The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-10-28
Railroad Prospects ofVermiilion,ille.
Editor Lafayette Advertiser:

Editor Lafayette Advertiser:
Sir-Tncre arc moments when great
changes take place among men and things,
which almost by themselves, bring about
results which are of vital Importance to the
future requirements man, but, in as much
as man is made to see for himself and en-
dowed with sufficient energies Of intelli-
gence, if applied, to aid and advance the
changes and shape them to benefit himself;
no one can say that he should not enlist in
such changes
felt among the nations Of the earth. and
which attracts seriously the minds cfthnk-
ing men, is that of changing the old meth
DDS oftraveling and transportation of freight
from stages hacks, mule or horse wagons
to that of Railroads. We see all over this
continent when glaneing over the maps,
even of our school boys, lines drawn and
tlave:sng each other with as much intricacy
as the spiders ingenious little web; what
are they? RailroadS-and no one can
scarcely appreciate their Importance to the
political, moral and cnlightening influences
they carry with them. unless he has travelled
in those sections Of the country (beforc and
atter) over which they are bnlt, and your
writer must say, that to those who have not
made themselves familiar with the subject
Of Railroads in these respects, he feels con-
lident they will be struck with ncredulons
prejudices, and mag use them in an crro-
neous way, and, ncver-the less, think
they are right, but, I would again say to
those of your readers who entertain different
views to these 90 and make examinations
Of the whole subject of Railroads, before ex-
pressing themselves, and think they will
benefit themselves and those to come after
them, and when they ere engaged looking
into this matter, desire and request them,
to endcavor to obtain unpreiudiccd answers
to the following pertinent remarks:
The great lakes of the North, | believe it
will not be denied, have been where they
are for (as perhaps Mark Twain might saw
some time, but the great city of Chicago did
not start to germinate until the railroads
brought their fertilzing influences and dis
tributed them so profusely There. St Louis,
Kansas City, Omaha, Cairo, Atlanta, Du-
buque and indianapolis, have all been reci-
pients Of railroad influences, and are, conse-
quently, advancing with stupendous strides
to, and are now about to contend for posi-
tons among the first cities on this continent
1t will not be necessary to detail the ma
ture of the country surrounding the cities
mentioned above. as almost any one knows
that it was so poor (generallyl that nothing
but money could sufficiently fertilize it to
not only make it habitable but cultivable !;
the lands were manured with money, laid
on in the shape of iron rails, then ploushed
by the "iron-horse and they have proved
the wisdom of the application. To compare
these lands with those Of this Attakapas
country and those as far West as the Rio
Grande river, only obtain to foolish waste
of time, for Attakapas's wealth has not been
half told, and therefore sutfices to let us pro-
ceed to consider the extent of the country
which must sooner or later be traversed bv
railroads. branching from the town Of Yer.
millionville.
From Iermlllonvlle to the Rio Grande
river via Houston and San Antonio is about
525 miles; and to Mazatlan on the Pacific
coast, about $50 miles to San Francisco,
Cal, about 1925 miles; to St. Louis via
Alexandria, Little Rock, Ark, about GOO
miles to point on the Red River, at which
the Texas Central Railroad crosses this river
via Marshall Texas, 975 miles; here then is
an aggregate distance of about 1925 miles
prospective railroad, traversing the richest
land sections of this continent, by different
routes, almost gold mines, and must, some
day, by those railroads empty their products
into the lap of the great debouchure city of
the Mississippi Valley, New Orleans, and
they must first converge to point west of
of the overfowed valley of the Mississippi
river, which must lay on a line which ad-
mits ofthe shortest distance and cheapest
of construction to reach New Orleans, and
a glance at the map of the State of Louisi-
ana, will satisfy any one of the eligibility of
this place for this purpose nature has so
positively made it, and it cannot be robbed
of that great future, unless too great an
apathy is maintained by its present popu-
lation.
1t is not intended to imply here that this
place is to be the place of exchange of CON-
modities, but the grand concentrating point
for the work Of operating this grand system
of railroads, as may he necessary to their
mechanical departments which will be an
immense business, sufficient to build o large
city Of itself
But there is another matter worthy of
attention, and sufficient to build quite city,
which must be considered, and should be
at once taken bold of and pushed forward
with determined energy" Narrow Gauge
Railroads" to reach the adjoining parishes
at all their places Of Importance, and warn
those who should be and are most interes-
ted in the matter, that they will lose the
chance if they do not, for as soon Of the n
O., NJ. h Texas Railroad reaches this place,
others from distance, will seize this rich
little prize of railroads, and leave them out
in the cold, and at the same time control
what is the life of trade, their carrying in
terest. This article is the beginning Of o
full reviaw Of this subject with view of
bringing your people to a proper sense of
their position aud duty in this subject, it
will be continued in your next.
Respectfully, &C.,
THOS. KLEINPETER,
Civ. Engineer.
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