Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-15

In the hope that communication by
rail with Baton Rouge might be Sc
cured at an early day. The letter
concludes:
In behalf Of the citizens of Baton
Rouge, of New Orleans, and of all the
northern and western parishes, |
respectfully join Mayor Jastremski in
the request that the line of your road
may be so located as to give easy
communication with the capital of
our State, where the State government
mustsoon bepermanently established,
as our constitution provides.
Your influence in promoting the
interests of a very large number of
our fellow citizens, by providing the
desired railway connection with their
capital, is earnestly requested.
| further request thatyou will oblige
me by stating what the purpose fthe
New Orleans Pacific railway may be
respecting the location Of their road.
Visiting the Office of the company
representative of the Democrat was
assured by the officers of the company
that they had no intention of changing
the line of the road. The river would
be crossed at a point between five
and twelve miles below Baton Rouge,
und arrangements would be made to
place the capital and New Orleans in
direct rail communication.
During the afternoon the Governor
received the following answer from
President Wheelock:
New ORLEANS, January 9, 1884,
To His Excellency Gov. Louis A.
Wilt, New Orleans:
Dear Sir-I have The honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your favor
Of this date, with reference to our
railway connection with Baton Rouge.
/ have shown your letter to Gen.
Dodge, and he authorizes me to say
that Baton Rouge is to have a direct
communication with this city by the
New Orleans Pacific.
Very respectfully yours,
E. 3. WHEELoCK, President.
Upon the receipt of the above, en-
closed in a letter from Gov. Wilt,
the Mayer addressed him reply eX-
pressingin their name, the thanks of
our citizens for the promptness with
which he had urged the consideration
of the needs of the people in the mat
ter Of direct railway communication
with the State Capital.
The Mayor further represented to
the Governor, that a branch road
from Baton Rouge to the main line
would prove source of inconveni-
ence, delay and additional expense to
all those whose business would bring
them to the Capital. Members of the
General Assembly, Tax Collectors
on their way to make their settle
ments, Sheriffs conveying prisoners
to the Penltentiary, and citizens gen
orally having to visit Baton Rouge to
attend to their affairs with the State
officials or with the University would
be subjected TO the annoyance of
changes Of cars, etc, all Of which
would be avoided were the main line
to cross the river at Baton Rouge.
He further stated that little doubt
existed in his mind but that the peo-
pie Of Clinton, La, and Liberty, |
Miss, would at once connect them
selves by rail through Baton Rouge, |
with the Pacific road, thereby in
treasing largely the revenues Of the
road, while at the same time the re-
sidents Of that rich and populous sec
ton would be enabled to obtain quick
and cheap transportation to New Or
leans.
He also stated that it was a well
known fact that the West Baton
Rouge swamp offered a higher level
above Baton Rouge than where the
presentlineis laid through places
where the water sometimes reaches a
depth Of some Is feet; and where too,
the entertainments have so arrested
the flow Of the waters, that the plan
5erS who have found themselves inun
lated though this obstruction, have
'ut it at many points and have insti-
5uted q number of suits for damages I
!gainst the company. "
He further stated that despite the
liability incurred by the city in sub
cribins towards rebuilding the Capt.
oil, the citizens of Baton Rouge would
10 all III their power to facilitate the !
in establishing the crossing q
here. v