The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-03
A MISTAKEN POLICY.

! a A4O1AAbN 4V0XV4s
The House Committee on Railroads yes.el
day reported joint resolution favoring th
passage by Congress Of the bill aiding th
Texas Pacific Railway, and requesting th
substitution in that bill of the New Orlean
Pacific Railway for the New Orleans, Bato
Rouge and Vicksburg Railroad, as the Ne'
Orleans branch Of the Texas Pacific. Their
= was minority report against the substitution
and several very long and persistent argu
ments we're made against the substitute. am
some display Of parliamentary tactics wa
made TO defeat its passage. We regret ex
ceedingly that members of the House SHOULD
labor SO siren uously to defeat the passage o
resolution which has for its object the ben
citing OF 9 road which has the hearty
!, approval of all citizens in the State, and
which must result in such great ben.
eft to the industry and commerce Of
Louisiana The Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg Road has not only passed out
of tho hands of the people of this State. but
absolutely nothing has ever been done
dormant ever since its passage, no use ever
having been made Of it, except in the way Of
speculation in the bonds issued under this
charter, and it has long ago been conceded
that, if not absolutely dead, it was in state
Of lethargy, from which no one ever expected
to see i. awaken. Those who are posted in
reference to railway matt ers, are almost unani-
mously of the opinion, that If it was ever the
real intention of the incorporators Of that
road to actually build it and put it in running
order, the intent was but short-lived, and was
long since abandoned. The New Orleans
Pacific Railway is q live institution, in which
the citizens of the entire State take an active
interest, and is now in course of con-
struction, with bright hopes Of its
speedy completion unlike the Back
bone" Railroad it is in the hands of
men whose object is to practically benef. the
commercial interests Of Louisiana, and who
have at stake something more than the mere
benefit to be derived from the upward
tendency of the value of the bonds, should
the aid be granted to their road. II We
judge the future by the past, We have in
competition two roads, one of which has
been afforded aid and opportunity to do good
and failed to use its advantages; the other
per contra, as soon as power was obtained,
went Immediately to WORK to carry out the
announced intention of its corporations.
The charter of the New Orleans Baton |
Rouge and Vicksburg Railroad expires in |
March, and it must then yield up all Of it's
franchises and privileges, unless it can make
such showing as will convince our legisla.
tors that it is worthy of an extension. Among
these benefits to be returned must be the land |
grants donated to the road, since the purposes
for which they were given have never been
carried out in any manner
We are not disposed to PREJUDICE the action
which Senator West would be apt to take if
his joint resolution was passed, but notwith-
standing the political objections We may have
% that gentleman, We would deem it q most
lngenerous conclusion to assert that he would
ose all interest in the Southern Pacific Road,
because he was as1ed by the people he claims
o represent to substitute Q road in which
hey are all deeply interested for one which
las never obtained tteir approval or indorse-
nent; nor do We think with the gentlemen
Who SO vigorously urged the claims of the
Backbone Road, that Senator West and his
colleagues would be so inclined to lend deaf
= unwilling ear to the request Of the people
4 Louisiana, presented in all respect through
heir Legislature and Congressman.
Those gentlemen who oppose this road are !
q reality laboring to perpetoate q project {
which has always been treated BY the entire
'eople outside of the stockholders and their I
riends, either as fraud or as . most unpleas- '
mt jest; it now remains for the other men,
'ers to renew their efforts to secure the sub
titution of . road which has for its endorsers ,
he entire people Of the State Of Louisiana {
nd her sister State of Texas. We submit
bat the gentlemen who favor the adoption of I
be minority report are wofully mistaken in I
heir logic and their conclusion, and trust I
nat serious second thought will cause them .
, withdraw their opposition to the onward I
rogress of q road whose fortunes they must @
now are dear to all the people Of the State r
icy represent d
& WHO TO go FOB" g
"One ex-revenue official has been indicted"