Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-11
THE ADVOCATE AND THE RAIL.
ROAD.

many of the points advanced in it's
article of last Saturday, relating to
the ordinance submitted to the Coun-
Gil by Col. Wheelock, has res0ited to
the weak device of Strengthening its
awkward position by obtaining the
opinions Of gentlemen Oh premises
which are not based on the real condl-
ton 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
ward. or of sacrificing the revenues
of the city, should have been made
acquainted, first, by the said reporter,
with the fact that no such donations,
so such interference, and no such sdcrt-
fees werc at issae before the CITY
Council.
They should have known that COL
Wheelock's ordinance was not dis
ctlssed at the first meeting OF the
Council, who referred it to Com
mittee of the Whole, which has made
no report thereon as yet. Further
more, that the Council, on Tuesday,
inconterence with Judge Kennard the
Attorney of the company, advanced
in q proper spirit numerous ob]ec-
tions to the adoption of the ordinance;
and finally, ut the suggestion even of
Judge Kennard, who distinctly stated
that the company wanted to pay s'ts
waY, 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 railroad
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.
1t is not in that way that questions
affecting 50 materially the vital inter-
ests of community, should be han
died.
A newspaper studying the welfare
of community, should not go
of at half-cocl in any such manner.
Baton Rouge could not Gire any
property along the river front tor the
reason that II has none except strip
Of batture situated opposite and
above the coal yard, which by the
way, leases the most prominent city
front of about nine hundred feet for
the insignificant sum of twelve hun
dred dollars year,
At best, Baton Rouge could only
lease the front of such property as
the railroad might buW.
Not single member of the coun-
Gil has expressed himself in favor of
sacrificing a single cent of the rev.
enues OF the city, although some Of
them have manifested the desire to
facilitate the company as fal as its
very limited capacity would permit,
How far that capacity goes, as the
Advocate well knows, has not yet
been determined.
Hence. it is to say the least, unwise
to raise the cry of wolf before the
beast has been seen.
This question must be calmly con-
sidered. The cry of "d--n the rail
road" is not the one with which to
meet the advent of the first line of
railroad to a town just emerging from
o state of staguation, by being made
suddenly the Capital Of the State,
Fortunately the council is compos-
ed of men, who, we trust, will consid-
er the welfare of the rhoie city, the
upper as we'll as the lower,
Let it be remembered too that the
best chance to get Il railroad into Mis-
-