The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-08-28
Railroad Benefits.

Last week We began our series of
articles upon tile benefts-cash bene
fits, to accrue to our farmers from the
railroad. Our last item was the saw
lug upon our cotton sales Of the one.
rons drayage charges. Now suppose
We continue to enamerate these saw
ings, which are certain to occur upon
the opening of this road.
Let us tnrn Our attention now to
the purchase question, a question as
equally interesting as that of the sale
Of our produce. The greater bulk Of
this cotton crop of ours goes for the
purchase Of merchandise in. the shape
of food and clothing, to our New Or
leans Merchants. We will say that
the entire crop sells for 81 200, ono,
of which We spend 10 the city $780,
600, and pay upon that q commission
Of q per cent, to say nothing Of the
rebates paid to Commission merchants
by sale houses, (which can be safely
averaged at five per cent? This q
per cent must he reduced to It also,
making a saving there of 1880
yearly. These figures look startling,
but any one can make them for him
self, and will Gee that We are correct.
Where shall we place this amount
as q credit? Not to the bonds, for
the saving already enumerated over
pay yearly the Tux 10 be 10 We'd, for
principal and interest, and leave a
margin Of $500 to which amount
add the $500, and We have the
snug sum Of $4,000, on the "penny
saved, penny earner plan. Nothing
more, nothing ess. Any one could
90 on at this rate and show conclu-
sively to the mind Of any we'll think
ing person, what benefits the railroad
would do, beyond that Of the immi-
grafton to our lands.
Here now are figures which demon
strate the fact that the construction
oftllis road, instead of costing money
to the taxpayer, by reason Of the
bonds asked, actually pay those bonds
and $4,000 per year besides, to The
! planters and farmers of Natchitoches
parish. Why then should men argue
THAT the patronage Of the people
should be q sufficient indncement 70,
capitalists to construct lines of trans.
portation to move crops and supplies,
When figures show that the applica-
ton should be the other way.
Suppose We consider other benefit,
which We are at present declared from
enjoying, by reason Of the want o.
quick transportation and "demand'
ing" markets. We have as fine fruitl
raised in this parish as any in tht
State-we have numerous paying farm
production prorided the road is bull
which could be cultivated with cas-,
labor and great profit. Irish ani
sweet potatoes, early vegetables, &c.
would oil reach the Northern mar
kets Of St. Louis, Cairo and otle'
places, from this, far earlier than tllei'
own raising and thereby command
the ''early price" 10 fact We frml!
believe that 10 this instance the profit
would be as great a. that Of our cot
ton-certainly, counting the labor
The old aud young ladies with thef
chickens, eggs, butter, honey an
other "hone" productions, woul'
never fail to find ready purchases 10
them all, right at their own doors
aud that to, for miles away from th
direct line of the railroad route.
i Another and greater question 70
our consideration, should be that q
the enhancing, or rather placing
!. ralxe upon or lands. At present the
Fare Of nominal value--that il, with
. out price. Our people are poor an
I in debt; they own lands that sr
worth nothing, save for = support
hardly that, these lands are as goo
a. any in the world. Construct thi
road, and you at once create . de
mand, and that fixes . value at onct
II people do not desire to sell tllei
lands, so good, they can at least bor
row money upon them with which t
improve and render them still NOR
valuable. Certainly no one desire
to retain unimproved property.
lie desires to rent, he must bull
homes, fences, barns, &C.; he want
to plant orchards, buy horses, mule
and cattle, in fact, there ore q thou
! sand things ID improving and bean
tifying farm, he will 6nd it require
money to do--and there is the four
dation Of al capital, the soil; hi
own upon which the money can b
. acquired speedily. We desire to d
velop the resources Of our parisl
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