New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-07
tCommunIcated.l
AID WANTED FOR A RAILROAD.

TO Nessrs. y. Otto +. Buchanan. John Nelson. ".
II. Waters, A. s. Durio, l.. Schumacher and d
Young, Committee OF Railroads, Nonse o; Rep
TtscatatiNes:
GESrrEMsS-l hope . day Of recnrer;s-
ton is about to dawn in this section OF the
State embraced in the bill! introduced. or
about 10 be. by Hon. Mr.. Garstkamp. OF
jefferson. in regard to building !. railroad
from Trinity. at the head OF Black river. in
a direc. lire to Dysart's Landing On Red
river.
Ipasse,. through portion Of Ralides last
autumn. and onward to Trinity through a
portion Q: Avoyelles and CataEoula par
isles. a: this time of the year the woods
were alive with wild turkeys and deer. who
were Teasing on the muscadincs. or bal
luces. and grapes, which We're in such pro
fusion that Of morning and evening their
mellow aroma loaded the atmosphere.
Hogs and cattle, everywhere as wild as the
deer and turkeys, were devourirg these
Injuries. and there was only here and there
house-say from five to fifteen miles apart.
This tract Of country is almost uneNploreI
since the Indians LETT, save that occasion
ally still-hUnter or stock man, or one in
search Of bee-t-ecs, gets into it tor purposes
of their own. 1t is a rich body of the finest
upland in our State, and sugar, cotton. corn.
wheat and potatoes are cultivated. and yield
abundant!y, as found them 1t every cabin
where stopped.
There are no roads Of a public kind in
this whole section. no bridges. churches or
postottccS: and | was struck that 40 fine Il
country should he undiscovered by the emf
grant from the older and dcnscr populated
States of the East: but then there was no
road for him to travel in. Those who come
out pass on up Red river into Texas, and
never see it: and so this portion Of our State
l. born f. blush unseen.
And waste It's sweetness on the desert a'r.
Let the Legislature DO its best to divert
emigration. Grant charters to everyone
who will try to bald railroads; give them
the public douiain. if they viii d" SO, and
the usual subsidy of Endorsement of their
bonds rs they build the railroad. at the rate
OF twelve thousand five hundred dollars for
eacl. mile These auAilislics will disturb
;a. solitary pus>,.,sora, III" owls and the
bears. whopay no taxes. and never az" "uS'
thing to the commonwealth.
These lands viii, when I. railroad passt.
through them. bring in Il healthy. vigorous
people. who will build towns. Villages. post
Offices churches. fields. houses and fences.
and AZ The usual intervals. children will
come. among other blessings. to build up
poste-i-y.
10 H,r..l ia tie great s:orehousc for
Money. They will not lend it to Us. W:
az. zoo poor. ana ruined. They are with.
70 help US. however. b.; buhdin. up Uhr rail
roads. Give them the land through winch
these connecting bonds Of fellowship extend.
use their influence 10 introduce industrious
inhabitants Who viii 9" 10 work and soon
begin 10 pay taxes. The Legislature should
be careful to bcstow no charters to corpora
tors except on condition OF doing the work
proposed or getting advances Is 1t progresses
toward completion.
There is one thing in favor Of this newly
proposed road. There is no one living IN
the country, and there will be consequently
no lands granted 10 private lh"', nuals;;
who might be in the way, or not hc disposed
to aid and assist the enterprise. The State
can afford to bestow all this wilderness on
any coIporators who will build tie road,
and bring il into settlement and production.
The uonds to he inicrsed by his Excel
lcncv as agent OF the State, should run from
thirty 70 fifty years, by which time the in.
creased density of people. and the enhanced
value oi lands and development of individ-
Ual wealth will so increase the value OF
these railroad stocks that before they fall
due they Will ne purchased up and cam
celed by the company or corporat"rS.
Tie annual interest should Use at eight
per cent per annuuI, if paid IL the end OF
the year, or six per cent il paid before the
third quarter. or five per cent ii paid by the
first of July each year.
These eight hundred millions o:dollars,
now in the North in private hands. are
waiting Tor su,ficien: security to be invested
| in our country. ABACUS.
New Orleans, February 9. 1871.