The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-01-14
THE RAILROAD TO OPELOUSAS.
LET Us HAVE ONE TO ALEXANDRIA.

LET Us HAVE ONE TO ALEXANDRIA.
We learn from late Opelousas and
New Orleans papers that Messrs. G.
A. Whitney 8 Co., the successors of
Charles Morgan, have made arrange
ments to build branch road from
vermillionville to Opslousas. Seve-
raj meetings of citizens Of the latter
place have been held to take such
action as would secure the prompt
Of the work.
Mr.. Pandely, the agent of Messrs.
Whitney, has informed the citizens
of that place, that all that will be
asked of them is the right Of way,
and as soon as that is secured the
road will be built.
The vim and energy for which
Charles Morgan was so distinguished
and Of which Messrs. Whitney Co,
have become the possessors, are saf'
ficient guarantees that our sister
town will soon be in railroad COM
munication with New Orleans. The
work on the New Orleans Pacific
Railway, whose line passes through
this place, has come to a stand still,
and We have no information when
they will resume operations. We have
waited so long, and have met so many
disappointments that we have al
most come to believe that the road
will never be built. The grading, 1t
is true, has been finished to Mar
shall, or a point very near there, so
that putting down the ties and track
would be the next work.
1t is given ont that the Illinois
Central, whose representative, Col.
Clark, passed through here 3 few
weeks ago in company with Presi-
dent Wheelock, will construct the
road il his report of the prospects is
favorable. The present season Of
unprecedented low water ia Red Ri.
yer, has carried tens Of thousands of
bales Of cotton to other places which,
legitimately belong to New Orleans;
but it seems that her business men
have not yet shaken of that lethar
gy and indifference from which We
are forced to admit the Queen City
of the South, has justly become a
byword in all things that pertain to
commercial enterprise and 4 proper
appreciation of her own great inter-
ests. The people Of this section
would be only too glad to have
Messrs. Whitney Co, push their
branch in this direction a little fur
Their, and bring US in communication
with the City in which, If We have a
great pride, it can not be attributed
to any great efforts she has made to
bring to her doors the products OF
that vast and varied territory, which
may yet make her in spite of herself
the 6rst City in the world.
We see no reason why Messrs.
Whitney B Co, should not be able to
make a road to this point yield
fair profits, even in the event of the
completion Of the N. o. Pacific
Railway. The latter road leaving
Bayou Boueff only a few miles Che
NEVILLE, there would be heavy way
business between that point and Op-
elousss; and Alexandria being the
head of low water navigation it could
not certainly be bad move to close
up that small gap.
We make the suggestion, not know
ing of course, how far the right of
way, ETC., granted the New Orleans
Pacific Railway would operate against
1t. But we want a railroad, and it
matters but little who builds it; II
one Corporation has the means to do
it, no previous grants to another
that has not, and that were based on
insufficient pledges, should be al.
lowed to stand in the way. Business
prospects were never brighter than
at the present time. Certainly, if we
have waited only for q reaction, we
should wait no longer. Let as have
a railroad, and that at the earliest
possible moment, is what is demand.
ed by the great interests it would do
80 much to build up.