The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-31
Railroad TO ShreyepOrt-VHny ID
is Delayed.
From the New Orleans Timrsl

ltrOm the New Orleans Times!
Some weeks ago, the famous Railroad
King, Colonel Scott, with other ~orntlr-
men enlisted in the great enterprise of
the Southern Pacific Railroad, which il
to have for its Eastern terminus the
town OF Shreveport, i'll this State, an
pearcd before our merchants and citi-
zenS at the Cotton Exchange, and made
very assuring SpecchCsin regard tOthcir
project.
The road he had undertaken would
certainly be built. All the arrangements
illu Deeh made. The surveys We're in
llahtt' the IRON had been contracted for,
contracts made, and engagements per
pany OF vast resources to the grand
enterprise. In Il prescribed and moi
very long period, there would be unin-
terrupted railroad communication from
Shreveport to San Diego.
were the merchants and citizens Of
New Orleans interested in that work?
Undoubtedly they were, deeDly. ear
nestly, intensely.
Then they must take steps to avail
themselves OF the benefits which would
accrue therefrom. How could this he
done? BY proceeding proAptly to con-
meet Il city by rail with the Shreye-
port terminus Other wise our great
Northern and Western rivals would get
ahead OF New Orleans, and secure ali
the advantages of this railroad conncc-
tlo1l. st. Louis and Memphis were al
ready looking in that direction, and
their people We're prompt and cnerget-
lc IN such undertakings.
All SAID aye to this, and there was a
movement OF the merchants and capi-
fn1ISfE 1l +lkNt 1,nl.lH M
took the form of Il vast and homeless
effort TO raise subscriptions to forward
the proposed enterprise. There was a
cOnvOcatiOn and consultation of a com
mlttee OF fifty merchants. Everybody
seemed favorable to the scheme vet
no II was SO inexperienced in such
efforts as to imagine that any cOnside-
rable amount could be raised by pri-
Nate subscription. Suddenly itOccuTred
to some one to inquire if there was not
already a charter to a responsible com
nan!X, with a large subsidy granted by
the State, to construct a railroad from
this city to Shreveport Had not 4
large amount in bonds been already is-
sued by the State in aid of srch a road ?
1t is remarkable that this inquiry had
not been made and answered before,
Perhaps it was an unpleasant one to
s0me OF II capitalists and merchants.
iii view OF their p~rccipitate and UNI
fortunate action in signing Il publica-
ton which had seriously INSTRUCTED the
execution of this work,-but it could
not be eyaded or ignored, and the fact
was apparent that such charter had
been granted and such an issueOf bonds
n payment OF a subscription of stock
had been made. Why then was not the
VR-nyI- HJS1 pAn9naHH carNn%JS~n 9-.o Il
least, to attest the sincerity and reality
Of this company to carry forward this
| important work ?
Leta committee be sent to New York
to look into the matter. The formation
could have been easily obtained in this
city. But a committee was sent, highly
respectable gentlemen, all. They called
at the office of the New Orleans, Mobile
and Texas Railroad Company, and
asked to be enlightened. These queries
were promptly answered eve are
ready, eager, and earnestly DESTROYS of
prosecuting this enterprise, and have
received the bonds. BE, 500, 900, from
the State, in payment of stock, which,
if we could make available, would be
ample to begin the work, and induce
the stockholders to pay up
Why can't they be made payable ?'
As the most satisfactory answer to
this question, let lis step into the office
Of an agent of foreign capitalists and
address the inquiry to him. The agent
cheerfully and lucidly supplies this in
formation: These bonds are not nego-
TABLE, because a notice OF CdreGt signed
by. yOurss principal merchants and cap
i~talists, warning other capitalists that
certain issues or debts of the State will
| hn roroJA1o+oI 0nI tho TOW Er, +ho 40,
ment OF these coupons will not be paid,
and their statement is so vague that it
has been construed in applying to these
special bonds. In that state of affairs
the bonds cannot be negotiated. Be-
sides your credit generally rates very
low, mainly from the same cause"
Our merchants nov had their eyes
| opened. They were silenced, and fell
into anxious thought, and were not a
little depressed Withal, though some
hope and encouragement were given to
them by the assurance Of the acting
President of,,the New Orleans, MObilea and
Texas Railroad Company, that the con-
tracts for their main line to. Houston
were all in active prosecution, and that
to Shreveport would he before long,
! though they were seriously Obstructed
and delayed by the causes and facts
stated.
And thus is brought home to our peo-
| pie one of the serious results of that
senseless and disastrous warfare which
has been waged against the credit of
the State by a few thOughtlesS persons
in city, who have uncOnsciously
made themselves the instruments to
promote the designs of rival enterprises,
at the sacrifice Of the credit and fair
fame of the State, and the delay and
obstruction of one Of the most valuable
aud, to our people, important public
works which has ever been projected,