The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-11
ON TO TEXAS BY Rail.
Progress Of the Work on the West
ern Louisiana Railroad.
A Trip Over the Road from Vermil-
ionville to Orange-Track Lay
ing at the Rate of g. Mile
and Half Day.
GRANGE, Tex March 7, 1880.

GRANGE. Tex March T. 1880.
To the Editor Of the Democrat:
We started acroes the prairie from Ver-
milionvie to see how near we were to the
good time when Texas and Louisiana would be-
bound together By steel. But before we take
the plains there is m extension OF MorRan's
Road we passed over which requires attention
From Morgan City you cross Berwick Bay to
Berwick City In ferry boat. The new road
begins there. and runs along the backlands
of the Teche plantations to franklin, and
thence across the prairies to avoid the bends
of the bayou. to the Teche again by Je tnnerelte
to New Iberia. To make sh ,rt line. much Of
the road Ia through the swamp. and the beau
ties OF the Teche will hereafter be known
to the traveller In the poets verse. and the re-
ports OF those who live or have Travelled along
the banks Of Longfellows Teehe.
This section of the road. from Morgan City to
New Iberia. Is now operated but requires some
raising and surfacinE to make it smooth.
Beyond New Iberia the road is built within a
mile of Vermi ion vile At this place Ia the
junction OF the Western Louisiana Railway.
coming east from Orange. This section IL laid
upon the old bed Of the Opelousas Railroad, aud
will require at least three or four weeks to sur
face and flush up. By the first OF AUril. Ii we
are not fooled. you may come to Vermilton.
Now Let us start from Vermilonvlle and cross
the prairies westerly. Oh a Look for the end Of
tho & ss rdad
Ing you how many. .coolies W, passed over, how
many dilapidated fences. barns and residences
that the ride Is not unpleasant considering no
bridges are ever built In this country and no
body hurries to give you breakfast for an early
start for any consideration.
As to the fences and buildings the great
trouble OF making settlements In these prairies
@ ro@ ss &
@ lily Years. s @ His fsnce evdentls had lad % been built M
occasional post we're left to mark the enclosure.
1t suited him. however. as he had nothing In
bis field to induce cattle nj to come in. or stay
railroad from Lake Charles will soon make
lumber plentiful and cheap.
tow s In full view Of the road bed of the Western
Louisiana Railway. It's directt N Il west from
V.rmtliouvile to Poupperville. then south
Mementow v at victorian Meyneud'.. A few miles
beyond It takes = northwssterly direction back
to The old Z, go.dbed Of the New Olleans Noble
After crossing the Mermentow We drove for
Western Louisiana. and at several. places
crossed It, giving 9 hna opportunity OF observ-
Ing the work i is beautifully put up very
openin9 the pilin9 fs all completed and ready
for the strong pieces. The bitches are wide
and assist materially In draining the sur
Ten miles from the Mermentow We strike
the Grand Marais and shirt above the roadbed
to the bridge. Two miles further on we come
In sight OF construction train on the end Of
the Western Louisiana track; coming east from
Lake Charles. This point is two miles east
OF the East Lacassagne.
We found the train to consist of an engine.
six cars. arranged with an Adams track-layer.
and the crew Of thirty men were putting down
ties and rails In. q manner which astonished
to the old method and ."one-horse style.". The
six cars. loaded each with twenty-five steel rails
and 130 ties, were discharged. and like magic
there was very regular and level track. The
miles. and replaced BY six loaded with rails and
ties. Alter dinner these were pushed to the
| front and laid. making the days work three
quarters OF mile OF track.
We might say great deal about the Adams
track-layer. but will only mention the impress
sons made ,sd % upon 90, cur minds We are con
can get down more rails In a day than one
hundred men without 1t. The savspg In ex-
penss is fully 500 to the mie proeaoly more.
The days work over. we are glad. after sixty
miles Of hack ride. to take the construction
train and move to3 ards Texas on q railroad
From the end Of the track to Lake Charles is
twenty-three miles. and we run the distance,
with twelve empty cars. in 6fty-seven min utes.
being at the rate Of twenty-four miles an hour
It appears to bs the method Of the company
to finish the road as they extend 1t; The open
CulVorfS are all plea IN u lVNnC9 OF inc
track layer. and immediatey after the track
layer comes the eurfacing force On the bridges
the car penters follow. who full.sptke the rails
and put on tour-by-six guard rail.
We looked around Lake Charles and saw
many things. but ia this letter We mus stick to
our text. On to Texas by Rail-"
half from the Calcasfeu river. Near two miles
Of the road is through the river bottom. a low
as was ever made with cypress pi!iug. heart
pine striDgers. and uniformly sawed pine ties
1t is beauty. and to appreciate 1t you must
It. When you 60 to see q railway. walk over II.
is our advice. Don't take palace coach. with
2 dozen friends. ami look out Of the windows at
the trees and telegraph poles. and rest your
eyes by. looking into lunch basket or cham
Excuse the depression. We next came too, The
spans of about one hundred and eighty feet
each. centre draw. The iron rstuction Of
containing twelve piles. twelve inches square.
and filed with concrete. making as solid sup-
port as granite piers. The centre pier. upon
piles In fifteen loot casing OF half inch iron,
also t1lled with concrete. The centre span is
ready to 6e y, Into Linz and only
east and vast from Lake Charles.
Westward again. we take the early construc-
surfaced surf &C track This briggs us to the eap which
cennect The h Sabine and Gacasiea @ rlvers By
Following our walking theory as the best way
OF inspecting. we start on the tramp to ana the
end Of the rail- coming east from Orange. In
! two hours and a half we walked the embank-
| ment Of seven and q. half miles. and again re-
joice to see a railroad. The track laying is 60
Ing on on this section by the same method as
described ard at the came rate. THUS the gap
Of seven miles is being closed at tn. rate Of
three quarters of a mile day and at the same
time being pushed towards the Mermentow,
making mile aud a half a day In our railway
advance to connect Louisiana with Texas,
| Again we take the train. ten miles distant
from Orange. few miles of high embank-
ment. two miles ras. OF trestie W9rk snronea the
the sabine river upon an iron bridge of simi,,
lar construction to that over the Calcasieu, and
miles we enter Orange. and are at the end, Of
our trip. To accomplish this we had Travelled
by stage. q niles
| by tfampiDR ....... ......---..- HllHs
| By railroad. Observation-Disclosures. Is miles