The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-07-11
THAT RAILROAD scHuu.

We are again in the midst Off
farore about tho Rail Road from
New Orleans to Shreveport. This
time it is lie Louisiaha Centra,
Railway Company, who want US y
give them a bonus. Mr.. F. w.
Kellogg, one Of the incorporation,
We believe, agent at least, for that
company, reached here on Monday
and called a meeting at the Town
Hall on that night where he deliv-
ered somewhat lengthy and rath-
er humorous address on Rail Road
matters, in particular, and all other
subjects generally. We have no
doubt that lie is q very nice old
gentleman and it is principally on
that account We regret that We
conceive it to be our duty as. pub
lie Journalist to oppose his scheme
with all the vigor We possess.
To get in medias res. On Tuesday
last he submitted in writing to the
Police Jury. then IL session the fol,
lowing proposition:
: That the Police Jury should sub
NIT to tho people Of this parish for
their decision, at an election 70 be
specially held for that purpose, an
agreement in writing that they
would donate to the Louisiana Cen
t:al Railway Company Three Hvx
drsd z7o9sasd Dollars in bonds
payable twenty years after date,
and bearing seven per cent interest,
on the following condition; viz:
That when they have built the
road from AlAraadyia to Lecompte
and equipped it with rolling stock
they are to have .1too cHxsdred
Thousand Dollars Of that amount
in bonds Of the parish, and when
they shall have completed the road
through: the parish, they are to
have the other One Hundred Thou
sand Dollars. This is substantial
" their proposition. No request
that We take stock to that amount.
No proposal that We should loan
them that amount and take mort
gage, even q second mortgage, upon
the road to, secure ourselves, but
they want a donation, a gift, a graf
x;toxs grant to them Of that amount.
The Police Jug very wisely and
sensibly laid the matter on the ia
ble5, under .advisement until their
meeting in September next. Now
we-wish to consider this rather bold
and somewhat brazen proposition
and to lay it before our readers in
it's true light. so that if it ever is
put before them for their vote, they
may at least know what they are
doing.
In the first place, Mr.. Kel.
logg gives us no guaranty that Mr..
Eber B. Ward of Michigan, intends
to invest one dollar in this enter
prise, to use a slang expression-
that he 'means business" It is
true he did talk about Mr.. Ward
and about Tom Scott, the Rail Road
King, but in business matters we
want more than ''talk," we want
facts and fgare& We do not be
lieve that, either Mr.. Ward or Mr..
Tom Scott are big enough fools to
bring and invest in the State OF
Louisiana, under its present State
government, the millions of cash
money that it will take to build a
Rail Road from Vermillionville to
Shreveport. We won't believe that
they are 80 demented until we see
documentary evidence Of the fact;
something more is needed than the
mere obtaining Of a charter from
the Kangaroo Legislature Of Lou
isiana. The very same Legislature
which passed q Funding Bill pro.
posing to repudiate Twenty Seven
Millions Dollars of as valid debts
against the State as this debt
would be against this Parish. That
is too thin, you know I -
In the next place. The point which
Lsuueaats fkaAlf at once tn anv 0no is,