St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-02
New Orleans Pacific Railroad.

New Orleans Pacific road was intro
duced in the House of Representative
on the Gath inst, by Mr.. Kelly of Winn
The aid contemplated is in the nature
of a loan of ten thousand dollars on
each ten miles of completed road, Sc
cured by first mortgage bonds of the
company. Under its provisions says
the New Orleans Democrat, the State
seems to be fully guaranteed against
loss. We hope the bill may pass. 1t
will hasten the completion of this great
work Of internal improvement, destined
to play 80 grand part in the develope-
ment of Louisiana, and the restoration
of commercial prosperity to New Or
leans. The road will cross Bayou Petit
Prairie at Capt. Cartnouche's plantation,
about nine or ten miles from 0pelousas
on an air line. When completed the
building of a branch to Opelousas, will
be the next thing. If we are not mis-
taken, about 1870 Gen. Crose, connected
with the road at that time, offes s'ed when
the road was completed, to build Il
branch to Opelousas, if the parish would
subscribe $751; 900 in bonds of the parish,
running twenty years, bearing eight per
cent interest, the bonds to lie issued
and delivered when the bl;euch was
completed. The matter was talked OF
considerably here at the time, but the
Franco Prussian war coming on, the
matter Of building the main line was
abandoned, owing to financial derauge-
ments consequent thereon.
To show our readers the progress that
has been made in this work, the coun-
try it will penetrate, the trade it will
open up, &c. We! reproduce from the
New Orleans Democrat OF he:25ti inst,
the report Ut the cotton exchange COM
mittee, appoAted to confer :with the
New Orleans Pacific Railway Company,
relative to its work expenditures, pros
pect for completion aud financial status,
with the remarks thereon of Mr.. Clarke,
general manager of the New Orleans,
st. Louis and Chicago railrosd. Perry
Nugent, President Of the csDtton ex-
change presided and the follpwing re-
port was read by Henry G. Hester, Esq ::
To the President and Directdr of the
New Orleans Cotton Exchange:
GENTLEMEN-The undersigned ap-
pointed committee under xour resO-
luton OF the 9th inst, to cOnRer with Il
committee from the New Orlehns Pacific
Railway Company, as requested by the
president OF said company, respectfully
submit this their report:
We met the president and board OF
directors by appointment, wl,pn tue ad
yautages OF the road, to the cotton in
terests of the city, were explained, and
d full and free exhibit made Of the pro-
gress OF the work, the colsdition on
which it is being done, the sassistance
received, it's present .uecessities
and prospects.
The first point we will not now elab-
CRATE, AZ no doubt each mem Der OF your
board is already convinced Of the de-
sira bility of railroad connection with
Texas. Already $50 miles are graded,
comprising the heaviest portion Of the
route, leaving 100 miles to retch SLreve-
port, Oh 115 miles Marshall, Texas. OF
this latter 115 miles, Marshall agrees to
glade, bridge and cross-ties % miles,
being the distance from Marshall to the
State line. The work is being done by
Penitentiary convicts, and, perhaps, OH
more favorable terms than Iny similar
work was ever before undertaken. The
contracts to clothe and feed
the laborers, to pay the salaries of the
necessary guard and allow the contrac-
tor sum that barely sufficea to support
his family, the balance OF tile pay to be
settled with first mortgage bonds on
completion of the contract. Culverts
have been built as the work ksprOgressed,
and all bridges on the route; Scan be built
at light expense on piles, except the one
crossing the Atchafalaya.
The amounts SO far subscribed are
1856, 800 to the capital stock; ;aud 500. 600
to first mortgage bonds, together $452,
900. of which has been cohected $392,
sos, leaving Il balance of $80S)45, of which
$13, 900 to $4,000 is uncoIlertible. The
only indebtness, besides what is due the
on the completion Of the
road, as before stated, is $4,000 bor-
rowed of the banks,
There are. az present, roo laborers
employed On the road, requiring an ex-
penditure OF $4,000 or $4,000 monthly,
and on a failure to meet this require.
ment they would necessarily be removed,
i'll all probability, not to be again en-
gagged on the same favorable tern,s.
1t, Is estimated to take 100000 to
grade, cross-tle and prepaSe the road
bed tor the rails, and shotf lid this sum
be prnniptly furnished, your committee
is we'll satisfied the work can be com
pleteu anu the cars running over it by
the first of Nov vember nexH.
Whenever y sufficient sum is sub
scr,6ed to grade and cross. 3tie the route
and build the bridges, we DIRE convinced
the rails and rolling stock 2can be had.
The former by purchase wSth first mort
gage bonds, and the latters can be pur-
chased or rented as may be deemed
advantageous. The president and also
a leading director have had assurances
from responsible parties interested in
rolling mills that the rails would be
furnished on the terms named, but it
was hardly to be expected that they
would enter into written contract to
such effect before the RAILROAD company
on its part could say positively it would
need the rails and when.
AS some persons who would otherwise
subscribe liberally may apprehend the
project cannot he carried through and
tle'amount Of their subscriptions would
be lost to them without effecting the
object intended, we will mention that,
in case conditional subscription list of
5000, 600 is gotten mp, q bond of indem-
nifty will be made by respG nsible parties,
the completion and equip.
ment of the road,
We believe the enterprise is entitled
t0 the Endorsement and efficient mid of
the Cotton Exchange, and that what is
to be done should be done promptly.
In that view we recommend d general
meeting called, when the subject can be