The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-12-11
TheiRailroad.

TheeRatlroad.
In all places where thrift now fol-
lows, great interest are taken in, aud
moniel or other assistance is rendered
to railroads. The great west az it
now staatls, including western New
York, West Virginia, Kentucky, ILL.,
noise, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas,
&C., owes its present prosperous con.
dition simply to railroads; to the in
terest and mutual aid which WA rem.
dered these roads BY the people who
owned tho lands within the radius Of
tho sections named.
Although We arc bitterly opposed
to the lending of funds, the donation
of lands or the endorsement Of bonds
for purposes Of public improvements
10 the way of Canals, Railroads, &c.
Still We will ever he found favoring
State aid, properly applied. which
combined with such assistance "a the
parishes, municipal and private in.
dividna's should render, is amply
sufficient to construct these liues of
travel ard transportation.
Thirty years ago States were nm.
known. in Dame even, which now vote
their hundreds of thousands. The
mountainous regions Of Western
Pennsylvania, New York and yir-
ginia have, notwithstanding their
barren soil, been made to yield un-
told millions, not only in minerals,
but in agricultural productions. The
development Of this entire region is
due simply to canals and railroads, IN
the construction Of which ,he people
of those sections, as individuals and
communities, took active stock. We
have here q valley that conceals it's
millions within tie womb Of the yir.
gin soil; millions that the husband.
mans pillow Turns upon the surface.
No state, no connays on the face of
the globe excels the valley of Red
River. Its productions IRE many,
every thing known to man, or that
man would require, can he successful
ly cultivated, aud is not done, Simply
from the fact that the class Of labor,
physical force applied with and by
intelligence, not at hand. To re-
alize this want, to build up and pros
per this country, We must encourage
the construction of those lines Of
railroads now being ageitatel among
us. We must render to them all the
material aid within our power
Our parish has 40l ,76l acres If land
within its borders. not one tenth Of
which is 10 cultivation. Most Oi
these lands are Of the finest alluvial,
rich and productive. 1t ia the imperi-
tive duty Of the swness Of these lands
t" bring them unt,er cultivation, ia
bring Immigrants upon them, by ia
voring aid to the proposed New Or
leans Pacific road.
Within few weeks. the question
will be submitted to the citizens to
decide whether We will give the de-.
sired aid t" this road. The amount
asked is rcliculously small, about p
per cent per acre for the land alone,
which it will give a value If ten
times IA great, and taken in connec.
ton with the increased valuation Of
personal property, Of other real es-
tate than lands, the sum which those
who favor the railroad propose to in.
vest 10 the stock thereof, is redicu-
lousy small, amounts to nothing,
when brought in comparison to the
great benefits that we viii enjoy
from tue railroad.
We beg the people to think this
matter over carefully, and after due
deliberatioo, decide what is best for
their interests in the premises.