The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-22
COMMUNICATION.
-
EpIToR DEMocRAT-

say in your issue OF the 9Th inst, on
the subject of the railroad, / yet wish
to draw the attention of the tax payers
of the Parish to what hear in connec-
ton Herewith, viz: that they are to be
called on under revolution of the re-
cent session of the Police Jury to vote
"aye" or ono" on the question of the
Parish making donation of One Hun
dred Thousand Dollars to "a company
of wealthy Illinois capitalists" to as
sist them in building this road, and to
state some facts which l think ought
to be known to them in order to ena-
BILE them to vote advisedly and under.
standingly. g.. .@.
An editorial article in the New Or
leans Times of the 9th inst, reads as
follows: s& 80 .sf-.-tE
Whilst all the other railroads of the
State are involved in serious and per-
picking litigation, one at least is quiet
" pursuing its design with undisturbed
peace, security and energy. We allude
to the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg Railroad, Familiarity and ex-
pressively known as the Back Bone
Railroad. ~ sft
This Company has achieved several
brilliant negotiations, which must put
it on strong basis. Having already a
grant of $l2,500 per mile from the
State on a second mortgage, it has eff
fected a loan of S12,50 on first mort
gage-the total of said loan reaching
the large sum of $4,000, 1000. This will
furnish an abundant fund, to build not
only the main trunk but the several
branches of their road which make up
the grand plan.o .asa.
The company has purchased from w.
S, Pike, for $500, 900, the charter and
property of the Baton Rouge and
Crosse Tete Road, which, starting-on
the west bank of the Mississippi, oppo-
site to Baton Rouge, runs some thirty
miles along the ridge of an exceedingly
rich allnvial country to the Atchafa-
laya. Here it strikes the line of the
route known as Judge Boyce's line, the
charter and rights to which have also
been purchased from Judge Boyce by
the Back Bone Company. With these
connections, all to be prosecuted under
the liberal grant of the Legislature, this
road promises to be one of the most
successful and best endowed in the
South. The country through which it
! is to run, on both sides of the river, is
one of the richest and most productive
in the South, and it's need and demand
| Il foo;1.tioo houo hoo,, unrx,
gent. Doubtless, when the two branch
es, that northeastward to Vicksburg,
and that northwestward to Alexandra
and Shreveport, are completed, it viii
render our whilome State capital, UNI.
brageous Baton Rouge, quite a thriving
place. - ~ .,sa st4
1t will be seen from this that the
State Of Louisiana has given this com
pany sl2, 500 mile for every mile il
builds-in bonds of the State, l pre-
sumo, for have not seen the Act, the
interest (semi- annual, doubtelss,) OF
which first, and the principal after
wards, the tax payers of the State mus
provide for, having only second
mortgage to look to for. reimburse
ment, $l2,5O0 mile having already
been secured from other capitalists OF
a first mortgage of the road, amount
ing to six millions Of dollars, an abun
dant fund to build not only the mail
track but the several branches of thei
road which make up the main plan.
And just here let me ask, pertinent
ly enough I think, if they have thu
gotten money enough to build the roa'
and all it's branches, what do the,
want with more ?-for there is tn
State aid of S12, 500 a mile in addition
yet untouched. .,'.5-,.la .,s
Now, the simple facts which l wis
to state and draw attention to ar
these: This company of wealthy Hi
nois capitalists came here through it
representative member, agent, and, a
1 understand, contractor, Gen. Corse
and said to us stockholders in the cen
trail stem (more Familiarity known a
Judge Boyce's) railroad, in effect, an
pretty much in words, "you have
charter to build a road from the tefmi
nation of the Baton Rouge and Gros
Tete Railroad, on the Atchafalaya, t
connect with the Southern Pacific Raj
road at Marshall, in Texas-you hay
a certain amount of stock paid in O
: your subscriptions, and about thirty
, five miles of road-bed made-but 70
haven't the means to 60 on with it-N
have, and if you will give us yol
: charter with all your rights under it.
$ give us all your stock subscription
+ paid and unpaid, and give us the thi
, ty-five miles of road-bed that you ha,
:. built, we will finish the road aud ov
e it," and this was done by all the inco
5 porators and stockholders, SO far as
,, know-for myself, I surrendered n
rights as one of them, with subscri
S ton of $4,000, on which $3.50 had be,
r paid, together with the right of wa
. . and yet with all this, this company
8 wealthy Illinois capitalists asks ca
g Parish through which the road is
o pass to give it 100000 more to help
j to build the road, road which a
a, so well satisfied will be one of the me
!e Drofitable and pavino roads in the TTY