Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-19
North Louisiana Railroad.

;. P"i"tNeis easy compass of he
means, and to which the attentio
d OF her business and property hold
r ers ought to be called. / allude I
the North Louisiana railroad, incor
, porated by the legislature in 1876
ana the time for commencing tn
work on which was extended to TN
first of January next by the legisla
ture OF 1871. believe that Shrcye
port, with such aid as can easily h,
secured on the line from ere I,
Monroe, can build this road. ant
af,er 1t is built own and control j
only with a mortgage upon it foI
the iron and rolling stock. The
value to Shreveport of such "a tribn
tary to her commerce and such a
connection eastwaldly cannot b,
oVerestlmated, and "a moments re
hectlon will convince those who
think OF the truth of this assertion
Between the Red river and the
ouachita is the finest hill country
IN Louisiana, already producing
large quantities Of cotton, corn and
other grain and capable of almost
Unlimited increase in these produc.
tons. The need of this country is
! IN" tar'"." vt putting produce into
the market. This need supplied and
Immigration flows III. invited by the
hcaIthtulness as well as productive.
ness Of the country: and with popu.
latioh comes increased production.
The railroad referred to built and
controlled by Shreveport people.
would give them the control of the
bulk Ot-this trade.
Not only have we then iuduce.
ments to build this road, but there
is no connection East or West which
would bring us into such valuable
contact with the outside world. The
great competitor with st. Louis for
the trade of the Southwest is Chi.
cagO, and she is now no significant
competitor. 1t was but a few DAYS
ago that the Illinois Central railroad.
virtually a Chicago corporation, be.
came the purchaser of the Missis. |
sipni Central, thus completing the
connection between Chicago and
New Orleans under one consolidated /
control. When we shall have SUP. /
piled the link between Shreveport
ana Monroe we bring ourselves into .
direct communication with Chicago
by tapping the great artery at Jack.
son, Mississippi. Shreveport then
becomes the apex of the triangle, one
line OF which extends to Chicago
AMI another to st. Lonis, and the
trade which both cities are reaching
nut for lying behind Shreveport in
Texas and coming here to be as.
'igned its destination. That Shreve.
bort should be the point at which
he competition between Chicago
md st. Louis for this trade can be
made to take place is no fancifnl
tea. for thSreason that. if this con.
lection is made, st. Louis will find
TO her interest to enter the field 4
I competition at Shreveport, by
irect line from some point on the
ron Mountain road, rather than :
ave the weight Of Shreveport's in.
uence against. her and altogether
favor OF Chicago. Another influ. d
nee which will bring St. Louis to C
cr dlrest is this road to Monroe r
not only offers to her fl
le Chicago trade but also that of f;
inclnnati and Louisville, as well as V
lie Eastern cities, especially from a
orfolk to Mobile. But enough of Il
lie inducements to build this road. Ii
Don't which | suppose there can be [
difference of opinion. lie
How can Shreveport and the 6
nntry through which the road &c
lsses accomplish its construction W
] think our business men and ",
operty owners can accomplish it -,
they will make an earnest and =.
'lted effort. | am informed that d a.
c lessee of the State peuitentiary. ~
alOr ZONES, is willing to make a 80 .,
ntract to grade aud crOss.tie the a;
al from Shreveport to Monroe %
on the most favorable terms. re. ~ ~
lrlng only an outlay in money of o os
tnal expenses for the support of .I S
hands and guarding them, and or
reelng to take the balance of his s. 8.
either in stock or the bonds of ~
company. The only amount to th e
raised then would be the ex ~,
use Of feeding and guarding these h I"'
nds. ma
W., di,
Three hundred men could grade We
cross-tie the road from here to CHI
'nIoe IN from eight to twelve wi
nths' The expense of feeding du
l guarding them will not exceed ba
IN fifty to sixty cents per day. "b
" let us make the calculations. sai
-hree hundred men at sixty cents mc