The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-23
NEW ORLEANS AND NOR rHEAsTERN
TEXAS,

Whenever the road from New Orleans to
Marshall, Texas, is completed and in full con-
nection with the railroad system of Northern
Texas, Arkansas, the Indian Territory, New
Mexico, Ariz ona and California, we can safely
predict that it will be one Of the most useful
of all the roads south of the parallel OF st.
Louis The entire distance to Marshall is, as
the road will probably run, about 365 miles,
or 80 miles to Brashear, now running,
thence 80 miles to Opelousas, graded
and nearly ready for the superstructure,
thence 60 miles to Alexandria through well
timbered, level, alluvial or prairie lands,
thence to Natchitoches IS miles, to NJ ,nsfeld
so miles ard to Marshall, the terminus of the
Texas Pacific, 40 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 nominal 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 wi ] be on dead level.
Cross-ties can be had in abundance
near the road all along the line, except where
the road crosses the prairie 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
swampy portions of the line is nearly COM
pleted, and no obstacles remain to be sur
mounted that will tax the skill OF the engin-
eer, the patience of the contractor or the
purse of the stakeholder.
AS indicated by the BULLETIN in recent
article upon this southeastern branch of the
Texas Pacific Railroad, there are good reasons
to believe that the owner of the finished and
excellent road to Bfashear, and of it's graded
continuation to Ooelousas, will join heartily
in this enterprise. Every extension to wards
Northeastern Texas will make new business
for his road, without in the least interfering
with trade and travel now carried on by his
line Of Gulf steamships. Of the nature and
amount Of the aid which he will be ready to
give, we can only speak by conjecture, found
ed upon his command Of capital and resources
and his well known interest in the promotion
of the general commerce of Nav Orleans.
His prescience in business and his sagacious
advice will, of themselves, be of enormous
benefit to the enterprise, His great reputa-
ton for business talent of high order, con-
nected with his known possession of ade-
quate means to do we'll and quickly any
great work which he make undertake.
and the very evident utility of the
projected road to Marshall, which will be al
extension of his present road, will suffice to
give to the stock of that road stable and i'm
proving value on the Eastern market. What
he intends to do in this matter and when he
intends to Go it has not been announced, but
we are fully authorized to say that he looks
upon the enterprise with friendly interest.
He is not OF the class Of business men who
would fail to see the many and very great ad-
vantages which this northwestern extension
must confer, soon or late, upon his railroad
property and all that he or any other proprie
tor owns in New Orleans.
1t is to be hoped that the r representatives.
of the Southwestern States in Congress will
use extreme and strenuous exertions to secure
from Congress the same help and privileges
for our branch of the Texas Pacific Railway
th It have been conceded to Western and
Northern roads. 1t 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 equitably insist
ed on.