The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-07-07
TEXAS RAILROAD TALK.

rs
Under this caption the New az
leans ricayaAe. ora resent date, ~
the following article, which vim 14r
attentiye readiing hers,Sss y sttas lss
a our Town ali lie hppofs ancsa a 1
ture ana loerlity have marked out 1orll
her, and shows up the present Rail-
road scheme in palmer and more
forcible light than anything we have
read in SO small q space. We ask Of
every ohe in Rapides and Alexandria
to read the article sttentively and
see what is at last in store for u.s..
Here 1t is: ss..t 81
The Galveston News commenting
on the projected Texas Railroad as
heretofore described in the Picayune,
says:
With all due Difference, 1t may be
asked what New Orleans will gain by
this arrangement. She already has
communication with Texas by rail and
steamer in less time than it takes boat
to reach Alexandria from that city.
It is true that we have communi-
cation with Galveston by rail and
steamer in about the same time that
1T takes to get to Alexandria by stea-
mer, but it is likewise true that once
at Alexandria, and with railroad
thence to Marshall, we should be in
much closer and cheaper communica-
ton with our objective point than we
are now at Galveston. This propo-
sition is amply illustrated in the fact
that while NewsO Orleans has been en-
|joying the "Texas" connection to
which the News refers, she has ALSO
been steadily losing the larger and
more valuable part of her Texas
trade. Northeastern, even Central
Texas is nearer to St. Louis now than
to New Orleans. Notwithstanding
this expeditions communication to
which the Galveston News refers,
the greatest and by far the most de-
sirable portion Of the business is be-
ing drawn of by long and circuitous
routes to q city hundreds Of miles
more remote than New Orleans. We
find no difficulty in discovering the
advantages Of this Alexandria road.
They are as conspicuous as anything
earthly could be.
But the Galveston News makes the
mistake Of supposing that Alexand-
ria has been selected as permanent
terminus, overlooking the fact, which
we have taken SUCH pains to impress
upon the public, that the projected
road is to be begun at Alexandra
only as a temporary expedient, and
| in order to ensure the best and spec
diest connection with New Orleans
pending the adoption Of a route from
this city to Alexandria. There are
already surveyed and chartered, lines
from Vermillionville to Alexandria,
and from New Orleans to Yermillion.
vile, and the Mobile and Texas ex-
tension would intersect these at Yer
millionville or Opelousas, thus leav'
ling but q small gap in direct; air line
rail communication between New Or.
leans and Galveston or Houston.
Alexandra has been chosen because
it affords a water route to this city
flor the present and because it is the
point from which all lines leading
hence to Texas may be most conve
niently connected with. The people
I Of New Orleans entertain no idea 81
abandoning their Southern Texas
trade. They must make : beginning
somewhere, however, and have wisely
chosen Alexandra as the natura
centre which commands equally al
] the different quarters Of the grea
State to which they look for CONNER
J cial reciprocity. ,-e sssi
S~s>~&-~~-~o Ssl, siR
! THE past week has been the hot
test Of the season, and broadly give
> . hint to all who can, to hunt . cool
! er cline or some Watering place
IyNss - go e. :