New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-23
JACKSON RAILROAD EXCURSION
VILLAGES ON THE ROADSIDE
4 Descriptive Report

Monday afternoon was the time appointed
for the departure of the excursion party,
arranged by Colonel H. s. McComb, to ex-
anime the working condition of the New
Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Rail-
way, OF which the McComb directory had
obtained possession on the previous Friday.
Accordingly, at fifteen minutes past four
O'Clock, the train especially provided for
the purposeislowly moved out of the depot.
The excursion train consisted of two pas
senger cars and one baggage car. This last
contained freight of various creature COM
forts, provided by Colonel McComb for the
well being of the numerous guests invited
to accompany the expedition. Indeed, this
baggage car was so well appointed in the
bibulous department Of human sustentation,
that had it, in its swift career, either
swerved or staggered, the phenomenon
might have been accounted for by the guam
tity of drink it contained.
Anumber Of gentlemen had been invited
by Colonel McComp to accompany the ex-
pedition as guests. Among them were
Governor Warmoth, Judge Dibble, Colonel
G. VI. Carter. J. L. Gubernator. Esq, Cen
eral j. B. Weller, General Dennis Cronan,
r. Pritchard, Esq, President pro tenn. of
the road, s. c. Emley, Esq, of the Board
of City Administrators and Acting Mayor,
Messrs. E. w. Pierce and Il. Bonzano, of
the Board of City Administrators, Colonel
G. Moorman, private secretary of Colenel
McComb, General Sypher, Captain J. W..
Morey, General E. 81. Smith, Judge Shackle.
ford, Senator H. J. Campbell, h. Conquest
Clarke, Esq, secretary of the Mayor, NJ. H.
Baker. of the Picayune, DR.. Smyth, Judge
Walker, of the Times, Colonel T. S. Will
Hanson, Messrs. J. J. B. Hilllsrd. ]. M.
Day, ]. s. Pagaud, G. W. Squires, G. ".
Hynson, J. b. Summers, DR.. Warren, John
j. Carson, Esq, of Hazlehurst, L. E..
Simonds. attorney for the old directory,
= who has, however, been retained by the
new. The New Orleans REPUBLICAN was
also duly represented.
Once clear of the town the train dashed
on, but not at q rate too fast to prevent an
, accurate view of various matters on the
road, which the officers thereof intended to
inspect.
The first object which attracted the atten
tien was the new dredge boat, recently put
in operation by the railroad direction. This
machine is now effectively operating near
the spot where it was built, between Frenier
Staten and Pass MaDchac, and known as the
Trembling Prairie. This dredge boat which
is of great power, cost about s14, 900. 1t was
built on dry ground alongside OF the road,
and then q space of sufficient dimensions
was dug, in which it was launched and
put in operation. 1t will be made to dig
canal extending eleven miles each way along
kLa xha hair <hirfu vui1
and eight feet deep. The dirt dug out with
this machine, by means of an immense iron
scoop, moved by steam, will be used to
strengthen the embankment of the road,
while the canal itself will in some sort act
as drain of the adjacent land.
Passing on, the excursion train slowly
crossed Pass Manchac, where memorial OF
the late war can be seen in the old bridge
which was burned by the United States
forces, and some old cannon which lie
partly hid in the neighboring swamp:
Still onward, we reached POntchatoula
Station. This is small town, containing
between three and four hundred inhab-
tants. It is nineteen miles distant from
Vaudeville, on the lake shore, and the road
between the two places is well settled.
After POntchatOula comes Hammond sta
ton, where there is a large shoe factory,
which sends quantities OF shoes to New Or.
leans and elsewhere. Also. saw mill and
u TkCk ydIus COuoAoGAAt OA oCNOAo hAAhos ohu
sending off an average of five Car loads OF
brick per day. Hammond and POntchatouia
stations are both fOurishing and promising
places.
Along the route between Pontchatoula
and Ticfau, the next regular station back on
the gentle activities. mile or so distant
from the road, are numerous summer resi-
dences of New Orleans citizens.
Along the route from New Orleans to
Auoifo CifU there ia mnch tn interest AMI
instruct the observing passenger. The
means used by the railroad company to re.
pair and strengthen the road the steam
digger, which scoops the heavy gravel from
tie hill-sides, where it abounds, is worthy
of passing notice. The agricultural con.
dition of the lower country through which
the railway passes, the progress of vegetable
farming. to which the residents between the
road and Lake POntchartrain cODtine them
selves, from Kenner station to Pass Man
chac, is very important to New Orleans for
every improvement in raising vege-
table produce in our neighborhood
cheapens the price of living in our midst.
There are a large number Of vegetable
farms on the lake shore this side of
Manchac, and the crops show we'll in gen.
eral, although indicating the b8ckwardness
of spring this year. The great difficulty
with these farms arises from liability to
overflow from the lake. 1t would be impos-
present article, and we purpose to take up
the matter at another time.
Nearing Amite City, we found mOder-
ately extensive railroad car mandatory,
carried on by Raoul,' Son Wadley. This
establishment, we are credibly informed,
does considerable business, principally. of
course, with Southern railroads. The firm
has furnished cars for Morgan's line, the
Jackson. Mississippi Central, and others.
As the evening shadows began to deepen
- ut length arrived at Amite City, where
X train was to stop for the night, and the
be aerous guests of Colonel McComb were
with at Clarke's Amite City Hotel, every
per pshici well pleased with the trip. 80 far, and
SECCred to do ample justice to the good
VAN to be expected at Clarke's house.
AEE3ihay here be proper to mention that no
underoart of the pleasure of the trip arose
cert shout from the delicious sense of Sc
SS,o selt that accident was next to an i'm
e ,ity under the mana cement of the
s., employees of the road to whom the
-, OF the train had been entrusted.
..afue very able superintendent OF the
cI.a3ptain T. S. Williams, was with the
r.nd he, as he told us, makes it rule
rt'1o risks whatever. During con-
Ia !. part of the trip Captain Williams
n,,,,, engine in person. The engineer
tTTLwever, is Mr. John Cousins, who
r iLEsss character for careful attention to
- DIS. We had on board the Oldest
IL on the road, Mr.. John Mannion,
stt. gentleman in manners and char
er@ such man as his position re.
ii.a. James Posey was our baggage
although the principal baggage
.Ltsl' with this trip consisted of