The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-18
TO TIE PEOPLs or new ORLEANS.

~ 1DB kBVkhS VI NEW WILLIAMS,
Editor Democrat seems to thu
undersigned that the present Is on occa
in regard to any and all measures
affecting the present and future pros.
perity Of New Orleans, which may
appear to him from the standpoint Of
his own interests to challenge investi-
cation. Like most old residents OF this
city, he has found his small estate,
upon which he had looked forward with
confidence to subsist decently In his
declining years, now upon him, grow
ing small by degrees and beautifully
less," and without any very encour-
aging prospect OF change for the better
at very early day.
He has studiously read the many
theories, suggestions. reasons and
inhabitants, ironically called property
owners, has elected In the press; has
reflected over the distress ascribed to
misrule, carpet-bag extravaganza. and
Radical profiigacy, so-cnlled; pondered
over the panaceas for all public and pri-
vate misfortunes gratuitOusly presented
for acceptance by Democratic nostrum-
mongers; yet obtuse he must confess
himself; for after oil this extraordinary
teaching, he finds himself no nearer
reasonable solution Of the problem OF
pauperizatiOn than ever.
He sought comfort and solace In the
Immaculate embrace OF Property
Owners Union;' was there enraptured
OF Allen, mystified by the incompre-
hensible logic OF CALIFORNIAN Know
Nothings and enlightened by appeals
for "siller" by the patriotic chiefs OF
the association, who remembered the
wisdom and duty Of sending round
the hat.
Notwithstanding, however, every dis
position to become learned and wise in
regard to the hard and undeniable facts
that property, improved and unim-
proved, was continually tending down
ward; that every description Of business
vas daily becoming less and less remu-
artisans. Of draymen, longshoremen
and laborers, OF every shade Of honest
toilers, would, when obtainable, hardly |
keep soul and body together; that
scarcely any joint stock company could |
get its shares to par, certainly no bank,
except It was under q riDgmaster' |
or make fair dividend
hat more than one street railroad was
nearly In or on the threshold OF bank
'uptcy, and dependency hung like a
uneral pail over our city, notwithstapd
ng all these sad and undeniable facts,
which none gainsay, he could get no one
q wise as to give reason tit to con
'ince, or q probable cogent cause for
otal ruin that seems 50 near and in
Tho readiest. the easiest, and indeed
he most general excuse for the deplora-
lie position Of this place was the state
4 its politics; and glaringly and un-
insufficient, as every SEN
ible person knows this to be, it, only
8 being the nearest at hand. probably
eemed to be all-sufficient.
He willingly admits that the system
( misrule existing in city and State has
ggravated the public distress, but is
OF the sole cause OF it by any means;
n the contrary, is very far from being
ons OF bonds were fraudulently, venally
nd profiigately issued, we all know the
cry Radicals who did this were also
hose who had an equal amount of in
ebtedness repudiated by the State.
He says the authors OF the original
ishonest proceedings were those who !
btained the popular assent to the sub
squent reputation Jbut he ought to add
nat they took care not to limit the
epudiation to the dishonest issues, but !
, use their funding process for the I
ecognition OF many Of the more in
lmous ones while scaling" the honest :
to make the others sale ,
BILE. :
But the issue of fraudulent bonds. !
nd the reputation OF legitimate ones
oes not really touch the question every !
tizen Of New Orleans at this time is
eeply Interested in having Satisfac- ;
,rily answered.
It fs-the universal distress being ad- r
lifted, and the ruinous shrinkage OF {
very description OF values being unde- i
iable-what Is 1t possible to do to /
'trieve the trade we are admitted G
, have lost, and to conciliate millions i
valuable commerce naturally tribu- {
Try here, but which, by oursupineness, \
now transported to other and alien
nd unnatural marts Y
The Chamber of Commerce, as a !
,tent means to the accomplishment OF I
lis end, indicated, as one Of the most t
eedful and urgent measures, the con- I
ruction Of railroad to connect this \
ty by rail and river with the northern
Drtions OF our own State and the east
n section OF Texas. c
Already three lines Of road we're run h
ing from this city, or contiguous to it, r
make connection with the region n
entioned: and the committee nomi- h
lted by the Chamber of Commerce, d
hich speedily merged itself into =
bard OF direction, at once appreciated
le needs Of the situation, and instead '
provoking hostilities that might be :
furious to the great end in view, by I
fourth line to run from /
: near this city to Texas, concluded !
wisely, as most men Think to CON- =
ence at Alexandria, where there is a
,ep water all the year round, and build i,
orthward; trusting, reasonably and !
that one or more OF the lines i,
DIV existing would furnish by the time n
leir work was done the connecting
nix 80 important, which would give us a Z
,ntinuous road from New Orleans to i
arshall, Jefferson and Shreveport. !,
1t Is said by the opponents OF all rail- r
ads that this plan OF proceeding can
IT succeed, and ought not to be at /
mpted, inasmuch as it may, by posi- +
Iity, happen that the New Orleans Pa q
flee Railway, which is to supply the r
ilroad hiatus between Alexandria and !
exas, may be constructed before Nor :
ms or the Mobile and Texas, or the =
ayou Crosse Tete road can be pushed =
a junction with its initial line. =
The undersigned attaches very little I
lportance to all objections emanating +
ON parties animated by the opinions a
pressed in the petition for an inJunc-