in where
the law authorisng the issue of any such obligation
has expressly provided that the same may be paid in
lawful money other currency tlInn gold silver;
but OF said interest bearing Obligations, not al
ready due shall be redeemed paid before maturity
unless such time United States notes shall be
vcrtibc into coin, at the option of the holder
less such time the bonds of the United States bear
ing lower rate of interest than the bonds to be
deened can be sold at par i'll coin. And the United
States also soemny pledges its faith to make provi-
sion the earliest practicable perodIor the rcdemp
ton of the Quilted STATE notes III coin.
IMPORTANT TO LAWYERS AID LITIGASTs.-Judse
Cooley of the sixth District Court has issued the fol-
lowing order:
The of the Legislature No. 100, providing for the
personal attendance of witnesses in open give
their testimony having become law, the rules here
to'ore adopted are longer obligatory, aud the fol-
lowing are issued i'll lien thereof;
Rule |. Parties desiring their testimony taken out
of court under the provisions Of act No 81 approved
Sept. IT, 1868, will apply to the court, and commits
sioner will be appointed take said testimony under
the provisions of said act
Rule 2. In appealabe cases. the party desiring the
testimony Of his witnesses taken in open court,
must have in stenographer to take said testi
mony otherwise the will be continued at the foot
of tie docket, the testimony Of the witnesses re-
jccted, at the discretion Of the court.
Rule 3. Parties who desire to have the witnesses OF
their adyeGsares testify in open court must make the
affidavit required by the act of September 10th, 1863
and besides comply with the provisions of lqle No.
MEMPHIS ITEMs.-4t special Memphis dispatch Of
the 9TH to the New Orleans Times says
E. G. Patterson, whose mentioned in con.
necon with the late terrible murders at Big Creek
few weeks ago was arrested yesterday, charged with
employing persons who murdered Mr. Wilson and
negro at the house Of Mr. Dickens. lie subse-
quenty released on bail Of 100000 for his appearance
to morrow.
. A Detroit forger named Long, Vas arrested in Mad