The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-11-03
New Orleans and Northeastern
Texas.

leans to Marshall, Texas, is compile
ted and in full connection with tn
railroad system of Northern Texas
Arkansas, the Indian Territory, New
Mexico, Arizona and California, W,
can safely predict that it will be on
! of the most useful of all the road!
south of the parallel of St. Louis
The entire distance to Marshall is
as the road will probably run, abou
365 miles, or 80 miles to Brashear
now running, thence 80 miles to OPP
elousas, graded and nearly ready TO
the superstructure, thence 60 mile.
to Alexandria through we'll timberet
level, alluvial or prairie lands, thence
to Natchitoches IS miles, to Mans
field 80 miles and to Marshal, the
terminus Of the Texas Pacific, AZ
miles. Along the entire route there
are no deep cuts, heavy fills or long
bridges required. The cost of the
right of way will be nearly nomina
from Opelousas to Marshall, and the
whole cost of that road, counting
that already running or graded at its
actual cost, will be less by twenty
per cent than any other road now in
operation. Forty-nine miles in each
fifty of the road-bed for the entire
distance will be on dead level
Cross-ties can be had in abundance
near the road, all along the line, ex.
cept where the road crosses the prai.
rie of St. Landry, and even there they
can be cut within few miles from
the line of the road; while the ground
to be worked is wholly free from rock
or hardpan. Construction along all
the swarmpy portions of the line is
nearly completed, and no obstacles
remain to he surmounted that will
tax the skill of the engineer, the pa
thence of the contractor or the purse
of the stock holder,
AS indicated by the Bulletin in a
recent article upon this southeastern
branch of the Texas Pacific Railroad
there are good reasons to believe that
the owner of the finished and excel
lent road to Brashear, and of it's gra-
ded continuation to Opelousas, will
join heartily in this enterprise. Ev-
cry extension towards North Eastern
Texas will make new business for
his road, without in the least inter-
fering with trade and travel now car
ried on by his line of Gulf steam
ships. Of the nature and amount of
the aid which he will be ready to give
we can only speak by conjecture
founded upon his command of CAPT
tai and resources and his well known
interest in the promotion of the gen.
eral commerce Of New Orleans. His
prescience in business and his saga
cious advice will, of themselves, be of
enormous benefit to the enterprise
His great reputation for business tai
ent Of high order, connected with his
known possession Of adequate means
to do well and quickly any great work
which lie may undertake, and the
very evident utility of the projected
road to Marshall, which will be an ex-
tension of his present road, will suf
fee to give to the stock of that road a
stable and improving value on the
Eastern market. What he intends to
do in this matter and when he intends
to do it has not been announced, but
we are fully authorized to say that he
looks upon the enterprise with friend
ly interest. He is not of the class of
business men who would fail to see
the mauy and very great advantages
which this north western extension
must confer.soon or late, upon his
railroad property and all that he or
any other proprietor owns in New
Orleans.
1t is hoped that the Representa-
tives of the Southwestern States in
Congress will use extreme and siren
uous exertions to secure from Con-
gress the same help and privileges
for our branch of the Texas Pacific
Railway that have been conceded to
Western and Northern roads. It is
inconsistent to urge at this time that
railroad building is out of the range
of the functions of the government.
When as much has been done for the
South western railways as has already
been done for those of other sections
by the Congress of the United States
then. and then only, can the plea of
want Of function be equitable insist
ed on.-[N. 0. Bulletin.
rosrry prprrrxrrc nr pohotol IF