The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-08-25
Railroad to Alexandria.


tie whole State will be delighted to
know that Messrs c. A. Whitney &
Co. have awarded the contract for
building the extension of the Morgan's
Louisiana and Texas Railroad, from
OpeIousas to Alexandria, to Messrs.
Rogers g. Ballentine, the parties who
are now engaged in constructing the
road from Vermilion to Opelousas.
The distance from Opelousas to Alex
andria is sixty three miles, and from
Vermilion to Opelousas it istwenty one
miles and rour-tentlls.
With the promptness and energy
which ever chamcterizes the actions of
Messrs. G. A. Whitney & Co. in all
matters pertaining to tl,4ir vast and
rapidly increasing business, the steel
rails and all fastenings, etc, have been
purchased, aud are to be delivered in
October, November, December and
January, so that il the weather is at
all propitions, aud there is 40 delay in
getting ont tie requisite number OF
ties, the road will be finished to Wash
ineton by October Is, to point nea,
Holmcsviile in January next, and to
Alexandria Ivy April, 1881.
Tie gentlemen to whom this large
and most important contract has beer
awarded are young, experienced, and
possessed of the requisite vim and en-.
ergy to push the work through in ac-
cordance with the above programme
as is sufficiently attested By the rapid
and satisfactory manner in which they
have executed the contract for the frs
section of the road. We not only fee
elated ourselves by the bright pros
poets unfolded by this news, aud by
the certainty of early connection by
rail with one of the richest sections OF
the whole State-a section hitherto en-
tirely dependent on the uncertain nav
isation of Red River and its tributa
ries-but we congratulate the people
of Alexandria and IF the Red Rive
country upon the opening up of swift
and certain communication between
them and the people Of New Orleans
1t has too long been stigma npo,
Louisiana that her interior towns an,
Parishes were almost as inaccessible a
points on The remote frontier, and on
people were not fully alive to the i'm
i'portance of experimenting her vas
natural waterways by railroads. Til
time has come at last. however, il
which tho scales have fallen from on
eyes, and we come to know aud appre
ciate the worth of railroads as element
of civilization, and as a means of bull
ding up the prosperity of our city an,
State.
1t will not be many years before tn
whistle of the locomotive will arous
the echoes IN the widest portion q
Louisiana, and awaken the people t.
life aud action.
/ Messrs. c. A. Whitney g. Co. are de
termined not to be behind in the gram
work Of bringing our people nearer to
gether and of developing the natura
resources of the State by railroad.
They are moving forward with aston
islling rapidity and will, rare goo
Judgment. and will be clearly entitle
to the golden harvests which their en-
ergy, sagacity and enterprise will sure
~ yield.
Now let the work be pressed forwar
through Central Louisiana and Arlan
sas to Little Rock, and the vast trad
of Arkansas will again be poured int
New Orleans. Central Louisiana wi
rapidly be peopled will, immigrant.
and the locol traffic OF this line wi
soon yield rich harvest to those VIII
may have the foresight to extend tn
road in that direction.-[New Orleau
Democrat.