The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-20
THE NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN, SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 1876.
RAILROAD.

I'LL
RAILROAD.
We are delighted to know that our cluzens
are getting RAILROAD on the brain-and That
at least one plan is being prosecuted with .
system and vieor which promises the happiest
resultx The gentlemen composing the diree-
torv Of the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad
COMPANY, have been working for some time
mast TO select route for road which it will
be possible for them to build. even in the
event that they are unable to make any AZ
raneements either with Nj. Morgan or the
owners Of the Chattanooga road. We learn
that they have pretty we'll determined upon
the route from Alexandra to Marshall, Texas,
and that they have already received the most
encouraging assurances from the rich and
productive parishes through which the road
will pass.
This is glorious news-all the more so from
the fact that the gentlemen engaged in the
enterprise propose to embark their own fortunes
and to work increasingly until they have
achieved success. This looks like business,
and will surely lead to business. twill stimu-
late the Ames Brothers and Mr.. Morgan to
take some action, and any action that results
in railroad, or in railroads, will be beneficial
to New Orleans. The distance from Alexan-
dria to Marshall is about one hundred and
fifty miles, and boats run to Alexandria from
this point in twenty hours.
The lowest average depth Of water at the
mouth of Red River is three feet, and on
thirty inches the steamers can readily carry
twelve to fifteen hundred barrels lof freight,
while during the cotton season there is always
plenty of water on the bar for all purposes.
Whenever there is three feet of water on the
bar, freights never exceed card rates, which
are now forty cents per barrel. The company,
We learn, have in contemplation the charter
ing of suitable steamers with which to estab-
lish daily line. of packets to Alexandria, and
it may and probably will be found advisable
to establish regular barge line, by which
means the freight on barrels might be reduced
as low as ten cents, and freight on cotton to
correspondingly low figure.
Under the most favorable arrangement
possible it would be necessary to ferry
freight across the river at this point, and
hence it makes but little difference whether
the ferry boats run up to Alexandra or land
In Algiers or Gretna. The handling of freight
will be the same, and though tine time con-
sumed will be little more, it will not mate
rally affect the plan or increase the rates Of
through freight.
This scheme has been we'll digested by gen.
Nemen whose whole fortunes are at stake and
whose every interest isl wrapped up in Lou
isiana. They are now in active correspond
ence with the most influential of the planters
and residents in the parishes immediately in
tsrested, and there can hardly be doubt but
those parishes will contribute largely to an
enterprise which will serve to develop their
resources and render valuable their now
greatly deprecated though fertile land. If
they consult their interest they will not
hesitate to grant the right Of way and sach
material assistance in the way Of money and
labor as may be within their power.
The directors of the road will soon be pre-
pared to divulge their plans very fully, and
will then proceed to push the work forward,
not only by subscriptions from the people at
large, but by the use Of their individual means.
The country through which the road will pass
presents no typographical difficulties Of any
moment, and well-informed engineers make
exceedingly low estimates Of the cost of con-
struction. All this is very cheering, and it
begins to look as if there was daylight ahead,
for our people, tired of calling upon Her
cules, have now put their own shoulders to
the Wheel and we take it there is every reason
to hope that the wagon of State will soon be
lifted out of the rut in which it mired shortly
after the war, and in which it would probably
have remained SO long as our people had
initiated the example of the foolish WAGNER
of whom Esop tells.
There is nothing like people helping them
selves and there is always virtue in honest
effort No attempt, if earnest and sustained,
to achieve q good result ever eliminated in
utter failure. There is q sort Of inspiration
in the very determination to overcome an OBJ
stacle, and the grandest and most successful
men to-day are those who have relied upon
themselves in the battle of life, and who have
risen superior to obstacles and impediments
of every kind. Assistance from Hercules is
by means to be despised, but We must FIRST
deserve it by using every power and means of
which We are possessed.
A glance at the map will show that Alexan-
dria is almost equi-distant from Opelousas and
Donaldsonville. So that given railroad
from Alexandria to Marshall, Texas, and it
would be an excellent position to treat with
either MI. Morgan or the Ames Brothers OF
both for connecting with their lines. It is
not altogether impossible, however, that the
other railroads may be pushed forward indie
pendently, and in that event it will be ali the