Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-28
TEXAS
And New Orleans-What is Being Done
to Secure NO Grand Outlets for the
Lone Star State.
The Gaps Being Filled up-Getting
Ready for Business-EncOuragin
OutlOOk-Rays of Light.

Fort Worth (Texas) Standard: For many
long years the people OF Texas have anxiously
looked forward to the day when communlca-
ton by rail would be established with New
Orleans, thus giving US speedy ana olTec -
connection with the great cotton market OF
this continent. Not until the present year
have the projects for railroads assumed any
definite shape, and the completion OF one line
almost necessitates the building OF the other,
as a competitive line. We are indebted 10
the New Orleans Picdyune for an elaborate
and exhaustive review of the proposed lines,
obtained by its reporter, who interviewed Inc
presidents of the three roads, beginning win
Mr.. Charles A. Whitney, president OF tne
Morgan steamship and railroad company.
This thorough business man stated 10 lnls
effect, that he could be more explicit IN few
DAYS as certain arrangements had not oeen
perfected. He said that the hrst step would
be to build his road from Morgan City Ilor-
merly Brashear City, to Vermlllionvllle,
distance of only sixty three miles; the road
being graded before the war. The road-oed
could be cleared and other portions regarded
in very short time. The steel ralls ana
other material for this section have been or
dered. At present the company do not IN
tend to build the road through to orange, OUT
they have the right OF way.
Governor E. d. Morgan, of New ork, ana
Mr.. Terry. who own the road from Houston
to Orange, and have interest In the New Or
leans and Mobile road, also have the rlght-of-
way from Orange to Vermlllonville, and are
anxious to see the road completed. MIR. w hit
ney saws that should Governor Morgan COM
mence operations about the same time, the
whole line may be in working order within
twelve months The distance from Orange
to Verm1lionville is one hundred miles, about
one-half of which is graded. Thus 1t appears
that two very strong railroad companies,
equally interested In closing this gap from
Orange to M Ryan City, distance OF one
hundred and sixty-three miles, over two
thirds of which is graded.
The reporter next called upon Mr.. h. B.
Wheelock, president of the New Orleans IA
cific railway company, who spread out the
map of the road, showing by the portion OF
| the line marked in red ink that the section
of one hundred and sixty miles from Rose
dale. in the northeast corner of Iberville par
| ish. to Pleasant hill, in the southeast corner
| of DeSoto PARISH, was graded; that there
| were four hundred hands on the lower line,
| TO close a gap of twenty five miles below
| Rosedale, and three hundred hands on the
upper line, to close the gap to Shreveport, a
| distance of sixty miles. The most difficult
| divisions of the grading have been compile
| ted, and the whole line through can be pre-
| pared for the rails and cross-ties In few
| months For nearly the whole distance, Mr.
| Wheelock states that the grade Is not more
| than one foot to the mile, while the grades OF
| both the rOaQS IrOm leAdS W Ot' hOulo ar 90
| much as sixty-five feet to the mile. This
| road will be able to run trains OF from thirty
| to sixty cars with the same motive power
| which would draw fifteen cars on the st.
Louis roads, The delays which have arisen
with reference to the issue of the first install
| ment of State bonds of two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, involved only matters
| of detail, which will be adjusted in few
DAYS. With his characteristic prudence, sa-
| pacity and integrity, Governor Nichols has
refused to sign the bonds until the mortgages
on the road were so compromised as not to
place IN jeopardy the interests OF the State.
The reporter of the Picayu'e also visited
General Butler, the president OF the New
Orleans, Texas and Colorado railroad compa'
nv. This road has nothing to show but Col
onel Hardee's report, to which we have be
fore referred. Starting from Donaldsonvllle
above New Orleans, the line adopted crosses
| the Sabine river at Stark's landing, then In q
direct line to Palestine and on to Dallas. Inc
distance is four hundred and sixty -four miles
only twenty miles shorter than the Wheeloch
line ria Marshall, and will cost i've million
seven hundred and twenty-four thousand tWt
hundred dollars, which is no obstacle, pro-
vided the company had the money. we have
presented, in as concise form as the subject
would admit, the actual condition and alst
the future prospects of these lines OF road
which, when completed, will give our grea
State two outlets to New Orleans by rail-, ane
giving competing lines both by rail and water
which will insure cheap rates and rapid trans