New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-16
The Alexandria and Fulton Railroad.
HOMER. LA, October !3, 1873.

! EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
wish TO say word to attract special at
tention to the country lying between the
Ouachita and Red rivers, from the locality
Of Alexandria to Fulton.
There is now pending in this parish
Claiborne-a proposition to vote 100000
stock 70 projected line Of railroad from
Alexandra 70 Fulton, yis Homer. This
road would PUN through an upland region
unsurpassed in many natural facilities. The
land. as . general thing. is not SO rich as on
the Ouachita and Red riyers-wiu not pro
dUce 20 the given acre. as many pounds
Of cotton, nor as many bushels Of
corn. bu. il il much more healthy and re-
gion much more desirable. in every respect.
to live in, save the item OF communication
with the outside world. This drawback .
railroad would, OF course. obviate. This is
wha. We want, and it is what the PROPOSE
ton now pendin: before our parish Is
aimed TO show We are in favor Of. We, as a
parish, propose 10 show that we are willing
to give money largely. according 70 our
means and resources. TO put into notion
any enterprise which will tend 20 open up
for us an outlet and develop our natural
resources. With out this We can net Aope
for much advancement.
/ wish especially to say word as 20 the
manner in which this proposition came to
be placed before our people. Some months
since two gentlemen from New Orleans
Messrs. Freret and Levatry-came to
Homer on prospecting tour Of this road.
They seemed to have been sent out under
the direction, or at least appreciation. of
Senator Sprague. 1t was understood from
them that if the parishes along the route
would vote stock literally the enterprise
would be taken hold Of by Nr. Sprague.
and other capitalists, and at once completed.
These gentlemen had letter from Mr.
Latham. brotherinlaw TO Nr. Sprague.
making such propositiOn-seeming by
authority. Our police jury a: once
passed an ordinance submitting the
proposition in accordance with :he terms
and conditions suggested. It is now pend
ing. 10 be voted on early in November. II
it miscarries it will be because Of doubt
of the tangibility and authority of the cor.
responding obligation. We have heard
nothing from these gentlemen since. bat
have noticed in some railroad suggestions
of pubic character from that direction.
in regard to routes leading out from New
Orleans IN different directions, that our
route-:he one in whose behalf our parish
is soon 20 vote q bonus-,is not mentioned
a> nH 70 4
this. They do not wish TO vote assistance
to an enterprise which either does not ex-
ist, or doe. not pay then any attention,
and il .hey fail 80 to vote. they dc not want |
it taken as an evidence THAT they do not |
want . railroad, or are at all behind the |
age il spirit Of enterprise and improve
men:.
The region Of country Of which speak is \
one which should not be longer permitted |
TO remain ia the woods. Its resources should !
be developed. and its many natural ad- |
vantages brought into practical regui.ition. I
It is as healthy a. any country OK portion OF !
in the United States. The water is
pure ard SO is the atmosphere. Neither
he one .or the other is at all tainted with |
ilth o. uncleanness. No such disease as
Fellow fever is known in this locality.
such disease can not live here, even if
planted. They may have it-as
hey do--aiong the banks OF Red river and
)uachita, and may have few cases out
ntO these hills: but here it can not live.
The amour: of produce. of cotton. sweet
end fine beef. which would flow
nto New Orleans by means Of railroad
through this region would be healthy and
20 your city. Anything you can
sy OF do Cor us in this respect do it with a |
viii. and the good deed shall bring you |
undred fold or more.
1t would do your soul good jus. now 20
g out here III these magnificent and undu-
ating forests and witness our glorious
Innate and breathe our pure air and mingle |
18th our healthy, cheerful and pure-hearted
tizens. W. JASPER BLACKBURN.
Ree in EuylouR