The Morehouse clarion. [volume] (Bastrop, La.) 1874-1904, 1880-04-23
Shall we Have Rallroad!-COntinued.
For the Clarion.

| LII OidCl w StSlSl 'iSthSl {
railroad is within our means, We
must consider two things:
| First. The actual outlay required
| to be made, and
| Second, Whether we are able tc
make it.
In last weeks paper | gave the
estimates of the total cost per mile
of constructing railroad through
our country. The totals for a road
either narrow or broad guage are
larger than we can hope to raise as
cash capital. But l hardly need
| say that no such cash amount is
necessary to ensure the completion
of road. In order to build a
railroad, the only cash outlay nee
essary is an amount sufficient to
construct the road-bed-i e., to do
the grading, bridging, and get the
cross-ties. This is about One-fourth
of the total cost of the road COM
pleted. Instances Of more than
this amount being provided to ini-
tate any railroad enterprise are
exceedingly rare, and in the very
large majority of cases, they have
been successfully undertaken upon
much less. But it will be neither
safe nor wise for us to undertake
this line unless we can provide this
amount. Most of the failures in
railroad enterprises result from this
cause. Their cash capital is insult
ficient to construct their road bed
and the companies are forced to
sell their first mortgage bonds to
raise money to go on with their
grading. Then they have only a
second mortgage to offer as security
for their iron and rolling stock and,
of course, they fail to get it, unless
the first mortgage is very small and
the location of the road very favor
able.
If we are really in earnest about
a railroad, then let us provide for
the completion of the road bed
before we commence the work in
order that we may be able to offer
a first mortgage for the iron and
rolling stock. For this purpose
stock subscription of one hundred
thousand dollars will be ample to
cover all costs and contingencies.
This amount to be payable in two,
three, four or five annual INSTALL
ments as the directors, elected by
the stockholders, may determine.
In my opinion, therefore, we may
have railroad in four years if we
can raise twenty-five thousand dol
lars per annum for that purpose for
that time.
And now what means have we :?
If this amount were to be raised by
taxation, a five mill tax upon the
two parishes of Ouachita and More
house alone-to say nothing of the
counties of Ashley and Drew in
Arkansas-would nearly suffice. A
tax of one dollar per bale ON cotton
in the two parishes will more than
make it. The proceeds of fruits,
vegetables, potatoes, milk,
butter. eggs, and poultry, for which
a railroad will bring a market, will
do it. One half of the amount paid
annually for mules in Morehouse
alone is enough. The absolute an
nual saving in expenses in
every branch of business will ex-
ceed that amount, and the enhance
nent in values of property through
out the entire district tributary to
his road, will be more than enough |
Q complete and equip two such
ines. The volume of bust
ness in the two parishes alone is
over three millions annu-
lily, and the completion of this
Dad will increase this almost at
'nce twenty-five per cent, upon all
II which an ncreased margin of
profit will be reaped by our people.
f the outlay of twenty-five thou
and dollars for four years will
ring us a railroad, we can GER
ainly not plead want of means.
We are also exceptionally well
ituated for embarking in this en-
erprise, for in addition to the adj
antage of having rich and grow