The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-15
The Back Bone Rail Read.

ting to the people of Rapides the
question whether the parish shall
issue to the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge and Vicksburg Railroad
company eight per cent bonds to
the amount Of one hundred thou
sand dollars to aid in its construc-
ton. This action Of the Police Ju-
nv is in accordance with an act OF
the Legislature on the subject 1t
is we'll that a measure so lmpor-
tant should receive the immediate
of the people instead OF
emanating from the. Police Jury
alone. There could, of course, be
no objection to the Police Jury
doing what they are obviously re-
quired to do.
By the absorption, by purchase
or otherwise, of other charters, the
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg railroad company have
the right to construct a rail road
from New Orleans to Shreveport.
By inspection OF the line OF the
road on any map of Louisiana 1t
will be observed that it is as near
a bee line as the face of the country
will admit of. 1t passes through
the heart of the richest portion of
the parish of Rapides and through
the town of Alexandria, the Com
mon council of which has granted
it the right of way. 1t is intended
to be the main trunk Of the South
ern Pacific rail road, grant to
which is about to pass Congress I'M
der what is known as the "Kellogg
BILL" General Corse, the leading
spirit of the "Back Bone Railroad
is himself one of the directors of
the Southern Pacific raid road.
The line is bound to be one of the
most important ever constructed
Now the question is whether the
people of Rapides want rail road
Will they have safe and speedy
egress to market, or will they con.
tinue to be the victims of bad roads
and dangerous navigation as in
times past? 1t would seem to be
superfluous question, and we can
not believe that any opposition vii
manifest itself to building a roat
which all admit is thing of para
mount necessity.
But Hercules will not help those
who are unwilling to help them
selves. Roads cannot be bull
without money, and if the road il
worth building, it is worth paying
for. If it is not worth 100000 tt
Rapides to build the road through
the length Of the Parish, then TIN
people ought to vote against tn
measure. Ii it is worth tina
amount then they should vote t
issue the bonds. We would re
mark that no State ever built
rail road without just such assis
lance as is asked. of the people
this parish. In all the new Yves
tern States, which are now travers
ed by net work of rail road, n
road ever passed through a Tow
or County without obtaining a iii
eral subscription to aid in it's col
struction.
The people are not asked to sui
nit to q burdensome tax. The
will not have a cent to pay on til
bonds until one year after the con
pletion of the road, and if the roa
: is never completed then they Wi
never have the tax to pay. The
are going into a speculation
which they have everything to ga
and nothing to lose. We will sho
in subsequent articles the ease wit
+ which the tax can be met in the d
yelopement of the country imm
diately after the road is built. v
, intend to keep the matter befO
the people and aid them in unde
standing the question in all i
bearings. We do not wish to d
r. ceive them in a matter in whit
r we are all so much interested.
the mean time we take pleasure
copying the following article on o
n road from the New Orleans Time
# Whilst all the other rail roads of t
State are involved in serious and pr
" picking litigation, one at least is Qui'
: ly pursuing its design with undistur
e ed peace, security and energy. '
allude to the New Orleans, Bat
u Rouge, and Vicksburg Railroad, fami
G arly and eXpressively known as t
Back Bone Railroad.
This Company has achieved seve'
brilliant negotiations, which must 7
it on strong basis. Having alrea