New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-18
Shreveport Right - . Railroad.
An editorial in the Shreveport Telegram
of the tenth, referring to correspondence
which appeared in the New Orleans Bule

s~"'
of the tenth, referring to correspondence
which appeared in the New Orleans Bulle-
tin on railroad matters. goes on to say:
We know that no blame can attach to the
skirts of the Representatives of the city of
Shreveport in regard to the passage of this
bill, and nothing supplementary. If Hon.
George L. Smith did substitute "Shreve-
port" for "MoDroe," as the dOmicile of the
road, and the Legislature passed it in that
shape, is Mr.. Smith to be blamed for it By
no means. Mr.. Smith was looking after
the interests of his immediate constituents.
and if he could accomplish that much in
their favor, he had . perfect right to do 80.
Ii others were asleep. it is to his credit that
he was not caught mapping.
There Is also an ingenious assertion in
the communication to the effect that, the
object of tbs incOrpOrators mentioned in the
New Orleans entirely from any possible
connection" with any Pacific railroad that
they might get the right to construct on or
near the thirty second parallel" As tar as
Shreveport 10 concerned in this accusation
it is simply unfounded. For years and
years have the citizens of this place hoped
for, prayed for and worked for q rail-
road connection with New Orleans, but
that city never turned . hand, compare
tor, and the result has been that cities
in other States, with more enterprise, have
stretched out their iron arms and taken
in the bulk of the trade of this section,
which formerly poured itself into New Or,
leans. We want Q road to that city, and
are endesvoring to obtain one, and it is the
supremest folly to say that it was the in
| tention, design or desire of the trainers Of
the North Louisiana railroad bill. as passed
hx1 tho loto usa1o I'M IN Ind No
Orleans from any connection whatever
with any Pacific road which might be built
with Shreveport as it's terminus. That city
left us out in the cold to her own disad-
vantage, but no one in this section ever
thought of retaliation, believing che had
already endured her season of expiatiOn
and ever recognizing the mutual bene-
fetal results that would follow rail COM
municati0n between New Orleans and
North Louisiana.
Our citizens waited long years on the
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg,
and on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and
Texas railroads, but their histories are
known to the world as q continued success
sion Of failures, delays, unfulfiled promises,
litigation, elimination and recriminatiOn,
and want of progress, enterprise and abil-
ity, financial and otherwise, to carry out
what they proclaimed to be their designs
and purposes. Why wait longer upon what
might properly be called effete corpora
tionss Other sections are being opened to
the world, to immigration, prosperity and
general development, why not the garden
portion of the State Of the magnolia
and the myrtle, whose coil is I'M
surpassed in productiveness anywhere
ON earth! Hence the necessity for q
new organization, and another effort
made to do what the companies last men
toned have failed in 90 long. The Legisla-
ture regularly passed the bill with Shreve-
port as the domicile), and We feel sure the
road can be built if the incorporators named
will, in their organization. put . man of
brains, capacity and gosheadstiveness at
it's head. The wants of the country impera-
lively demand the road, and the necessary
capital for its construction can be obtained
if the proper efforts are made. We are OF
the opinion that the bill has already been
properly signed by the State officials and be-
come law, in which event we shall expect
to shortly see q movement made for the or
ganizatiOn of the new company, notwith-
standing the laundering letter Of ''Investi-
gator" in the New Orleans bulletin.