The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-12
OUR RAILROAD.

Some of the people of New Orleans,
them many worthy men and
arge property holders, have certain
y notions anything but in accord
With the true spirit and progress of
the age. Their city has been pal
sled under a langor now too well es-
tablished, and though she has groan-
ed under it being unable to help her
self, now that the long expected help
is approaching and is near at hand,
their steps out from the midst of her
friends a trojan horse, which is ex-
acting, snorting and painting to keep
her down in the stocks with the old
death sweats oozing from her pores.
The N. O. Pacific Railway, the COM
pleting of which can but save her and
lead her anew to the old standard,
and which should be the apple of her
eye, is actually meeting with opposi
ton, bitter, factious opposition from
many of her people, who should be
of one voice and one accord in behalf
of the progressive scheme. AS much
as we regret these things we should
not notice them, except that we de-
sire to record our dissent to such a
suicidal policy, and give renewed en-
enlargement to the real friends OF
the Railway.
We are proud to know that the
friends and helpers of the Railway,
of which we are so true and staunch
friend and supporter, are in the ma
jority and that time will prove them
light and crown all their we'll meant
and evenly directed efforts. Here in
Rapides, where the Road has been al
ready completed as far as good gra
ding goes, we have but words o.
cheer and encouragement to send tt
New Orleans friends and assure then
that the good work goes bravely on
The Contractor, the Manager, thu
Engineer and his able assistants ar,
all men of the right working metal
and are moving with their working
duties in a manner highly credita
BILE to good workmanship, and arr
not pausing for a moment to even no
tice the feeble ticks ill directed a
their efforts to complete their con
tract.
Posi- TRADERsH1Ps.-Gen. Georg
A. Custer appeared before the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Wa
Department on the Goth. He test
fed that Robert T. Sippe, post trs
der at Fort Abraham Lincoln, toll
him that his profits were $4,000 an
nually, one-third of which was pal
to General Hedrick, of Iowa, and on
third to General Rice, at Washing
ton. He did not know, but he ur
derstood that portion of it went t
the Secretary of War. Mr.. Ray
mond, the Indian agent at Fort Bel
thold, said that he paid Orville Gran
$1,000 for getting him the place.
General Custer testified that the pre-
clamation of the President extendin
the great Sioux military rescrvatio
enhanced the value of trading post
in the North Missouri Valley, be
cause it rendered them more com
plete monopoly. The witness sal
that Thumb, a trader at Fort Peel
was about to be removed, when h
obtained some of the affidavits show
ing that Orville Grant and Layto
Brothers were mixed in the India
frauds. General Custer said one OF
ject of Gen. Belknap's visit to th
| frontier was to perfect arrangement
whereby whiskey could be brougl
across the border at reduced rat,
and increased advantages be given t
post traders. General Custer relate
various instances in which grain ha
been stolen from the government
post traders taking it into the
stores.
DICTURE FRAMES,
: j. CORDS and TASSELs
FERGUSON g. SCHNAC,