New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-03
THE NEW RAILWAY CONTROVERSY.

| 2A6 NEW hA1IWA1 OUNAnOSb 1soA'
| The public has paid no small degree OF
attention to the inabrogIio at the Jackson
and Great Northern Railroad Office. In
the result of this quarrel between the two
parties, headed respectively by General
| Beauregard and Mr.. McComb, this com
mercal city has deep interest. New Or
| leans must become great railway centre.
or she will never be able to take full ad
vantage of her geographical position. We
have but one railway that runs anywhere
The Pontchartrain road is hardly more
than street railway. The Opelousas line
termin ates at steamship landing. BY
the Jackson road we communicate with
the great North and West, and it is most
important that it should be managed 10
such spirit of liberal enterprise as will
foster commerce, encourage production
and population in the rural districts, and
afford the best attainable facilities to the
travelling public. One great commercial
need is railway communication with the
rest of mankind. We can not afford to
have our only road blocked up by imprac-
ticable, no matter how dignifed, or admin
istered in cent per cent. spirit no matter
how sound financially may be the admin
istrators. We can afford to see compare
tive strangers, who are men of large views
and are somewhat imbued with the pro-
gressive American spirit, take the charge
of this corporation out of the hands Of a
fogyish Board of Directors, even if the
latter be Of our own tribe and kindred. |
The public has some rights in this matter.
rights not enough regarded heretofore /;
and the public will be glad of any change |
that will bring about reform to satisfy
popular needs.
The interest of the REPUBLICAN in this
matter is simply the interest of the peo-
Pile. We assert freely, and in no captious
Dr. unkind spirit, that General Beaure-
CARDS management OF the Jackson railway
las been a complete failure, as far as the
public is concerned. 1t has, undoubtedly,
been careful one as to the treasury of
he company, but we are more than
Inclined 10 believe that greater liberality
n the tariff for freights and passengers
would have produced larger net returns.
But, the trouble has been that General
5eauregard and the old management have
lad but this one policy-to make money
or the immediate owners of the line.
With this as their main object, they hava
hosen to entrust its execution to one
lass of our people wholly, in spirit of
'roscriptive political partisansbip. They
ave been thoroughly behind the times in
very respect, and have appeared to care
% more for the commercial prosperity of
be city of New Orleans than they have
AIRED for the political integrity of this
ection of the country.
Now will Mr.. McComb and his coadju. '
us remedy this unbecoming and dis
raceful condition of affairs in the man {
cement Of the road? Will they SO ad- I
'inister it as to provide for the imperative {
usiness needs of this community without i
ascending to make the corporation a I
Official machine? They will meet with t
ut little popular favor if they get control s
the franchises of the company IN g
IS their course gives an affirmative an
yer to these queries. 1t is but Just to s
y that the mode in which they have f
aimed foothold in the corporation savors f
mewhat of sharp practice, and is rather
10 much in the style of the notorious a
rie oper atoms of few months ago. u
he new men begin, if they begin al all, G
lder this disadvantage, which can only u
overcome by faithful discharge Of O
cir duty to the public as well as to them il
Ives. The prospect of their success in II
e courts seems fair, but should that be il
tanned they must completely overturn Ell
Q system of their predecessors or no @,
e, outside of their own number. will re- W
ce at the change. Capital and energy su
3 not the only qualifications necessary cl
a successful administration of the Jack. th
4 railway. be