The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-08
THE RAIL ROAD.

TO the great necessity OF rall foa,'
TO Alexandria, have been duly APP
preciated by t h e community.
Many old planters, who have suf-.
fered for almost a lifetime from
bad roads and expensive freights,
have commended the remarks we
made and have urged us to keep
the ball rolling until we shall actu-
alIy have road completed. The
people are beginning to take an in
terest in the matter, and are actu-
ally surprised at themselves for re-
naming in inactivity on the sub
ject for so many years. Since the
loss of so much wealth by the war,
they express many regrets that
they had not used some of their
abundant ante bellum means in the
construction of a road, which, II
in existence now, would tend so
much towards recuperating their
exhausted resources. 1t is begin
ming to be source of wonder, too,
why it is that louisiana alone, the
richest State in the Union, should
be the most backward in building
railroads for the Development OF
her resources. In other States we
find towns and counties, as well as
private capitalists, subscribing
literally for the construction of
railroads, and the enhanced value
of both town and country property,
shows everywhere what a profita-
BILE investment it has proved.
But this apathy on the part of
the people of Louisiana, we are
happy to believe, is about to pass
away. Individuals, corporations
and communities are all waking
up, and will soon be vying with
each other in the race for the honor
Of projecting and constructing rail
roads. There seems to be a gener-
al feeling that the country can
never be prosperous until it is Gov
cred with a network of railroads.
We have already shown that the
diminution in freights and the en-
hancement in the value of lands
would more than pay for the con-
struction of a road to Alexandria.
Tt would certainly delight our peo-
pie to see the parish filed up with
an enterprising and industrious
population, with it's attendant adj
vantages in the increase in the
value of land, and in the increased
productiveness of the soil. But
there are minor advantages which
would accrue to any locality in.
which rail road should be con-
structing. On fifty miles of road
through the parish of Rapides
there would be Immediately expen-
ded in construction, in the way of
timber, material and labor, at least
four hundred thousand dollars.
This is a large sum, and one which
would have a decidedly beneficial
effect on all branches of industry
in our parish.
We propose to enlarge on this
subject at no distant day. We
are enlisted heart and soul in the
cause of railroads and intend to
hammer away on the subject until
we see the cars running through
the parish.
Bw In another place we publish,
from the Chimney Corner" bio
graphical sketch of Captain e. B.
Ward, of Detroit, Michigan, who
with Colonel Arthur Edwards, has
recently purchased the Red River
Rail Road. AS these gentlemen
have, by this purchase, become iden-
titled with our Parish, it will doubt
less be q matter of interest to know
who they are. We have reliable in
formation that the quantity of land
owned, and the number of men en-
ployed by Capt Edwards. are erro-
neously stated. The one should be
100000 acres and the other 5000
men. Col. Edwards is here perfect
ing the charter for road from
Shreveport via Natchitoches and AL
exandria to Opelousas or Vermillion-
vile; and with which he and Captain
Ward contemplate merging the Red
River Rail Road with all it's rights
and privileges.
D The rains of last week have
proved of immense benefit to the
crops of Rapides. From every quarter
of the Parish we hear cheering news
ff tho ancuura oinp Dr0snects