The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-11-14
TIE NEW ORLEANS PACIFIC
RAILWAY.

/
behalf of the interests of our Rail
road, was held a few days since, and
as we were forcibly struck with the
remarks of Mr.. j. c. Clark, Vice
President of the New Orleans, jack
son and Great Northern Road, made
at that meeting, we give them as we
find them in the New Orleans Dem
ocrat of the Sth:
'sMR. CLARK RESPONDED
at length and with great earnestness
and ability. He said that New Or
leans has not the trade now she once
had, yet she has all the natural
channels by which this trade was
once moved to our wbarves. The
trouble is that these rivers have
been crossed by lines Of railroads
which centre upon St. Louis, Mem
phis and the East. The only way to
recover this lost commerce is by
competing with the enterprises which
have filched it from New Orleans.
He was satisfied that the building of
the New Orleans Pacific would
ENTIRELY ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECT
we had in view, because of the al
most incalcu]able advantages this
road possessed. He had scanned the
estimates for the building of this
road submitted by Major Greene, the
engineer in charge, and a practical
experience in such matters extend
ing through period of twenty-nine
years justified him in saying that
THESE ESTIMATES WERE AMPLE
for the completion of the work-if
built by New Orleans capital. The
speaker then went on to urge many
and convincing arguments to impress
the advantages that would enure to
this city from the fact that the road
was owned in New Orleans by men
interested in her commerce.
Were the stock subscribed to and
controlled by alien capitalists, it
could not be expected that the road
would be operated solely in the inter
ests of this community. So soon as
the road is graded and crosstied to
Marshall, he had assurances from
the
BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
of Philadelphia, that all the engines
needed would be supplied on long
time at Z per cent. All the needed
rolling stock and iron were assured
on the same terms. The speaker
then went on to show the advantages
Ol communication WIFE
MARSHALL OVER HOUSTON,
or any other point in Texas, and
enumerated the towns that were
nearer to that terminus than to
Houston.
He then stated that the trade of
North Mississippi had also been ia
ken from here, and as proof of this
fact said that 10 per cent. of the cars
that left this city went away empty.
Mr.. Clark sought especially to i'm
press upon the meeting the advanta
ges that would result from this road
being
OWNED AND OPERATED IN NEW Or
LEANS,
and for her benefit. If New Orleans
does not build this road, it will be
built by capitalists who have no in
terest in her commerce, and whose
sole object will be to make their in
vestment pay. He sketched e histo.
ry Of the competition that waged for
three years between the three great
railway interests Of the North, re-
sulting in the bankruptcy of all
three, and then told how it had been
compromised. This road would come
in competition with the St. Louis
roads, and the holders of its stock,
if actuated by no other motives than
those of men who had no interests
here, would do as those corporations
had done. They would
DIVIDE THE TERRITORY,
and compel, by discrimination in
rates, the trade of certain localities
to 60 over certain roads, and prove
the earnings. There is but one way
to avoid this and that is for
NEW ORLEANS MERCHANTS AND CAPT.
TALISTS
to build and control the road. They
will have other commercial interests
to subserve that will overbalance all
competition. But they need not fear
any successful rivalry. A locomo-
tive can draw but fifteen loaded cars
on the Iron Mountain and Missouri.
Kansas and Texas roads, while on
this road the same locomotive