New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-06
The New Orleans Railroad.
We copy the following from the Houston
T7o,So,,.

Union:
1t is time that the people of Houston, an
indeed, of all Texas, should turn their a
tention earnestly to the subject of railwa
connection with New "Orleans. The della
in the completion of railway connection
Houston and New Orleans is a shame to tt
enterprise of the two cities and of Ii
whole Southwest 1t was begun soont
than any other railroad in Texas, exec!
the Central. Long before the war eight
miles of the line were finished and runnin
from New Orleans to Brashear City. Dul
ing the war 100 miles were finished and ruI
ming from Houston to Orange, on the So
bine. Thus, considerably more than half Q
the road was fin shed and running ten year
ago.
And vet, Notwithstanding the trade an,
travel of this vast State was seeking an out
let by rail in that direction; notwithstand
ing the great city of New Orleans absolute
~ needed that trade to maintain her com
mercial Importance, and notwithstanding
| Texas was losing yearly hundreds Of thou
sands of immigrants IN consequence OF the
absence of this railway connection with the
rest OF the Union, ten years have elapsed
| without It's completion, and we are no nearer
| the desired contamination than we were al
the beginning of that time. For although
| the road is now being built from BrasheaI
| City to Lake Charles or the eastern end
| the one hundred miles of road on the west.
| ern end, once in running order, have been
| allowed to fall into decay.
| 1t is time for the uncertainty in relation
| to this road to be removed, and for the sus
| pense to be relieved. All our other great
lines of railroad are in process of rapid con
struction. They are now certainties, and
we have time to turn our attention to the
completion OF the New Orleans railroad.
The work on the ship canal is going for
ward, and does not call for special atten-
ton or exertion. The completion of the
New Orleans railroad is now the great de-
sideratum to both New Orleans and Texas.
Houston is especially interested in it. 1t
would cause the whole tide of trade and
travel from the east to strike Houston first,
instead OF Galveston, as at present. The
travel, the immigration, all light goods, and
the mails, instead of reaching us tri-weekly.
and being thirty-six hours on the route,
would reach us daily and in twelve hours.
The mails would leave New Orleans in the
morning and reach Houston in the
evening, and the Texas mails would
leave Houston in the morning and reach
New Orleans in the evening. Men on
business, and pressed for time, could eat
supper III Houston, take sleeping car, sleep
all night and take breakfast in New Or
leans, fresh and ready for business next
day The next night they could return to
Houston, II necessary, having lost but one
day, and not having lost any sleep at all.
The completion of this road would be the
signal for the beginning of an immense tide
OF immigration from the East and for an i'm
mense travel both to and from Texas 1t
would also be the beginning of large new
trade, and Houston would be the point OF
arrival and departure. It would make the
fortune OF our Houston hotels, our journals,
our draymen and our retail merchants and
traders.
What are the prospects for the early com
pietion of this important road?
1t seems that an additional million is
necessary, and that New Orleans is ike1v
to give 1t. The Texas end of the road has
been completed, but it will cost consider.
ably to rett it and put it in running order.
we learn that the directors of the road in
New York have sent to Texas for an est
mate of the expense of this refitting. We
trust, therefore, that the New Orleans rail
road will be pushed to speedy completion.
The Houston Telegraph says on the same
subject:
There seems to be no end of the phases
which this enterprise has assumed since its
commencement. It was among the first of
5he railroads which was wears ago project
ID, and twas thought the earliest to be com
)leted. 1t was finished from New Orleans
% Brashear on the one side, and for hun
ired miles on the Texas side. Since when |
I has been IN allegiance, and for six wears |
We heard, as each year TRANSFERRED, of at |
east as many projects for it's completion. |
large inducements have been offered bv |
he Louisiana Legislature, amounting TO |
our millions Of dollars for the completion
II the road and the securing of the |
rade of Texas to the Crescent CITY:
nut power almost omnipotent has con
rolled its destinies and prevented the
rogress of the road beyond Brashear on
ne one siGe, while not foot of earth has
cen stirred on this side, and the old road
as for years been in 'disuse Every now
nd then the subject is newly agitated, but
/ whose interest it is impossible to deter
line. The apathy of New Orleans to her
WI interests had made us cease to hope for
ny aid from that quarter Seated upon
eF delta crescent the business men of New
rleans seemed SO confident in her natural
dVantages, that she thought it unneces-
NY to secure the Texas trade or to take
ny steps toward it. Recently new start
this direction seems to have been taken,
nd one million of dollars is asked from her
to assist in the work But we
ave been SO often deceived by this sort of
''omlse "held to the ear that we are charv
putting trust in them. 1t is said this ]
llIon will be subscribed, but we are in
med to doubt the completion of the road j
Iong as there are millions of money and |
verse interests to oppose it. t