The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-06-30
Southern Pacific Railroad.

In the present dearth of news, conceive that we
cannot offer to readers subject Of more absorb
ing interest than that of the railroad The Courier
Journal contains a communication on this subject
from writer signing himself B. D., whom suppose
to be Blanton Duncan of Kentucky. In commenting
upon this article the goes to expose
the imperfections of the Northern road. Indeed We
believe is generally conceded fact that this road il
in many respects amentabe failure 1t is said thai
" the track is laid upon frozen cods of earth for hun
dreds of miles that the rail weighs but fifty pounds
to the yard when it should be from eighty to hun
bred pounds and that there is not arch cuvert fo
one thousand miles west of the Rocky Mountains.
Yet if these objections could be obviated by an entire
rebuilding of the road there these nsurmountabl'
objections, namely; the climate, which will suspend
travel for several months in the year. and the immense
distance Which will make freight charges so great al
to preclude the transportation of heavy articles Aside
from the difference in distance of the Northern anc
Southern routes across the continent, eight hun
dred miles there will be vast saving on the Pacific
coast as sailing vessels can, account OF the trade
winds, reach San Diego from China in hundreds O
miles less sailing than they can reach San Francisco
as all sail vessels from Asia make the Pacific coast
or below San Diego and then are obliged to sail "
the coast to San Francisco. Whie then the constfuc
ton of Southern Pacific railroad is only question
of time we feel more immediate interest in the route
While the editorial comments of the Courier-Journa
would eviuce decided preference for the VcksburE
and Marshall route the correspondent would seem te
regard that as rather an outside affair.
The Courier journal says: For the travel to the
South Atlantic and number of the Cult clles, the
route via Marshall Shreveport Vicksburg, MERRIAM
&C., &C., is necessarily the route, and indeed, II the
reader will take the trouble to look at the map he VIII
see that an airline across the continenttrom San Diego
to the nearest Atlantic city will ran through or over
the line spoken Of requiring about forty or nifty mics
of road to be built from Selma to Montgomery ano
ninety miles between Vicksburg and shreveport u
give line between the SD and SD parallels the en-
tire distance from San Diego to Charleston or saVan
nah To conclude, then, what Is beng done by oui
Shreveport and Marshall railroad friends :? Are they
alive to the facts The controlling stockholders OF
that road are citizens of Louisville We think they
are to be congratulated upon the fact that What al one
time looked gloomy and unsatisfactory is now orght
With fntnre nrospects We are acquainted with some
of these gentlemen and know that during all the dark
times of the past they have had faith in the ultimate
verdict as to the wisdom of an investment and the
starting of an enterprise begun so long since as by
others to have been nearly forgotten:
DAMAGING W1rNEss.-Gen. Henry Gray, of Bien-
vile, was brought before the investigating committee
with the following result To the question as to why
there were only two Radical votes in Bienvle, the
General answered that as far he could learn from,
the negroes the reason they would not come to the
polls and vote because the Provost Marshal, who
came to the parish Radical organiser had promised
if they would vote for the Radical ticket in the State
election to give each one of them forty of good
land, mule pillow, hoe, axe, and set them up in the
world. This promise had not been kept, and, there
FORE the negroes would not turn out to vote for the
nominees of the party in the November election"
Question-W no told you this was the reason?
Answer-About five hundred of the negroes them
selves.
Question-Can you give the names of any of these
Answer-Yes; Jerry, Jim, Bob, Big Bill Squnt
eyed Joe, Bowie gged George, Tom
Mr.. Stevenson-That will do. Please give us Their
surnames
Answer-They never had any, at least I never knew
them by such
Question-Have you not been prominent politician
in this State?
Answer-No
Question-Were you not member of the Legisla
ture?
Answer-Yes, but never prominent.
Question-Were you not nominated for the United
States Senate in opposition to Mr.. Benjamin?
Answer-Yes, | was voted for.
Questionable not this show that you promi
nent politician?
Answer-No; it only showed had some popularity
net that was the proper man for the place, an.
more than the votes received by Gen. Grant proved
that he was fit to be President of the United States
You can stand down, sir.