New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-21
Alexandria and New orleans.


Several gentlemen from the North have
visited our parish with view to aIding one
speedy construction of road to New Or-
leans. They are gentlemen OF known en-
terprise, and have the command OF unilnit-
ed means. They know that railroad IN
this country would be paying investment
and propose to take advantage OF our 1or,
mer remissness. They should be received
cordially, and our people should cooperate
with them heartily in so pralseWorthy al
undertaking..
In discussing the question, the Democrat
remarks:
Often when the price Of sugar and cotton
is at the highest, the low water in Red river
renders it impossible to take off the crop
| With sufficient certainty and rapidity to
secure the highest market prices. At only
! a certain season of the year can the Bayou
| Bnnff be depended on as an outlet Tor the
crops of that fertile region, and tnus we
| have often seen our staples remaining on
the plantations all the WINTER, "hen' per,
hans the food in the prices has been
reached and passed. And then, again, the
planters who live off these streams are often
nreyented by the worst roads in the world
from hauling their crops to point from
which they can be shipped TO Market.
Every planter looks forward with horror 10
the muddy roads of the winter, when the
heavy drain on the proceeds OF his haro
earnings of the preceding year.
Now suppose we had a railroad running
down the Bayou Beuff valley, and giving US
| a safe access to the New Orleans market IN
eight or ten hours. The facility with Whlcn
a crop could be run into the city at mo
mept's warning, would enable planter 10
take any advantage of favorable huctua-
ton in the market, no matter how sudden
. II might be. The dangers and tedlousness
n of the river navigation would be avoided.
And more than all the difficulties OF hauling
over the bad roads would be entirely over
come. And suppose that all the people
who have suffered from the lnconven,
, fences of transportation, had devoted 70
the bulldip. of a railroad to New Or
, leans the actual losses they have suf
fered from the want of one, we are O.
opinion that g. railroad would now be almos
completed, and no one will deny that sucf
. an investment would have been proutapit
! one. If men could be made to uhoerstaht
and fully appreciate these hlngs, me
| wonld move in the matter with prompt
ness which would secure road at no cls
| tant day.
Persons who visit Rapides are astonishe'
O. that owners Of such lands as we nav
should be content to suffer from such IN
couyeniences in getting their crops TO maj
Il ket When we contemplate the improve
l III
nstnre has not been half so lavish with he
gifts, it is difficult to understand the indit
10 ference with which our people view the sur
iect of internal improvements. Ahe
Ia if there ever was necessity
awake to the Importance of the ,ques
ton, it is now when our rich lands al
lie almost the only property the rayages OF ~ VS. 8
have LETT u.s. There can be 70 doubt that
), soon as s. railroad is built the land along Il
=. line line viii be sought after by farmers andcal
III italists. and the value Of the immovae n""Sa,
property in Rapides increased hnnare i1arl
re- fold We have complained that settlers 9
~ not come to Rapides. Build railroad an
YOU will never hear the complaint agal
Of Once built we are sure that steady strea a
of industrious settlers will pour IN upon o.
no rich lands, to aid in developing their T
W sources, and adding to the value Of Il
finest country in the world. Our town, 10
n. win revive, and in place of small villa!
we shall soon see thriving town OF lnal
thousand inhabitants where Alexandrla nc
~, | standa