The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-12
THE NEW ORLEANS PACIFIC RAIL.
WAY COMPANY.
HOW THE WORK PRoGREssEs-FRoM NATcHi-
TocHEs TO ALEXANDRIA-THE WORK
OF ONE THOUSAND MEN.

l OF ONE THOUSAND MENs
ALEXANDRIA, La, Dec. 6, 1875.
| r.. p. WbeeIock. Eco, President N. @. P. Rail-
| way Company New Orleans: a.,
| Dear Sri am happy to announce thas Ihe
sun has at last reappeared, having peen ior q
half-month eclipsed by clouds surcnaigeu wiz. wa.
water, most copiousy showered daily upon our
entire line of work. A day or two more Q! sun
shine will put the ground in the most oesira3ie
condition for spading. Not only did 1t actually
| rain half of last month, but large part Vi tne
time that work was attempted haa 70 DC ueyGueu
| to draining the surface preparatory 70 spadIn8'
| so saturated with water was the entire saley;
Superadded to this, pneumonia preVaiIea
amongst the hands almost in an epidemic lorih.
| Notwithstanding these serious dra"Dachs Ine =
amount of work already done, an account OF
which ia forwarded you, was credltable 10 the
contractor and encouraging to US, due IN large
measure to the skilled labor employed anu tne
admirable management Of the contractor; WIN
even moderately good weather, you may nun The
recent large accession OF recruits, and tne SUI
greater &C Iuisiton of scrapers, and seventy odu
splendid mules to work them, Will rol W p S nao
next estimate in the nelghDorhooo " Aoo'ooo
cubic yards. ..
Now that the swamp intervening between
Bayou Rapides and Red River mas been crossed,
and the work ahead being OF much ngnter cnaIac-
ter for some distance, l think can promise that
the new wear will find the grading complete to
Cotile.
pressing forward with constantly increasing force
and appliances, large and well organized force,
attended by light-draught steamboat are en-
gagged in getting out cypress cross-tles Inc nrm
to whom this contract was awarded are men OF
large experience and great energy, and the
laborers employees by them are also skilled In
this line Of work.
courage and cheer on the work. How Is it with
you in New Orleans? Pray don't let anything
occur to check our progress, but on the contrary
send orders soon to augment the forces. 10 new
Orleans we must look for the sinews OF war.
supply them and we promise large and salts
factory results. Only grade and cross-tle your
road from here to the Texas line and all Will be
we'll.
The favorable contracts made for accomplish
ing these ends, and the energy and skill with
which they are being pushed should surely awake
the sympathy and aid and eliminate the doubts
of all classes in your community, 1or all are
vitality interested in reaching with the least pos
sible delay the goal your small band has set out
for.
I have Just returned from trip over the line
as far as Mansfield, which point my advanced
party Of engineers had reached with the . ap-
proximate location" The same party are return
ing with line that will leave the Town OF Natcni
toohes some ten miles to the east. The lines will
converge near the mouth OF Old River, in the
valley OF Cane River. To this point, the range
Of choice among available lines was confined
within narrow limits. AT this pOlnt, OppOft unlty
being offered of selection between two routes,
of distinctly different characters, the question OF
preference between them has arisen.
In discussion OF the claims OF rival lines, there
will enter questions of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
tions Of policy based upon general principles,
and occasionally questions Of immediate and pc
culiar policy. 1t is my duty as your professional
adviser to illustrate, with what ability may: the
force and bearing of these. The question OF en-
gineering involved here is between valley line
crossing Cane River twice by bridges. also span
ish Lake. and longer DETECTING line by which
we avoid these crossings, and adhere to the
ridge dividing the waters Of the Red and Sabine
rivers. Incidental, of course, to this, comes the
comparison of the grades and the character OF
the ground occupied by the two lines.
To these matters l will recur after the lines
have been joined when l will give you and the
Board facts upon which to base your opinions,
must not omit to tell you that | found the
greatest enthusiasm at Mansfield. The vote on
the parish subscription to our road was had to-
day, and was told would be two to one for sub
scriptiOn.
The town of Natchitoches, Notwithstanding
the impending doubt Of being Incorporated IN
the location line, was likewise all zeal for the
railroad, and to day the Police Jury will pass the
ordinance, submitting the question OF parish
subscription to the prOperty-hOlders, and we may
expect the came result that is promised Tor
De5eto. Will write you on other subjectHpext
mail. Very respectfully yours,
b. II. GREENE, Chief Engr.