New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-20
NEW ORLEANS, MOBILE AND TEXAS
RAILROAD.
Its Progress and Prospects.

uleuCS tndt nave SuTTouHueu the Brea
undertaking of the New Orleans, Mobil
and Texas Railroad Company, the RE
PUBLICAN is enabled to announce tn,
completion of another very importan
link of this road. The last spike ha,
been driven that secures railroad connec
ton between this city and Donaldson
vile; and the iron horse, harnessed ant
upon the track, has actually travelled the
distance
But few months have elapsed since
the announcement of the driving of the
last spike in the link of this road that
connects New Orleans and Mobile with
iron tie; and now we are able to announce
that Donaldsonville is embraced by the
same tie. The road between here and
Mobile has been in successful operation
for some time, dissipating all doubts as
to the practicability and usefulness of the
great enterprise to the people living along
its line, and the time has arrived when
all incredulity as to the completion of the
work must vanish before the successful
operation of the road between here and
Donaldsonville. The progress made by
the company within year must be taken
as substantial evidence that the time is
not far off when railroad ties will connect
New Orleans and other portions of Lou
isiana with the great State of Texas. The
work has extended beyond Donaldson
vile, and is steadily progressing toward
Houston.
Many of our people honestly believed, a
year ago, this work never would be COM
pleted. They thought the obstacles in
the way of its completion insurmount-
able. Others believed it was not the in
tention of the company to build the road; /;
that they were only humbugging our peo-
pie when charter was asked for and OBJ
tanned from the Legislature. The REPUB-
LIcAN has been the constant friend and
advocate of the road, because it thought it
good thing for the people, good thing
for New Orleans, and the towns, cities
and country through which it would pass.
We knew well the great difficulties that had
to be overcome, the terrible swamps that
would have to be subdued and the immense
amount of labor and capital and scientific
skill that would have to be expended be-
fore the work could be accomplished: but
our faith i'll Northern capital, energy,
skill and determination to accomplish
whatever it undertook was such that we
had implicit faith from the commence
ment that whatever was undertaken by
the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas Rail
road Company would be completed 1t
was, perhaps, this faith that afforded a
representative of the REPUBLICAN an
opportunity of being present and witness
ing the driving of the last spike in the
link of the road that connects our city
with Donaldsonville.
Last Tuesday evening about four o clock
few gentlemen accompanied the chief
engineer of the road, G. W. r. Bailey
Esq, to the town of Chattanooga, on the
west side of the Mississippi, opposite
Carrollton, where improvements have
been made by the company and a depot
is to be built. The gentlemen accom-
panying Mr.. Bailey were mostly railroad
men, and from what We could CLEAN
through friend were about to embark on
an important railroad mission. Our |
friend asked US to join the party, and up
on being assured that the trip would be |
''short and sweet" we consented. and |
were introduced to the accomplished chief |
engineer, who tacitly took US under his |
wing, and away we went steaming up the |
road. Judge of our surprise when told
that We were bound for Donaldsonville |
We had never been there, and were led to
suppose the journey one of considerable
length-or, at least, time-when under
taken by the old mode. But new mode
was about to be introduced that would
bring Donaldsonville and New Orleans in
very close connections, so we felt easv
upon the subject of time and the uncer-
tainties of steamboat navigation.
1t was considerably after four o'clock
when the train left, and the company ar
rived at Donaldsonyille in time to take an
Early supper with "mine host " of the
Magnolia Hotel, Mr.. Charles A. Younger.
The road was passed over in good time,
md, after careful inspection, pronounced
veil constructed as far as completed. The
rain ran up to where the men were still
It work laying down the track which was
bout a mile from Donaldsonville The
ompany left the train here and proceeded
o foot it the balance of the way, which
peration served to sharpen the appetites
f the travellers. Supper was promptly
allied for upon arriving at the hotel, and
erved up in excellent style.
After supper there was a social gather
ng of railroad men and others around the
estive board. The diningroom of the
fagnolia was the scene of action. The
Iayor of Donaldsonville presided grace
lily upon the occasion, and in eloquent
depicted the many benefits this
ountry and its people would certainly
erive from the completion of system OF
silroads. He promised, as the Mayor of
'onaldsonville, to afford all aid in his
over to the company that were about to !