The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-23
TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS.

The undersigned committee appointed by the
Chamber OF Commerce to address you on the
subject of aiding the construction Of railroad to
Central Texas, to be constructed and controlled
in the interest of this city by well-known citizens
respectfully ask you to vote for the ratification of
the ordinance now before the Board of Admins
traitors of the city OF New Orleans, to levee tax
not exceeding two mills ON the dollar, and to as
sumo and pay the interest for ten years 81, 500,
COO OF first mortgage bonds, to be issued by the
! railroad company on the road as constructed, in
accordance with provisions Of said ordinance.
We are well aware Of the fact that your prop
erty is now burdened with taxation out of pro-
portion to the revenues derived from its use,
and that, under ordinary circumstances, an add
! tional burden, lsmall though it be- should
not be thought of, the circumstances are extra
ordinary and warrant the appeal now made to
| you.
| Since the close Of the war you have seen the
rapid increase in the population and wealth of st..
Louis and Chicago, brought about by the con-
| sSruction of railroads. Two lines of road have
been constructed connecting those cities with the
| various roads in the State Of Texas. One Of
| these roads traverses several hundred miles OF
| unlnhabited territory through the Indian coun-
| try, striking that part Of Texas most sparsely
populated the other traverses the State OF
Arkansas, and enters Texas near Fulton, on Red
! River, connecting with roads traversing the best
portion Of the state.
These new lines of communication between
| Texas and the West are carrying the trade of
| that great State, once exclusively enjoyed by
| New Orleans, to ST. Louis, Chicago and New York
over lines much longer than would be required to
brine. it to New Orleans. The loss of this trade
| and the positive knowledge that each year Will
witness further lnrOads into the business enjoyed
by this city has already driven many Of our most
| active merchants to close up their business and
| move to other cities, and unless New Orleans is
speedily connected by rail with Texas, many OF
| those who remain will be forced to follow; such
| calamity necessitating heavy loss OF capital
receipts of cotton and other articles OF commerce
and leave the city with diminished population
| and capital to bear the burdens now almost too
heavy to be borne. The result would be, your
property would become valuelcss.
Construct railroad to Texas over which the
merchants of tn atState can reach your city in q
day and your trade will be restored. and new
fields opened up in the States west OF Missouri
from which rich harvest will be reaped. By
means of railroad Kansas City is now trading
direct with Galveston; with similar connections
New Orleans can offer superior attractions for
the trade of the great West. The wealth added
to the State and city by the construction OF this
road will not only make your property, valuable,
Government and greatly lessen the rate Of taxa
ton. Such road would supply New Orleans
with better beef and other articles consumed by
the people at greatly reduced prices. The saving
on these articles alone would more than pay the
small amount asked to secure the construction Of
he road.
The company propose to raise stock sub
scrption Of Sl,000,O0O, which with the proceeds
of the s2,5O0, GOO of bonds would be sufficient to
insure the construction Of the road. The COM
pany having no interest to pay for ten years, with
a road connecting the great State of Texas with
city of 2OO 900 people, could earn money enough
to pay off or buy up the 600 bonds leaving
the stockholders the owners OF a road go valuable
as to make the stock sure investment, paying
large dividends. Without the aid asked of the
city the road cannot be constructed, but with it,
success is certain, and the required, 500 O00
per annum for ten years, will be returned to your
city ten-fold each year, in the increased value Of
your property and the restoration of your bust
ness.
VIM. B. SCHMIDT,
DAVID MADDEN,
II. A. SElxAs,
L. II. GARDNER,
Il. S. HOWARD,
JAS MCELRoY,
CYRUS BUssEY,
w. G. RAYMOND,
w. G. BLACK,
c. E. GIRARDET,
Committee.