The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-26
AN URGENT necessity AND DUTY

To begin the work of rel oration OF de-
clining community and tra it. is necessary
that the people whose SUI Pistence depends
on the success of such FORK should look
boldly in the face the obst@ les and foes that
must be conquered and Purmounted. and
then set to work to compad them with energy
and in spirit of self sacz ce This is not
only duty Of manhood, ut Of sound and
wise policy.
The performance OF tbs duty was never
more urgent on people thin it is now on the
citizens of New Orleans give their whole
energy and devote their red urces to the Grad
ication of the causes of TIP present lamenta-
BILE depression and declined of our city. The
most ordinary sagacity pejceives and detects
the main source Of our present troubles and
dependency. That causstis the withdrawal
of the most valuable and increasing trade
which in its infancy we enjoyed and con-
trolled, but which in its maturity and large
development has been dawn away from US
by the superior enterprise If other commune
ties. This is the explanation of the great de-
cline in our business and values. Whilst We
have been talking and quarreling over the
various schemes to secure railroad connection
with Northwest Louisiana, with Texas and
West Arkansas, ST. Louis has acted with
promptitude, vigor and large liberality,
and pushed her railways far into the in
terror of the great empire embraced with
in the circuit designated, and thus divert
ed to herself the trade and travel that
naturally tend to this city, but meets the
obstruction of great gap between the center
of this trade and the navigable waters of the
Red River, upon which New Orleans has
entirely relied hitherto for communication ms
with this region.
This diversion must be affixed and increas.
ing fact and disaster to our city un til this
gap is filed. H>w can this be done is now
the great absorbing question which should
occupy the thoughts of all persons inter-
ested in the welfare Of our city?
There Is q prompt answer to this question.
The only practicable and feasible plan now
before the people, which is being prosecuted
in the mode that will insure success and our
control thereof, is that of the New Orleans
Pacific.
It would be irrelevant and Improbable to
discuss what has already been exhausted
whether the other plans are not superior.
Suffice it to say that those plans have been
virtually abandoned. II not dead, they are
wrapped in q profound slumber or paralyzed
by legal inducements; whereas the New Or.
leans Pacific is alive and in active operation,
pushing forward its work with the utmost
energy, and on a system that conforms to the
views and interests of our people.
The plan is one which can be executed
with our own means without seriously bur.
dening our people. Can be executed too in
brief period. It is mot Of the gigantic
character which alarms and scourages oul
limited enterprise and restril led means and
oompels us to throw ourselves INTO the danger
GUS embrace of foreign capitalists and bono
spectators. It is not q plan which threatens
disaster and failure from its too great magni
tude and costliness. 1t is, indeed, the just
n,iAieu, which all prudent and wise mer
in these days must adopt in all their schemes
and enterprises. The plan contemplates I
railway junction of the center of the railwa!