The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-02
"FRANCE HASN'T ANOTHER BLUM.
DER TO MAKE"


questing the Police Jury to rescind
their order of election on the ques
ton of donating aid to the Louisiana
Central Railway Company. If the
people of Shreveport and Caddo &C,
quiesce in this resolution, we take i,
for granted that it is an entire aban
donment Of all effort and all hope on
their part to secure a Railroad from
Shreveport to New Orleans. We also
suppose that this abandonment IS
made in consequence of their present
heavy taxation, and the supposed in
crease which the aid to the Railroad
would make. But whatever theil
taxation may be, ifthis abandonment
of an immediate effort to secure 6
Railroad connection between Shreve'
port and New Orleans is persisted in
Shreveport has not another blundel
to make. If persevered in, it is vir,
tually a sentence of Punishment to
her industrial classes to the Railroads
of Texas, and a writing Of "to LETT on
her vacant stores and empty dwell,
lings. It is an abandonment Of the
unequal contest which she has had
for the last two years with the Rail
roads of Texas for the preservation OF
her commerce; and there is some
thing as touching as the wall of des-
pair in the request of Mr.. Johnson to
ascertain from Tom Scott what pros,
pect there is of building the Railroad
to Monroe. 1t is the vail of that
want of faith which cries, "Save, or
we perish"
AS deep as our interest is involved
in the building Of a Railroad from
New Orleans through Western Lou
isiana to Shreveport, or Marshall, or
Camden, we have almost forgotten
our own griefs in our sympathy for
Shreveport.
1t is impossible that the resolu-
tons referred to could have been
adopted except under the overwhelm,
ing conviction that their burdens
would be greater than they could
bear. But it is at such times that
nations and cities are destined to
greatness by that self-reliance which
can say to the Responding women
in the face Of the tempest, Vehis Cae-
saren, Or can thank the unfortunate
General who has led her only army
to destruction and brought it's victo-
rious conqueror to her gates, because
he has responded of the Republic
In the face Of the competition of the
Railroads of Texas, and an unnavi-
gable river for more than half the
business season, is no tim for
Shreveport to hesitate and quail be-
fore taxation.
That the want Of Railroad for
the next five years, connecting her
with New Orleans must be fatal, is
too apparent to be concealed. That a
Railroad connecting her with Mon
roe and Vicksburg, even if Mr.. Scott
is idiot enough to build such a road,
could not compete with the Texas
roads, or with one from Marshall to
New Orleans, is equally certain.
That the proposed road from Shreve-
port to Logansport, will merely build
village at that point, out of the va
cant houses of Shreveport, is what
all experience proves, and we leave it
to the Board of Trade, to say whether
such q road will bring cotton to
Shreveport to be shipped, during the
suspension of navigation on Red
River.
What amount of taxation saved,
will pay Shreveport or Caddo or De
Soto, the cost Of the present low wa
ter until December or January?
What amount of taxation saved, will
pay Shreveport for the loss of her
trade from Northern and Eastern
Texas? What amount of taxation
saved, will pay the fall of one or two
cents per pound, which occurs nine
years out of ten, on cotton held until
December Or January, instead of be-
ing sold in September, October and
November? and all cotton at Shreve-
port must be held until shipped on
he Railroads Of Texas. w h a t
amount Of taxation saved, will pay
wen the interest on $4,000 Or 10000
)ales of cotton held for four months?
What amount of taxation saved,
would pay Shreveport, if the Railroad
rom New Orleans should make it's
orp,inuc Of NoveboI1 ;,,+o,J oPl