The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-23
N. @. PACIFIC RAILROAD
THE CERTAINTY THAT 1T WILL 60
DIRECT TO SHREVEPORT.

TO the Editor OF the Shreveport Times
Now that the speedy completion OF the New
Orleans Pacific railway Is assured, many OF
our citizens manifest great uneasiness. II not
alarm, at O report which has been In circua-
tiou here for several weeks that Col. Wheelock,
president of the road. had written to some one
nj, Marshall of his intention to build the road
to that place: and to increase, If possible, the
fears of our people, 1t Is added that Marshall
is ablaze with excitement over the news, ana
threatens torchlight professions and boniires
as evidence Of the public Joy.
In my opinion the apprehension OF the
one are as unfounded rs the exultation OF the
other.
I am not prepared TO say positively that
Col. Wheelock did write as he has been re,
ported, but in the absence of proof, shall
give him the benefit of the doubt, and assume
that he did not. To assume the contrary
would be to charge him with dupclty, ana
to believe for moment that ne nas a Mno ~
Marshall, would be to charge MN WIN VIZ
lation of solemn pledges repeatedly mace 10
tho Representatives from this parish during
the last session Of the General Assembly, ana .,
when soliciting their aid in the passage Of the
bill to authorize the loan OF State bonds TO
his road, ] am unwilling, and can not believe
such things Of q gentleman or the hgh
character of Col. Wheelock. 1t would seem
needless 10 remind our citizens, that through
n long and successful business career in the
CITY OF New Orleans, his reputation has never
been questioned, and the fact that he has
been selected to take charge OF 80 important
an enterprise by body OF me M mos n PI[om
should of itself relieve him from such unjust
and damaging suspicious.
B,it am aware that some of our citizens
profess to have no confidence IN the integ-
- tad md
promises, and not unfrequently, taunt those
with creduty-" childlke and bland who
have confidence in the pledges made by Col.
Wheelock. / rejoice that ! am not yet go
the Victim of occasional deception than settle
down In the belief that there Is no truth or
honor In man.
For those, however who have not this faith,
can bring comfort, II can co con, g., Inelli
that In law the road must be built to Shreve,,
port before any branch is constructed, ana
that, IL Col. Wheeock desired, there is no es'-
cape from It, Section OF the charter reads
as follows That Shreveport. IN LOUISIANA m III
shall be the northwestern terminus OF said
New Orleans Pacific Railroad, and that the
main line shall be completed to Shreveport
before any branches are constructed. his
then is a part OF the contract between the
State of Louisiana and the New Orleans Pa.
citic Railway Company. Can language be
nlainer2 How would 1t be possible for tho
company to ignore or evade this provision Of
the law SO clear and SO express
Suppose for the sake OF argument, that Col.
Wheeiock should violate the law 10y attempt
ing to build the road first to Marshall, sup
position almost too absurd to seriously CON
slider, the State OF Louisiana, upon the relation
of any citizen alleging an interest in the mat
ter, could successfully enioin and restrain him
from the further prosecution OF his illegal and
Injurious conduct The State having loaned
it's bonds to aid the road Is still more IN
terested In It's early and direct construction
d - and t,n1 M, inf
being built to Marshall. 1t is safeto say that
had the bill provided or contemplated the
use of the State credit In aid OF q road
outside the limits Of the State, IT would
never have become q law, and should 1t be SO
used in the future there can be no doubt
the next Legislature would repeal the blll ana
thus stop the further issuance OF the bonds
When the bill to aid the road by the loan of
State bonds came up for consideration during
Che last session of the Legislature it contained
the following clause: The company shall
bind itself to extinguish annually $4,000 Of
said State bonds, commencing five years after
the completion Of its line to Shreveport ana ana
Representatives from this parish the words
''arld Marshall, Texas were stricken from
the bill, and thus 1t will be seen. as | stated
before, that the State has direct interest ID
the construction OF the road to Shreveport.
1--WE also insisted for some time that pro-
vision recurring work to commence at Shreve-
port should be inserted in the bill, but did not
offer 1t as an amendment, at the earnest re-
quest Of Col. Wheelock, who thought amend
ments would endanger the bill He further
more insisted that it was not necessary TO
insert that in the bill, as it was matter en-
tirely with the board of directors, and pledged
himself and his board that if we would not
offer the threatened amendment work should
commence at Shreveport as we desired. Al
forwards, at the request of Mr. Irrelevant,
Clerk of the House, who ably assisted us in
our efforts to protect the interests of Shreve-
port, Col Wheeloek put those pledges in
writing and delivered the paper to Mr. Irez-
evant who still has 1t In his possession.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, | feel quite, con-
fident that the New Orleans Pacific railway
will be completed from New Orleans to
Shreveport within twelve months, and II
dence any of those who have heretofore
doubted such result. and lifted them from the
plane of dependency, ] shall feel highly
gratitied. Respectfully, W. IL. WISE.