New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-04
ARRIVAL OF COLONEL SCOTT.
Building the Southern Pacific RailrOad-
Interviews Held and Statements Made.

al Ul6 81. C1afleS Hotel. 11ey were Ill
mediately called upon by city dignitaries,
who compared notes with the great railroad
grandee and exchanged views. Colonel
Scott was anxious to know what support
could be got from New Orleans in the way
of carrying out the great project of the
Southern Pacific road, and many other
facts bearing upon this. committee of
citizens of Shreveport are in the city, and
called upon Colonel Scott, informing him
they were ready to accede to his terms. So
far as can be ascertained, he, while in that
town, proposed to locate the terminal build
ings of the Southern Pacific in Shreveport,
provided he could have certain concessions
of land by the town council The latter
body held a meeting, voted the lands
required, and the committee bore
to Colonel Scott the gift of the
lands, provided the depot, shops, and
other buildings were erected. Shreveport
can not be the main terminus of the road,
that must be New Orleans. Colonel Scott
thinks it is the natural terminus, both of
the railroad and steamship line which it
is proposed to start for Liverpool direct,
while the similar end on the Pacific shore
is settled upon as San Diego. The "Mis-
sion route" as it is called, was surveyed
over twenty years ago by General Emory
and others in the United States service.
From San Antonio, in Texas, a chain of
these missions is stretched across the CONT
nent to San Diego, and each settlement is
connected by roads and trails. twas used
originally by the Spanish Catholics who
carried their religion with them wherever
they went, and Immediately set to work in
the wilderness to reconstruct the natives.
Nearly all of these missions are now in
ruins, but the trail or route is still used,
and lies open for the Southern Pacific.
General Emory is full of facts concerning
this direction, which is, after all, but an
afterthought.
From Shreveport to San Antonio is known
as the great cotton route, and was used in
war times to pass the staple over the bor-
der, where it was loaded in ships England
bound, and they returned supplies of war
material by way of Nassau. This route
was so much used in those times that all
its points are well known. Leading from
Marshall IN a sOuthwesterly direction, there
are few obstacles for new road to encoun-
ter-there are no big mountains to cross or
tunnel, no rocky soil to blast, nothing in
the way of hard work but rivers to bridge
and prairies to be Quilted for the line. This
was the route traversed by Colonel Scott,
and one he proposes to have used. He is
charmed with all of Texas through which
he has passed and of which he has heard,
with its railroad facilities and its people, its
soil and its scenery, all being regarded of
course with an eye solely to the great Pa
cifc route.
The people of New Orleans will be glad
to know that work has already commenced
on the road and that in eighteen months
FIVE hundred miles will be constructed, and
streams bridged sOuthwestward to the
plains. The party went as far west as Fort
Worth, travelling where there were no rail
roads about one hundred and twenty miles
by stage and meeting everywhere with kind
and hOspitable treatment, for the people,
every man, woman and child, yearn for
railways, which they regard as the children
of Israel looked upon Moses-as leader to
bring them out of the wilderness in which
they have been, so to speak, entOmbed for
many years. The people of Texas, having
no route to bring the productions of their
soil to market, except the Morgan route,
which is out of reach, look upon railroads
as the only sure means, and five cent con-
tribution would be given as the first install
ment of railroad subsidy from the entire
population.
Concerning a connection with Shreveport
from New Orleans, there are three routes
proposed, by the New Orleans, Vicksburg
and Baton Rouge or Backbone railroad; by
the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas rail
road; by the Opelousas route. 1t was said
that Morgan had ''thrOwn up his hands
and would refuse any longer to conduct this
latter road, as it did not pay, and the
proper arrangements will be made by Col
onel Scott in this direction.
The charter of the Backbone railroad is
not yet perfected, and this appeared to be
the most favorable line to be extended to
which is to be one of the main
points of the Southern Pacific,
1t was said that $2l 100000 of the bonds
were already placed and the money real
lied with which to commence this work of
laying 500 miles.
The party with Colonel Scott consist of
Colonels Forney and Dodge, besides Gen
eral Emory and several other gentlemen,
and in coming to our city by the first train
from Brashear City, having reached that
by the mail line from Galveston,
the voyage was expeditions. Colonel Scott |
arrived at Galveston by the diagonal route
from Shreveport, and to this Red river city
he arrived by steamer, which he took at |
New Orleans on his rapid transit through |
New Orleans short time ago. All arrange
nents he made on the route took the shape |
IF a prcjet, and were necessarily ''short,
sharp and decisive"
Learning of his presence, a number of he |
on board of the steamer on
which he took passage for Shreveport held
with him. Among these was
Colonel FOrshey, levee engineer, who in
erviewed him on the subject of levees
which Colonel Forshey held must be built
IT defended by the railroads, or else -
,utlay would be of little use. He :
Colonel Scott a gentleman of large -
PRACTICAL disposition, and rg.Ii+, for ;
opinions, but with a great go "a "a -
getting at the bottom of Sins'' anu