The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-05
RAILROAD TALK.
PLAQuEMINE, NAV 80, 1875,


Mr.. Edior-Now, that there is a move in
the right quarter for railway to Texas, your
invitation to compare propositions" induces
me to give expression to ideas prevailing with
many of our people in relation to this import
ant matter.
As to propositions, 1 have seen but one
that of the Ames brothers, representing the
interests of what we best know here as the
Chattanooga" Railroad.
These gentlemen having received every en-
couragement that could be given them-fran-
chises, privileges, money by the million and
right of way and failed to give US road to
Texas, now offer to put into new combina-
ton, in which our citizens are to furnish the
money and do the work, their line through
the State at two millions of dollars. This is,
to start with, about two prices for the road,
while the Texas part OF this line-from the
Sabine to Houston-is to be the property of
the Messrs. Ames Brothers and their friends.
This does not look like fair proposition,
notwithstanding the efforts of its able advo-
cate, Mr.. Kenner, to make it appear so.
We want road to Texas or st. Louis, or
anywhere else through the western portions
of our State, but as our people have now to
take hand in building it, after paying heav-
lily for promises, heretofore, we desire to see
them have their just share in the profits, as
we'll as its other advantages; nor are we OPP
posed to this Chattanooga Road. It has its
advantages part of it is finished, good
deal of work is done on it between Bayou
Goula, its present. terminus, and Houston, and
it passes through fue country, but we want
something better than promises or the sale of
questionable franchises at two prices.
The Backbone" route, of which we have
heard good deal from time to time, is too
much of a roundabout way to meet with
favor, Though the western portion-from
Baton Rouge to Shreveport its advan-
tages, also, and they are worth considering.
The Crosse Tete and Opelousas road is
finished to Lombardy, in the parish of Pointe
Coupee, and the road is graded to Simmsport,
on the Atchafalaya, and beyond. 1t, too,
passes through a fine country and would
bring loads Of freight to our great. old river,
and, of course, to our Southern metropolis, if
carried through the Red River to Shreveport
or Fort Worth.
A good route, if the arrangement could be
satisfactorily made, would be to combine the
Chattanooga and the Backbone roads west of
the Mississippi. The Chattanooga" or New
Orleans and Texas road, is complete to Bayou
Goula. From this point gap of about
twenty-fv miles intervenes between this road
and the Backbone, whether it would be de-
cided to connect with the latter right opposite
Baton Rouge or at Roselale, on the Bayou
Crosse Tete. This could be built very soon,
and then the completion of road to Alexan-
dria, or the falls above, would be compare
lively easy. Whether this read then went on
to Fort. Worth or to point further south in
the Lone Star State would be of little conse-
quence. 1t would bring US the trade.
The great object should be to start road
westward from some point on the river, be-
tween Bayou Goula and Baton Rouge. The
N. o. and Texas Road made its great blunder
in 1870 in starting westward from Westwego.
Bayou Goula or this place should have been
the point The seventy miles of road. now
doing SO little between Westwego and Bayou
Goula, would, if stretched from the latter
point westward. be paying road today.
Let US have the road, but in getting it let
us not pay too much for it, as we have too
often done for similar things heretofore.
PELICAN.