The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-12-21
COMMUNICATED.
Churchyiile and the N. 0. P. Il. X.
Crossing, atChafalaya
J. River.

SEVSs1uS, htSHdAoAdy@
River. II
In. EDIToR:-
Not long since made flying visit to i.
and vicinity, aud propose
"a saw few words of persons ana
.bings CONNECTED with that visit,
which more or less impressed them
selves ubon nv mind. Geographically
is on the right bank of the
Atchafalaya river, going South, ana Is
about midway between Simmsport ana
Washington. Censnsly it has two OF
three dwellings, two stores, a ware
honse. Church and Post Office
Why or whence its name know not.
For If greatness it has, then certainly
tits not in numbers makes IL great, pu'
greatness of its name. In this, now
ever, tits like many another person or
place, tits great only in that great speli
"a name. But the community arouha
Churchvile is rather an exceptional
one for this State, that is, as far as my
knowledge and observation goes. me
farmers there, as general thihg' are
free from the common and disgraceful
vices of this State, viz: Gambling,
Drinking, etc. They are therefore So
Der. Industrious and prosperous. Ihey
are also social, genuinely social; a
thing, by the way, which is too often a
rara'ayis in this State. The young peo-
p|e there, too, do not think 1t beneath
their dignity to be somewhat SOBER
mindedeto think Of something else be-
sides dancing. frolicing and general ca
rousing. And stranger still, the people
there, both old and young, whether
saint or sinner, generally like to go to
Church. Would that in this State there
were more such communities as that OF
Churchville!
i Unjust be allowed to speak also spe.
officially of Il certain young man in thai
community. l will not mention his
name, for those of your readers who
know anything of Churchville will
like detectives, readily spot their man
and to those unacquainted there his
name would add but little more than
what is here revealed. Be it under
stood, too, that l speak without hi
knowledge or consent. The subjec
; then is young man about Is years old
| 4
he has been "doing for himself" Th
, last few years he has been located nea
Churchville, and at present has stor
S about three miles above aud tradIn!
boat about the same distance beloy
Churchvilc. He has been and still !
4 doing thriving business, being tnC
!, rough going, industrious and attentiv
business man. Morally, and | woul
J. emphasize this. lie is almost a model
Listen He does not drink, nor gamble
nor chew tobacco, nor swear, nor IN
!. dulge in vulgar language or smut
:, Jokes. SO far he has never obeye
=, the Gospel, and with that exception hi
q example is worthy of all imitation
e, Now, Mr.. Editor, how many sue
young men as the above are there viii
in the range of the circulation of yot
!, paper? Or rather, what is the chara
:, ter of the average young man with
" that range? How many are there thu
% are an honor to themselves, to the
10 family, and to their country? All! "
A. know too well the story of their thr'
dom; they are slaves. Slaves, not to
horde of petty tyrants, feudal dcspot
but slaves to their baser passions, al
en- seemingly bound hand and foot
at Pleasures gilded charlotte the ba
he room, the intoxicating cup, and SUI
II like, Oh! shame hast thou no blusl
-, And young man, think well OF yo
Vi conduct! Beware! oh! beware of t
sparkling bowl. 1t may be fun no
but fearful will be the end. Consid
n that
a "In the flowers that wreath the spa1
"a ling bowl,
~, Fell addcrs hiss, and poisonous serper
az roll
1e Now, Mr.. Editor, when we thus KIN
IN the general conduct of the avera
yeung man here, then to meet such
one as the above described is as
ant Oasis of the desert to the weary trav
-. ,er, or as the calm haven to the temp
'ie' tossed ship, or as Lot among the
hs domites.
30. But we now turn to 4 subject that
'er, some time past has engaged tue att
etc ton of the people, viz:
M. THE RAILROAD.
ck Now what we here say has immeli
reference to the railroad crossing
-. Atclafa a a river. This naturally
"'n vides itself into three parts.
lon, l. The Baton Rouge side. Of col
3 OF it s.known to your readers that fl
und New Orleans via Baton Rouge, the !
,;no Orleans and Pacific Railroad has b
ou, gradually approaching the Atcliafal
'u river. Now there is on both sides
the this river, and especially on the B;
, of Rouge side, what is known rs the
tier chalalaya swamp. Through this sw;
large amount oftresseling and a g
deal of grading was necessary, in S
j, places the grade being seventeen
BRO high. Nearly all summer greater
'our lesser efforts have been made to |
id a this work from tie river through
NJ swamp and meet the construction
49,. Baton Rouge. For the last two MO
Aoo' the convicts have been aiding in
an work, and we believe it is now {
able plcted, so that by this time the tra'
,nts. possibly laid to the river OH the d
nent rouge sue az least soiac Two y.
ton engine could be heard from
river.
rong 2. The crossing proper. Of CO
Ash the river is to be bridge If at all p
ut BILE. For a long time this seemed
zoos doubtful--it seemed to battle engil
10 ing skill. The attempt is, howeve
ION be made. The bridge is to be a
Just bridge. These piers are to be mad
eel so sinking hollow iron tubes sufficie
sure and then filling them with concret
g., understand these tubes are now /
n'os sunk. But it will be some time b
IS OF the bridge is ready for use. In
ight- meantime the river will be crossed
transfer boat. This boat, Transfe
2, is and for some time has been t
1t is a side-wheel steamer, 200 feet
table from end to end # Is yerv sinh
st. TALLY made, and seems to have
La, built with special reference to tn