The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-30
NEW ORLEANS PACIFIC RAILWAY.

W"
contradiction, that in its annals no manifesto
ton in numbers, social importance, enter
prise, wealth, and, above all, intelligence, has
ever been made at any former period COM
parable to that of st. Patrick's Hall, on
Thursday evening last.
The call specified the object of the meet
ing to be the consideration Of the New Or
leans Pacific Railway, and the measures neces-
sary to enable the able and upright mer-
chants who have undertaken its construction
for and on behalf Of their fellow-citizens, to
proceed with all possible expedition to the
completion of the great work, of which at
this moment over one-fifth Of its entire length
within our State line is ready for the ties and
he metal. THIS is an achievement of which
few railroad companies can boast, indeed
which we have no recollection Of ever being
eqnaled; and it is, in our opinion, one of
which every true lover of Louisiana can and
ought loudly to boast.
In the month of June last the present direc-
tory of the New Orleans Pacific Railroad was
in the main created. On coming together
there was no money, no pre-arranged plan, no
prescribed route for road from New Orleans
to Texas-in very truth, nothing was deter
mined, either by the public or the gentlemen
to whom we are referring, except the unani-
nous belief that unless railroad communion
ton with our sister State could be early estab-
lished the local trade of our city must speed
lily perish. The questions then which pre-
sented themselves to their eminently practical
minds we're just these:
l. Will railroad to Texas stay the decline
in our local traffic, the less Of much Of our
staple trade, the diminution of our popula-
ton and its pauperization, the ruinous reduc-
ton of salaries and wages, and the alarming
diminution in the value of real estate +?
2. Can the people Of New Orleans, relying
on their own public spirit, enterprise and re-
cognized generous pride. alone construct,
equip and own such railroad
To these questions one and all promptly
responded in the affirmative, and without
further delay these spirited citizens at once
their company under the general
laws of this State.
Their charter provided that contracts would
be authorized and work commenced whenever
one hundred and fifty thousand do.lars in cash
was subscribed to the stock of the company
An appeal to the public was answered by
a prompt application for two thousand shares
in its stock, of one hundred dollars each;
and at once thereafter, a contract on marvel
ously advantageous terms was made for the
grading of the entire line to the Texas from
tier. Since then, another contract for cross
ties was made, and it also is being executed;
weather reasonably propitious in the coming
spring, summer and fall, by the first of next
December, at least, road of exceptional
quality and durability will have been graded
md tied from New Orleans to the city of Mar
shall, in Texas. And just here let US pause
to inquire what our true and faithful friends
in MARSHALL propose to do in furtherance Of
he great work.
They propose to grade, tie, culvert and
bridge the road from their spirited and enter
prising little city to the State line, distance
If twenty ieht miles, and then present it to
he New Orleans Pacific at its actual cost
price Tor the stock of the latter company at
par. They furthermore transfer, with noble
their charter from the State of
Texas for said road, its franchises, and six.
cen sections Of land for every mile Of the
same. Do they stop with this magnificent do
nation? Far from it; they give also, free of
Ill coat, all the lands the New Orleans Pacific
nay require for depots, workshops, car
houses, etc., at Marshall. Is an example Ike
his to be without its effect upon our own
citizens? We are quite sure it will have the
,appiest
But it will be asked, what Of our own
parishes through which the road is destined
0 run, scattering plenty in its route, giving
new and vastly augmented value to their
ands, and adding at an early day, a large
nd valuable accession to their population
What do Rapides Natchitoches, DeSoto and |
,addo We can only answer, thai, as yet,
With the exception of DeSoto, which has au-
uoIiZeu suoScIlptioH VI Oue hundred tuOu-
and dollars to the stock, little has been done
y them, but much is confidently expected
rom the assurances received.
II, now, we recapitulate little, we shall see
hat already twenty-five miles of by far the
most difficult part of the Nav Orleans Pacific
.ilroad is graded in the most thorough and |
manner, and that before the |
louisiana working parties can reach Mans
eld, in DeSoto, the Marshall end of the line
'ill be completed, thus in fact, securing over
ne.third of the line without additional cost
n money SO far as grading and tieing are in
olved. The entire line, as We have already
ho wn, may then be considered sure of COM
letion at the date we indicated, and it will |
hen only remain to metal and equip l., and |
7ill any man of sense acquainted with our
ity pretend to say it has not money and |
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