The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-01-10

contemplated in the near future q
completion Of tho New Orleans Pa.
citic road.
Mr. Clarke stated with great frank
ness that hc had been familiar with
the advantages Of this connection
for two or three years, and that his
recent inspection confirmed the
opinion that the road bed. already
constructed, had been carefully pre-
pared, especially with q view to pia.
cling 1t above the highest water ever
known in the country, and that it
penetrated u more fertile area than
any railroad. without exception, in
Louisiana.
A completion Of the Vicksburg and
Shreveport road. running as It did
through a less fertile area, would not
make it dangerous competitor.
The country travcrsed is susceptible
OF producing a variety OF products.
including wheat, corn, cotton. sugar
and tobacco, and is timbered with
many valuable woods. such as hard
ptne. white oak, post oak, hickory,
and some poplar.
Concerning the disposition OF cap
itaiists to complete a road which
affords cultiyators Of the soil a speed
lily accessible market, Mr.. Clarke
has repeatedly spoken to influential
gentlemen upon this subject. There
IL no question whatever that capital
will always seek investment where
the security is certain, and where
the enterprise will command a large
profit. Capitalists who do business
elsewhere dem md larger return
for their investment than residents.
Tue improvement Of property In New
Orleans, the Increase in its volume OF
trade, and its commercial progress
are OF no interest whatever to them
unless they can profit by it.
When this matter il preached to
Northern capitalists, they ut onco
and very naturally, suggest: III
tbs be OF go immense advantage to
New Orleans, why do not New Or
leans people take hold OF II? II
their trade il to be increased and
their property improved, why do
they manifest no desire to secure
what, to u business man. would seem
an absolute necessity 2"
To this pertinent query. NJ. Clarke
made the stercotypet reply, to DO
beard upon the streets every day, and
will be reiterated for the next TWEEN.
ty years: "New Orleans merchants
and business men have no money!"
To this the response was made,
that they had r.. ney enough last
year to invest $4,000, 900 In .. s.
tour per cent bon ). They had mo-
oey enough to sd up their places
u business, and end four months
Ut every summer At q Northern wa.
terlng place. They can do business
OK months in the year and remain
IDLE the remainder. Our exper ience
teaches Us that six months labor for
either muscle or capital, is not
enough to pay q years interest, and
We do not propose to risk our cap.
ltal upon any such terms. e.
A merchant OF any prominence at
tho North manages, six or eight
weeks every year. to secure a vaca-
ton, but his business, which has
been thoroughly eystematiZed, goes
"a unin terruptedly during bis ab.
selce. He can't afford to do other
aise, and capital knows this as we'll
~ It knows anything. We don't
Deed S0uthren money for any en-
teeprtse We decide to undertake in
tho South, but We do need some as
surance that the enterprise will re.
Ceive the earnest and vigorous CO.
operation Of tho community to be
benefited. In helping themselves
they help US. 1t is the man that
would double his crop Of cotton, and
make twice tho money no did last
year 10 this, who would double our
freight. a.. 1914. +.
Did be own a small interest In the
road and receive q share Of the prof.
tts, IL would be pretty sure to be prof.
table. II the New Orleans people
would subscribe any specific
amount TO the road to insure their
activity In tho matter twelve months
In tho year, and the development OF
new industries that will employ
them twelve months In the year,
| the road will DO built. -
! Tho bulk Of the cotton and grain
produced to-day in northern Texas
land southern Arkansas takes q trip
Of 1890 unnecessary miles to reach q
market. Most Of it goes to st.
Louis. Marshall, Texas, is 400 miles
nearer New Orleans and tide water
THAI st. Louis. The grain, which Is
10 the shape Of flour, goes abroad
from that city. is crrried there from
the grain producing centres, and
takes q trip OF 1900 miles down thu
river to reach the point OF shipment.
when It might just as easily (be
ground 10 New Orleans mills. !
The bulk OF the grain produced u
northern Texas could just as easily
! reach New Orleans by q 400 milel
nearer way, aud be converted intt
! flour and 70 abroad to q market, q
t not, provided there was q disposition
manifest on the part OF the oommu
!. nifty to do it. @ior
a. it is, New Orleans is tho onli
D important seaport In the Units
I. Estates that does not connect by q
|. systetl Of railroads with any wealth
producing section. In 1859, she dit
, tho bulk OF the business Of Texas
when that State had 900 inhabi
tauts. 5rr1
0 Now, with q population Of /, 500, o0
D consumers. she scarcely furnishc,
9 any supplies. Wholesale stocks
! owing TO the lack Of customers, have
I been 90 wOfully reduced that eve,
|oid customers, have been buying
although, almost to a man, they hat
rather trade in New Orleans thar
any city 10 America. H,ssp
II they only wait long enough
Northern capital will build u roIl
}, from Shreveport to Alexandria, ant
SCOOP up all the cotton which grow,
upon both banks OF Red river be
tween those two places. T
Mr.. Clarke ascertaIusl on this tri,
q that the cotton in these netghbo!
+ hoods il now being hauled from nine