The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-18
An EXAMPLE FOR IBw ORLEANS

| The recent vote, BY . majority Of fourteen
thousand, Of the people Of Cincinnati In favor
of the issue Of six millions Of bonds in addi.
ton to the ten millions previously given, 70
the Southern Railroad, which is to connect
that city with the network of roads in the
South, running to the Atlantic and the Gulf,
illustrates in striking manner the enterprise
of that people and their appreciation of the
wise policy embodied in the proposition sub
mitted to them.
Their example commends itself to the i'm
itation and adoption of our people.
The city Of Cincinnati has suffered as New
Orleans has by the diversion Of trade by rail-
roads, in the North and Southwest. Chicago
st. Louis and Louisville have thus drawn on
much of her trade. To counteract these
effects and reclaim her once dominant trade
in the West, the scheme of the great Southern
road was devised, by which Cincinnati would
efEectually e Ank her great rivals in the South,
and open direct communications with the
rich and populous sections OF East Ten
nessee. Kentucky and Northern Alabama
and Georgia, and with the great cotton States
of the whole cotton zone east of the Missis-
sippi. The supporters Of this plan were not
deferred by the knowledge that large portion
of the country traversed by this road was
comparatively poor and unproductive.
The great object was to reach the central
points, to which the trade, travel and pro.
ducts of the most productive and populous
portions of the whole South must tend. To
reach these points, they were willing to incur
the cost of building the road through large
section, the trade Of which could not be cal.
culated on Is remunerative. Hence. at any
sacrifice, they must reach Chattanooga. To
gain these ends, the people were called on to
determine whether they would consent to tax
themselves to pay the interest and principal
on ten millions of bonds, to be applied to the
building Of this road. The people responded
affirmatively by nearly unanimous vote.
The ten millions of bonds were issued,
were faithfully applied by directory COM
posed of the citizens of Cincinnati, and the
larger portion Of the work was constructed.
Several millions more were needed to COM
plete and equip the road and put it in work
ing order.
The people were again called On to supply
this additional amount A warm discussion
arose on this proposition. There were vigor-
Gus opponents who. whilst admitting the
great need and value of this road, dwelt on
The oppressive taxation already burdeniDg the
people, as great IS that of the people of New
Orleans, and the depreciation of the value Of
real estate.
These objections were promptly met by the
supporters Of the tax, by showing that the ten
millions already appropriated had been re-
urned to the people by the advance in real
'state. an increase in manufacturing invest.
nents and the attraction Of capital to Oincin
,ati, in anticipation Of the vast addition to
to business which would follow the compile
ion Of the road. All that the city had lost
" the railroad diversions TO Louisville. Chi
ago and st. Louis would thus be recovered,
nd more than that
These arguments prevailed, and hence the
plendid manifestations Of the enterprise Of
he people of Cincinnati, displayed in the
ecent vote, which will swell the aggregate to
ixteen millions, which Will secure the com.
'letion of this road in brief period.
In the face Of such manifestations, and of
ven stronger arguments in favor Of the abso-
ute need Of railroad connections between this
ity and the great central points of the rich
nd growing region lying to our Northwest,
here are citizens of New Orleans who object
o a comparatively small tax to secure the
completion of railway connections, already in
lctive prosecution, and with prompt contribu-
ions Of the means, can be completed in less
han year.
Our own people through. their chosen and
rusted fellow-citizens, propose to do this
work with their own means; they discard all
Ipeculative jobbing, bond raising schemes;
hey prefer not only to control but to own the
'tock Of an enterprise. the proftableness OF
which must be obvious to all. Thus, too,
hey are confident Of arresting the diversion
# trade, and the consequent decline Of values
md of business, which is the true and main
cause of the present burdensomeness of our
axation. Give US this railway connection,
md an immediate revival Of every branch Of
rade and an access of capital, and move
nent forward in the values of all property,
will follow. Nay, the mere anticipation and
Of such An accomplishment will
produce such effects. Such assurance will
be afforded by the prompt action of our city
in submitting to the people
The proposition authorized by the act Of the
proposition which, We feel
assured, will be Endorsed and approved by
The people with IN alacrity and harmony
equal to that manifested by the people of
TRAFFIC In OADETSHIPS.
The current complaint in former years was
that members Of Congress nominated cadets