St. Landry democrat., 1879-05-24
IN O. Times. May 9th. |

IN. 0. Times, May 9th
From Mr.. Banj. O. L. Rayne, who has
just returned from Calcasicu, where for
three months past he has been engaged
in making the final surveys, some inter
Gsting points concerning the construc-
ton of the Texas and New Orleans
railroad have been obtained.
The work is being pushed forward in
a rapid and systematic manner, and
there are the best OF evidences that the
road will be finished in November, and
that by the first of December regu lar
trains will be running between this city
and Orange, on the Sabine rivG. The
line is one hundred and nine miles long,
and runs through Morgan City, Frank
lin, New Iberia, Nermilionyil!e and
Lake Charles, being, as nearly as pos
sble, Il direct road west between this
city and Houston, Texas.
Construction is going on beyond
Franklin and on both sides of Lake
Charles. Already the road is graded
within fourteen miles of Lake Charles,
and out from Lake Charles four miles,
leaving a gap of unSradcd road ten
miles in length. With exception of this
and half of the line is tied, rallied, and
in good working order.
The work on this side OF the gap is
getting along handsomely, and the rail
laying is progressing at the rate of a
half mile per day. Already the line is
in good working order from this city
to Franklin, and soon New Iberia will
be brought almost within hailing dis
tance of New Orleans.
On the further side of the gap, namely,
at Lake Charles, the works are going
rapidly forward. The road is being
graded from Lake Charles both east
and west, and, already, the bed is made
four miles in this direction, and is being
extended as rapidly as six hundred la
borers, four hundred mules and three
hundred earth scrappers and one hun
dred wagons can. The ties are sawn at
Lake Charles and transported along the
cmbankment in wagons. There is no
delay, and every part of the work is
moving satisfactorily.
Six large fiat cars have been landed
in Lake Charles via Calcasieu pass, and
two first class Baldwin locomotives are
on the road for the same point. AS soon
as the engines arrive the wagon con-
structiOn train will be discarded and the
more rapid and through steam system
will be employed.
and by the time the grading is made
through to that point from Lake Charles,
the construction train there will be
ready to begin the laying of steel rails
from that point eastward. Pretty soon,
therefore, work will be going on at four
points at once.
The grading is very easily made, and
rs the road runs for the most part
through prairie land and little trestleing
or bridging is needed. Several thou
sand feet OF the former are needed at
lake Charles, aud if the present line
over FcZpique, Canes and Plaquemines
bayOus is retained, a stretch of the same
will be required in ST. Landry parish.
Itais thought, however,, that about
twenty-One miles of grading on this
section Of the road will be abandoned,
and that new grade will be run through
the Mermenteau prairie land to the
south, where no trestleing will be nee
essary, The engineers have advised
this change, and it will probably be
carried out.
There are several bridges to be built
btween this and the middle Of July.
All will be of iron, Of the latest pattern
and Of the best material. The only
important one after the Atchafalaya
bridge is the bridge over the Sabine, at
the bluffs above Orange, This structure
is to cost S27, 900, and will be the per-
fection of the bridge work.
After crossing this bridge, the road
makes a curve out into the Texas land
and comes back into Orange. This
curve is made in order to avoid swamps
which lieSon both sides Of the Sabine
in the air line of the road.
While all tl:is work is going on, it is
gratifying to know that both in Louis
lana and irI Texas the road is welcomed
with outstretched hands. The right Of
way has been freely given and every
facility has been afforded the contractor
in his operations.
In Texas, the merchants and farmers
declare that the new road will emanci-
pate them from the rule OF Galveston.
Their interests, as well as their desires,
are centeRed in New Orleans, and they
hail the new road as an outlet from the
contracted sphere in which they have
so long been compelled to move.
The merchants Of New Orleans, On the
other hpnd, welcome T exas with even as
great pleasure, Texas has been the long
lost child of tile Crescent City, and has
been wandering in devious paths for
many years she returns at last, however.
and mutual prosperity will testify to the
great good produced by the reunion.