The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-11-14
A TELEGRAPH.

The greatest need Of tho Rec
River valley atpresent 10 the means
Of quick communication with thu
outside world. In other words
We need and have not got what 81
the world besides has, . telegraph
Water means Of transit to and from
the busy, teeming world around "a
we have for nine months out o.
the twelve, but even at it's best, II
takes thirty-six hours for news t.
reach US from New Orleans, and
while our fastest packets are run
ming in this trade, it is not possible
to obtain an answer to letters OF
returns from orders for freight sent
on Wednesday until the Monday
following. Thus cut of from the
centre Of our trade we are really
further off from New Orleans, in the
matter Of communication than if We
were on the other side of the Allan,
tic Ocean. They know in New Or.
leans within two hours, any change
Of the cotton market in Liverpool.
We can not know of any change in
New Orleans in less time than thir-
ty six hours. In this We are fear
fully behind the times.
It il useless, and is not pertinent
to enquire the cause of our not hav.
ing a telegraph. The war, depres-
sion in all kinds of business, tail.
ures of crops, the financial stringen.
cy of the times apd the want of en-.
ergy on our part are all reasons suf-
ficient to account for it.
We are now more Immediately
concerned in the enquiry as to how
we are to get a telegraph. The
Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, who, we believe, own all, or
nearly all, the lines in this State,
are generous and enterprising and
with assurances that they would not
lose money, will, We have no doubt,
build us a line even it they were
certain of not making anything at
first. A line from here to Natchez,
Bayou Sara or Shreveport would
cost we suppose about the same
amount for construction. The dis
lance is very nearly the same We
believe, to follow the line of the
towns and we do not think that it
would take more than 5000 to
build the line to either place. Some
time ago we wrote to the State
Manager or Superintendent Of the
Western Union Co., as to the cost
etc, of building a line from Alex
andria to Natchez and to know
what the Company would do for us.
He replied, suggesting that it
wouId be better to build the line
to Shreveport, as we would then
have the aid OF Natchitoches, Mans
field and Shreveport, and he pro.
posed that if we would raise a sub
scription of one half the cost, the
Company would build the line, fur.
the other half the cost and
obligating themselves to refund the
whole of the half subscribed in TEL
egrams to the subscribers. This
vas a generous offer, but the hard
lines then prevailing prevented us
rom getting a sufficient amount
subscribed here, aud the matter
vas dropped.
A line from here to Shreveport
would undoubtedly more than pay
expenses all the year around and
n the business season would make
money. We are not particular as
10 where it has its terminus so that
t taps some main line, but we are
Inclined to think that Shreveport
= the best place, as we could then
get news down Red River as we'll
IS from New Orleans and the extra
;osts of sending messages ola
Shreveport to New Orleans would
70 very small, if any. -
We intend to keep "a driving" at
his telegraph question until we
,et one. We have written to the