The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-16
PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED.

been sequestered, and is in the hands of
a receiver appointed by the Superior
District Court for the parish of Orleans,
Notwithstanding these proceedings, I
was disposed to abandon them, provided,
those who claimed the ownership of the
road from New Orleans to Texas could
give any satisfactory guarantee for its
completion within reasonable time. I,
in common with what believe to be the
sentiment OF the community, entertained
doubts of their ability to fulfill their
promises. Nevertheless, with view of
eliclting the opinions of those interested
in the welfare of the State, and obtain
ing their advice, | arranged for an annie
able interview between the present
claimants OF the road and committee
OF prominent citizens and merchants of
this city. After several meetings the
parties came to no agreement-no salts
factory guarantee of the completion of
the road to Texas having been offered.
RECOMMENDATION.
So important do consider the COM
pletiOn of our western connections,
would most willingly abandon all the
claims of the State in favor of any par
ties who would undertake to build the
road within reasonable time, and could
give reliable guarantee for the execu-
ton of their engagements. Unless these
guarantees are given within a reasonable
time, considering the vital importance
of the enterprise, not only to New Or
leans, but to the entire State, recon-
mend that authority be given to purch-
ase the road on account of the State,
| and transfer it, on favorable terms, to
some new organisation, composed of our
own citizens or others, who will under
take to complete it. The State, as sec
ond mortgage creditor, has a right to
purchase the completed portion of the
road from New Orleans to Donaldson
vile for the price of $12,500 per mile.
| 1t is not supposed any purchaser will be
found willing to bid $4,000 per mile,
the amount of the first and second mort
| cages.
BONDS NOT TO BE PAID.
| have determined, as have already
| stated, to resist by all lawful means the
payment of the 2.500,000 of bonds issued
to the railroad company under act ap-
proved twentieth of April, 1871. | do
not regard them as valid obligations of
the State; the money which has accumu-
lated in the treasury to meet the interest
on these bonds, will go far to enable the
DOnaldsonville at the price of $19,5OO
per mile, should this be determined upon
THE BACKBONE RAILROAD.
BY act No. 43, approved December 80,
1869, the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg railroad was chartered and
the State authorized to issue second
mortgage bonds to the amount of $12,-
500 per mile. This company was also
authorized to build branch roads. Con-
gress by an act approved March 8, 1871,
entitled an act to incorporate the Texas
Pacfic Railroad Company, practically
recognized this road as branch of the
Texas Pacific railroad, and in aid of the
building of the road from New Orleans
to Shreveport via, Baton Rouge and
Alexandria granite to this company
every alternate section of public land
designated by odd numbers in belt of
forty miles on each side of the proposed
route. This land has been Withdrawn
from sale by the general goyernmentun-
der the provisions of the act. 1t is made
a condition in the act that the company
shall complete the road from New Or
leans to VicksbuTg within five years
from the passage thereof. By act of the
Legislature No. 100, of 1872, the New Or
leans, Baton Rouge and Vickburg COM
pany are given more specific right to
builda road from New Orleans to Shreve-
port via Baton Rouge, and are author
lzed to issue first mortgage bonds to an
amount not exceeding $4,000 per mile.
This act abrogates tho provision of the
original charter granting the indorse-
ment of the State to the second mortgage
bonds Of S12,500 in case the company
issues $4,000 per mile Of first mortgage
bonds. To avoid all questions in this
regard, / recommend that an act be
passed repeating SO much of the original
charter as authorized any guarantee on
the part OF the State to inQOrse the sec
Ond mortgage bonds of the road. It is
difficult to ascertain the condition and
prospects OF this company at the present
time. | am informed that they are now
making an effort to combine with other
interests to build the road before the
grant made, by Congress lapses. The
grant tapproxlmates nearly /, 600, 900 acres
OF public land, and ought to afford %
sufficient. basis, when the Importance
and advantages Of the proposed route
are c0nsidered, to secure the early COM
pletlon OF the road. The company, by
the act of 1872, are required to build the
road to Baton Rouge, on the east side of
the Mississippi river. The railroad now
built to point bey0nd Donaldsonville
might be utilized in forming q connec-
ton to 0 point on the river opposite
Baton Rouge, and thence to Shreveport,
by which, it seems to me, the company
might comply with the conditions of the
act of Congress, and secure the land
grant from Baton Rouge. Should the
company ask that the act Of 1879 be
amended so as not to require them to
build on the east side of the river, sug-
gest that you give such request your
careful consideration. Railroad eonnec-
ton placing New Orleans in closer rela-
tons with the vast trade of Texas, rs
well as the trade of the distant portions
Of the State, is what is most needed, No
effort should be spared to bring about
this result
THE LEVEEs.
During the past year nearly 100000
cubic yards Of leyees have been built in
this State. The report of the commits
sion OF engineers, herewith submitted,
shows that they have ordered ninety
seven levees to be constructed this sea-
son, and have had to decline building
many more, which they have turned over
to the Levee Company to repair. These
new leVees will amount to 100000 cubic
yards, but both from this report and
from the report of the board Of State
engineers, it appears that at least mil
lion cubic yards could be advantageous
" ordered. The maintenance of the
leEees Of the Mississippi, is subject of
national Importance, and the State of
Louisiana, holding larger alluvial ter
rltory than any other State bordering
upon that river, is vitality interested in
this question. The works required are
SO vast, the benefits to be derived so