The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-09

mile OF transportation is Il cents
This alone would be sufficient to rem
der any competition from the Union
Pacific out of the question. But this
is not the greatest advantage of the
Southern over the Union Pacific
The latteris frequently blockaded for
weeks and months with snow and ice,
while the Southern route will be en-
tirely free from such Obstacles
Less advantages than these have con-
trolled the great transits of trade and
thereby changed the destinies of ma
tons and Empires. The discovery of
the Cape Of Good Hope deprived the
Republic of Venice of the trade of the
East and with it of her power and
empire. Its loss destroyed the En-
pire of Charles V, and it's control
made the Dutch Republic the richest
and most powerful Of the European
governments Of the seventeenth cen
fury. The same results have ever
followed this wonderful trade in all
it's changes among the nations of an
tiauity. The histories Of Ninevah,
Palmyra, Baalbec, Palestine and Da.
mascus are but histories of the va
rious changes in the route of this
wonderful traffic.
The Suez Canal and the Union
Pacific Railroad are now the great
competitors, and upon the issue OF
that contest depends the destiny OF
nations, as in the days of Palmyra
and Ninevah. Already the Suez Ca
nal has aroused Egypt from the de-
cay Of ages, and none who have seen
the heather Chinee, with his curious
and wonderful civilization, and the
Japanese with his restless ambition
for knowledge, can have failed to no
tice the wonderful changes which the
Union Pacific road is making upon
this country. Are we to sit listless
when we might be the successful
competitor for prize that has ever
ruled the destinies of the world?
But the exposition referred to con-
tains some statistics more wonderful
than the mighty traffic of the East.
"The mineral resources of Western
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona,
through which the Texas and Pacific
Railway is to pass, are known to but
few, and are as yet only known by
their surface developments. Yves.
tern Texas possesses unlimited guam.
titles of coal and iron, both of good
quality, in close proximity to the
line of this road. Arizona and New
Mexico possess copper mines Of un
equalled richness. These mines will
as soon as facilities for transporta
tion are afforded, supply the world
with copper at half its present cost
and will require at least 10000 tons
of transportation per annum. Silver
mines already opened contain ores Of
enormous value, some of them worth
$4,000 per ton, leaving all other sill.
yer mines yet discovered almost
worthless in comparison. Many rich
gold mines are known to exist, and
valuable tin mines have been recent.
ly discovered"
The above is an extract from a let
ter from Captain E. B. Ward, and he
concludes by giving the following as
his source of information:
''My first information was derived
from reports from the Department o.
Interior at Washington. Since ther
/ have seem reports Of United States
Surveyors and army officers; and f.
nally have had reliable and truth
full men in my interest examining tht
country for the last three years, aue
all agree in their statements asto tn,
richness and value Of the mines il
these Territories"
That the Louisiana Central Rail
way viii make New Orleans the grea
depot of this wonderful trade mus
be patent to every one who thinks
But the gain Of this trade is not all
Without such a road New Orlean
will lose nine-tenths of her trade from
Texas. Arkansas and Northern Lou
isiana. Already, for the want of sucl
a route, one-half of that trade ha
been diverted to Chicago, St. Loui
and Galveston by the Texas Rail
roads. While New Orleans and th
people of central Louisiana hay
thought It cheaper to gave up thei
commerce than to spend their none,
to build roads, Or give it to others il
sufficient amount to induce then