The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-12
SHREVEPORT MOVING AGAINST NEW
ORLEANS.

Times of the 9th, and reproduce it in the
business men may see what an imperative me-
cessity exists for action, and prompt action. in
regard to our New Orleans and Pacific Rail-
way. This is essentially time for action
rather than words, and the man who is in
terested in the prosperity of New Orleans
and yet fails to recognize this fact, must be
blind and of infrm mind. Our natural adj
vantages are many and important but if our
people rely upon them they will find out
their error in very brief time.
| Shreveport evidently means business in
this matter, and unless we would see st. Louis
made the market for vast trade that we may
and should have, we must act speedily and
build our railroad:
TIE Advantages of the Proposed Connection
with st. Louis.
| From the Shreveport Times, August Al
The views expressed by the Times Sunday
morning on the railroad situation have re-
ceived the cordial and universal appreciation
of this community A rail connection with
the Cairo and Fulton through Southwestern
Arkansas, to become q vital enterprise, now
only needs the organization of the public
opinion of Shreveport, and to accomplish
this we suggest that there be quiet railroad
meeting at an early day, at one OF the business
offices in town, and that q committee be ap-
pointed to open a correspondence with Mr.
Allen, president of the Cairo and Fulton, and
with the commercial organizations of st.
Louis, and ascertain if the road can be built
| 1t would probably be better if the committee
~, NJ ho nic
trade organic atoms in person, and discuss
| fully the enterprise
st. Louis desires to be cotton market and
| to extend her trade in this direction; Shreve-
port has from $4,000 to 100, 900 bales of cot
ton to ship; sells eight millions of merchandise
| and desires to become the cotton depot and
supply point of all the vast region known as
North Louisiana, East Texas and South Ar
kansas. Thus there is powerful reciprocal
| interest between st. Louis and Shreveport. IT
| the branch road we want is built, and Shreve-
port is given equal advantages with other
points for trading over it, all of our cotton
win be sent east via St. Louis, and that city,
through Shreveport, can very largely increase
| her trade in this region.
| Should thi, arrangement be made Shreve-
port, in two years, will sell sixteen millions of
goods, instead of eight, and every bale of
/ cotton which comes here will be compressed
here. Even now, the New Orleans press is
forced to admit that Shreveport can under
sell New Orleans. With direct short line to
st. Louis our advantages will be still greater,
and our trade proportionately increased.
| The line which Shreveport is now striking
for will tend to benefit all who trade with her
merchants, because it will open q cheaper
route for the reception of supplies. The
road New Orleans proposes to build will not
enable her to obtain her merchandise at re-
duced rates; it does not reach out to the
great centers of supply, to facilitate and
cheaper transportation, but to the producing
regions, with view of making them tributa-
~ to that city. Our road is calculated to
make our market cheaper one for the pro-
ducers; the New Orleans enterprise is de-
signed to draw the producers to New Orleans,
and to force them to buy there at as high
rates as ever.
Through the Texas and Pacific stretching
through Northern and Eastern Texas as far
west as Dallas, we have access to the very
country New Orleans is seeking to reach with
)her proposed road and we are three hundred
| miles nearer the trade than she is Thus, SO
far as reaching the Texas trade is concerned,
we have the advantage of her by three hun
dred miles, besides our capacity to undersell
her, and besides possessing the good will and
sympathy of good portion OF the East Texas
people. Now then, with the extension OF the
Cairo and Fulton to this city, and with our
consequently increased facilities for reaching
the great centers of supply, we will have every
advantage in compe ition with New Orleans.
Let the reader take correct railroad map
of this country, and notice how the two
branches of the Texas and Pacific, penetra-
ting the finest regions of Texas, bear upon
Shreveport; then let him mark the line of the
New Orleans Pacific from New Orleans to
Marshall, and the line of the road we sug-
gest, from Shreveport to Hope station, and,
finally, trace the route over which New Or
leans has to reach her sources of supply, and
he can form pretty intelligent estimate OF
the advantages Shreveport will have over
New Orleans in competing for the Eastern
and Northern Texas trade, when the actual
situation shall correspond with the map, thus
amended. He will find that Shreveport is,
by several hundred miles. nearer both the
great centers of supply and the great regions
Of production, and that only enterprise and
lliberality on the part of her merchants are
necessary TO make her supreme in this region.
We believe this Cairo and Fulton connec-
ton is of great importance to Shreveport,
and that our people should take prompt &C
ton to have it built The Cairo and Folton