Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-02
The Railroad Fevvr.


en- in the construction OF railroads
in our State which promises well for
its future growth and prosperity.
Since the New Orleans and Pacific
Railway has become an assured
fact, connecting this city with Mar.
shall, Texas, there are any number
of branch roads contemplated
which will place every town of any
Importance within rail communica.
ton with all parts of the country.
The town of Natchitoches proposes
to build a road, only about ten
miles in length, to connect with the
New Orleans Pacific. Alexandria
will be directly connected with this
road aud also with Morgan's Road
via Lecompte and Vermillion, while
another road is contemplated to
Xidaiia. Oftfiis last enterprise the
Alexandria Democrat says:
at seems To us that the a,lvnn.
taGe to Alexandria of the proposed
railroad must he apparent to any
one. n line of railroad having its
terminus at any place is Of more
advantage pecuRiarily TO that place
than one which merely passes
through or by it. 1t is the hand.
ling of freight and passengers which
pays any place. The connection of
that line with the New Orleans and
Pacific line would ensure the reship.
ment Of large quantity Of freight
and the transfer of an extensive
passenger traffic, which could not
fail OF being profitable. The bnild.
ing of this line would. moreover,
place us in direct and easy communi.
cation with the North and East by
rail, and the competition between
the rival cities aud rival lines would
ensure to us a cheap market and
cheap freighis.
1t would, besides all this, open up
large section Of our parish to emf
grafton and settlement which is now
Il bowling wilderness. Passing
through our extensive pine forests
we could develop a lumber trade
with Texas and the West which
would bring untold wealth; and
when the timber is cut from the
hills, they could, and doubtless
would be, utilized for the culture OF
grapes, for which they seem to be-
peculiarly fitted Ivy nature, and We
could add TO our already diversified
I urutlucfS that of wtfter
With the extension OF the Vicks-
burg and Mouroe Road to Shreve'
port and the building of the Baton
Rouge and Clinton road in addition
to the lines above referred to,
Louisiana will have net work OF
railroads that will bring the re-
hottest sections OF the State within
easy and rapid communication with
! New Orleans. This done and there
will he II demand for the valuable
lands now lying idle and M increase
OF population that will add 10 the
wealth and power OF the State.
We live in progressive age and
the people Of Louisiana cannot
afford to stand idly by while adjoin
ing States are moving along in the
line of Improvement. We have
been Indifferent and apathetic too
long and have seen trade and bust
ness Of every kind taking It's leave
of MS and seeking moro attractiv.
and enterprising points. lmmi
grants pass through our State ant
settle in Texas, not because OF thu
superiority of it's lands, the fertilit,
Of it's soil or the salubrity of its eli
mate, but because so much Of III
territory is traversed by railroad,
which can bring tho products o
the remotsst sections to the mark
cts and ports Of the country. lie
Louisiana build railroads, make thu
people independent OF the uncer
tainty of river navigation, and pu
them in close communication will
their own metropolis, with cheaI
freights and transportation, and al
empire in wealth and population
will grow within the boundary line
of our State.-Daily States.
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