The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-12-04
The Louisiana and Texas Rail-
road.


The Louisiana and Texas Rail-
road.
THE MORGAN LINE-THE CHATTANOOGA ROAD
ITS DIRECTION, COURSE AND PROGRESS
PROSPECTS OF ITS EARLY COMPLETION.
1t has been recently stated that active
measures were being taken to extend the n.
Orleans aud Berwicks Bay railroad to
Texas. The company has been organised
and differed for that purpose. Four
millions Of dollars will be required, two
millions of which rave been subscribed by
Charles Morgan. The public arc now
informed that, as soon the Texas legislature
shall have passed some necessary lcgi,la-
ton, the remaining two millions will be
subscribed in that state, and the road
vigorously pushed forward. This all looks
very we'll, and we, hope may prove true
But the success of the enterprise is made to
depend upon too many contingencies. The
Texas Legislature must first meet; its
action must be favorable; all the stock
except the half owned by Morgan has yet
to be subscribed; and the capital stock
must be in ready money. When these cir
culnstances all concur, the road, we are
told will be built to Texas. We prefer to
found our hopes upon something less
probematical.
From what we have been able to learn
on this subject, the railroad connection
between N. Orleans and Texas, will be
soonest effected by the extension of the
IN. Orleans Mobile & Chattanooga rail
road. This company has the capital neces-
sary for the completion of the work, and
has quietly pushed forward the enterprise
with very little buster, and no extravagant
promises.
A large portion of this road has been
surveyed, the line permanently located, and
the route staked by competent engineers.
From a very reliable source, we are able
to give the line of The road, thus far sur
veyed. Starting from the initial point at
Algeers west of the Mississippi, it passes
up the river, just back of the cleared lands
Of the plantations, to boyou Goula, a
few miles below the town of Iberville.
From bayou Goula, the road pursues a
westward course to that part of the Atchaf-
aaaya known as Grand River, which it
crosses at Ofutts saw mills. Pursuing its
course Westward it strikes the bayou
Teche near Breaux Bridge. From this
point 1t crosses the bayou Vermillion, and
proceeds westward to a point five-eighths of
a mile northof the town of Vermillionillev in
the parish of Lafayette. Here a post is plant
ed indicating the point of divergence for the
branch of the road which is to pass through
opelousas, to the valley of the Red River.
Bat to resume the line of the Chattanooga
road to Texas; from the last mentioned
point at Fcrmillionville, it continues west
ward crossing the head waters of the bay
gu Queue Tortue, the bayou Plaqueninc
brule and the bayou Cane, to the bayou
Nez Pig le, which is the boundary between
st. Landry and Calcasieu. The engineers
had completed the survey of the route to
this point, more than ten days ago, and
are now at work in the parish of Calcasieu.
The contemplated line, now being surveyed,
west of the Nez Pique is as follows to
the bead of bayou Laccassine, thence to
Calcasieu river at or near Lake Charles
and Norris Saw Mill, thence westward be-
tween the west fork of Calcasieu and BAYOU
Choapique, to the Sabine River, at a point a
little north ofthe town of Orange.
Twenty four miles of this road will run
through st. Landry, and about sixty miles
ehrough the Parish of Calcasieu. thus con.
e''outing largely to the development of the
latter and benefting the southwestern
portion of st. Landry.
Il is expected that this road will be in
complete working order, from New Orleans
to the Sabine, in two years. The distance
form New Orleans to VermillionvilIe hv tbo
Chattanooga road will be about 154 miles
and oy the extension of the present Morgan
road' about l7e miles, making the former
10 miles shorter than the latter, which will
be a gain of an hours time in travel. The
survey of the Chattanooga read, the course
Of which we have given, as we have reason
to Believe, the permanent location of the
route. Stakes are planted every fifty feet
not only the direction of the road
but with marks indicating the necessary
and embankraent. These statistics
are gratifying, as they indicate the ability,
the earnestness and the determination of the
Company. Between the two contemplated
ne haze reason to hope for an ea,ly
communication bets cen New Or
leans and the great West, which is to con-
50 hountif,iiv TO ifs future opulencs.