Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-09
THE ADVOCATE AND THE RAIL.
ROAD.

cate, 1ndlnS IL Impossible 10 susIaih
many of the points advanced in it's
article of last Saturday, relating to
the ordinance submitted to the C0un-
eli by Col. Wheelock, has resorted to
the weak device of strengthening It's
awkward position by obtaining the
opinions of gentlemen on premises
which are not based on the real condi-
tion of affairs.
The gentlemen who so hastily, on
Yesterday, allowed the Advocate re-
porter to draw from them statements
to the effect that they were opposed
to donating city property to the New
Orleans Pacific and to interfere with
the privileges enjoyed by the coal
yard, or of sacrificing the revenues
of the city, should have been made
acquainted, first, by the said reporter,
with the fact that no Saeh donations,
50 such Interference, and no sach Sacr'-
fees weye at issue before the City
Council
They should have known that COL
WheelOck's ordinance was not dis
cussed at the first meeting of the
Council, who referred it to Com
nittee of the Whole, which has made
no report thereon as yet. Further
more. that the Council, on Tuesday,
in conference with Judge kennard the
Attorney of the company, advanced
in q proper spirit numerous oblec-
lions to the adoption of the ordinance;
and finally, at the suggestion even OF
Judge Kennard, who distinctly stated
that the company wanted to pay its
wog, deferred action until closer
investigation of the city's engage
ments could be made, ere the exact
location of the railroad landing and
depot grounds were definitely made.
And the Advocates reporter, being
present at the meeting, knew all this
Hence, that paper should not have
brought out hasty opinions which
make a number of estimable gentle
men:appear in the unenviable light
of being the opponents of a railroad
j that comes to place the Capital in full
communication with all that portion
of the State lying West of the Missis'
sippi, and with Texas and the entire
railroad system OF the United States.
It is not in that way that question:
affecting so materially the vital inter
csts of a community, should be han
died.
A newspaper studying the welfare
Of community, should not g
off at half-cock in any such manner.
Baton Rouge could not gre any
property along the river front for thu
reason that 1t has n0Re except a stril
of batture situated opposite anC
above the coal yard, which by thu
way, leases the most prominent cit,
front of about nine hundred feet TO
the insignificant sum of twelve hun
dred dollars a year.
At best, Baton Rouge could onl.
lease the front Of such property a
The railroad might bmJ.
Not a single member Of the coun
ell has expressed himself in favor @
sacrificing a single cent of the rev
enues OF the city, although some Q
them have manifested the desire t
facilitate the company as fal as it
very limited capacity would permit
would permit.
How far that capacity goes, as tn
Advocate well knows, has not ye
been determined. y
Hence, it is to say the least, unwis
to raise the cry Of wolf before til
beast has been seen.
This question must be calmly col
sidered. The cry of "d-n the raj
road is not the one with which t
meet the advent of the first line {
railroad to q town just emerging frol
state of stagnation, by being mad
suddenly the Capital of the State.
Fortunately the council is compo'
ed of men, who, we trust, will conslt
or the welfare Of the whole city, IL
upper as well as the lower.
Let it be remembered too that I'll
L. u.4 ~ SO ,l,,,n1 ;p+n NE,