Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-07-20
Railroad Routes to Shreveport.

Mr. G. w. r. Bayley, general super
intendent of the New Orleans, Mobil,
and Texas railroad, writes to the Time
as follows:
Your j. B. s., In O communication
respecting railroad to Shreveport
published in yesterdays Times, de
scrlbes the several routes very clearly
and, evidently, knows whereof ht
speaks. Mr.. Sage and myself have
for many years seen the advantages
and advocated the building of rail.
roads to Houston and Shreveport.
have surveyed and examined several
routes to both points, and have some
thing towardthe building of railroads
toward the points named.
Mr.. Sage is correct in his proposi.
ton that the shortest route is, as a
rule, the best, but there may be good
reasons why the shortest and most d.
rect line may not be the best for the
occasion, and he has slightly over est
mated the difference in distance be-
tween the "air line to Alexandria.
via the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas
railroad, as far as Bayou Goula, and
thence up the Crosse Tete, and across
the Atchafalaya, and the New Orleans.
Mobile and Texas railroad line, via
Donaldsonyille and Vermillionyille. TO
Alexandria. This difference will not
exceed twenty miles, and would proba.
bly, be not more than eighteen miles.
The distance by the way, from Can.
al street, New Orleans, via Donaldson.
will and Bayou GOula, and by the air
line thence to Alexandria, wound be
about 100 miles, with lis to III miles
O. new road through difficult country.
comparatively speaking, to build,
whereas the distance via the New Or
leans, Mobile and Texas railroad line.
via Donaldsonville, Bayou GouIa, and
VermllliOnyille, to Alexandria, would
be 20o miles, with only 81 miles of new
road from Vermi,lionville to Alexan-
dria, through country well adapted
Tor rapid aud cheap railway construc.
tl0n, to build. About 20 miles O, this
81 miles is already graded, between
Vermillionyillc and Opelousas, and
about Is miles more from Alexandria
south. A portion of their air line pro
posed is also graded, but precisely how
much do not know.
The New Orleans, Mobile and Texas
Railroad Company have completed
heir road to Donaldsonville, sixty
hree miles from Canal street, New or.
cans, and intend immediately to com. |
'lete it to Vermillionville, sixty three
niles further, without help from the
athens of New Orleans, leaving only
he eighty two miles, thirty eight OF
which is graded already, to build, to
New Orleans with Alexandria.
m Red River. Thence to Shreveport
he routes would be the same.
The cost Of building first class rail
Dad from Bayou Goula, BY the air
inc, to Alexandria, would be fully |
3, 900, 900, while the road from Yer.
to Alexandria would not
ost more than 32,OOO,O0o, aud this
arter eoald be completed in much less
iine than the air line.
it would seem, therefore, If the peO-
lie of New Orleans have 81, 900, 600 to
pply to the construction of a railroad
Shreveport, that it would be wise to
bin hands with the New Orleans. Mo.
lie and Texas Railroad Company,
nd put their money where it will Sc.
ure the earliest completion of a rail
bad to Red River, and thence to
hreyeport.
The New Orleans, Mobile and Texas
.ailroad Company expect to build a
abroad to Alexandria, and thence to
hreveport, and this company holds
aluable rights and franchises to en-.
BILE them to do so; but, nevertheless.
the citizens OF New Orleans desire
aid in its construction, and TINS Sc.
IRE and expedite it's early completion
Shreveport, there is no doubt that
ne company would gladly avail Them
,lyps of their holm