The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1881-02-12
Rail Road to New Iberia.

very thoughtful person that Az
only requires a little better
transportation and commercial
ABILITIES to become an important
business place. Upon the compile
ion Of the Louisiana, Navigation
canal, she will enjoy
and quick water commu-
lication with New Orleans. The
rail road from Houston to New
Orleans, passing as it does within
a short distance of the town, places
US within a few hours ride of the
great thoroughfare of commerce
and travel. Business and the in
terests Of the community alike
demand that we should make an
effort to come in closer contact
with the outside world. In this
age of steam, rail communication
has ever proven the most feasible
and efficient means of efecting
this end. Our sister town, New
Iberia now manifests a laudable
desire to become united to Able
vile, by the iron bands Of rail
road communication. The short
distance, of some twenty odd miles,
over. a level, open country with,
no engineering difficulties to en-
counter renders the scheme emf
nently feasible and perfectly prac-
ticable. The horrible condition
of the common roads during or
binary wet weather, and the &C
tual amount of travel necessary
demand, either a rail road or a
graded toll turnpike. OF these
the former is far more the pre-
ferable. The immense amount Of
back country with its traffic ada
cent to Abbeyille, certainly pre-
sents a strong proof of its assured
financial success. A company
with ample capital to build ane
equip the road could easily h'
formed here and in New Iberia
Suitable arrangements could b'
effected with Morgan's Rail Roal
c.- f.ni~ht frnnennrtatiOu to au(
from New Orleans which indcpeIl
dent of local freights, would form
a handsome revenue. We inten(
to agitate this subject from tim
to time aud invite discussion upol
the matter. Our esteemed cotem
porary the New Iberia Star Of tn
goth ult., has the following re
marks to make in regard to it =
New IBERIA TO ABBEyILLE.-
Railroad Betueen those points Co,
Meeting the Bayou Vermitiion Wit
) the Bayou Teche. The miserabl
condition of what are termed pull
lie roads must have awakened tn
PEOPLE Of these two towns and til
intervening country to the neces
sity for a reliable and rapid mean
of constant communication. !
large proportion Of the presen
cotton. sugar and molasses crok
j, are still on the farms because c
lack Of facilities for transports
ton. Persons travelling for plea:
ure or business--of whom ther
are many at this season of til
. year--have to resort to all mar
ner of expedients in order to &c
to their destination, and there
| no doubt that another season lik
the present one would 90 far t
destroy the business of Ne,
-,
Iberia. Nothing more readiI
r suggests itself than the constru,
ton of a branch railroad frol
New Iberia to Abbeville. No Ell
terprise could be more commend;
BILE or whose success would MOI
rebound to the advantage of OF
: section of country. We hay
/. conversed with several of th
g planters living along the line
! this road and they have assure
Il US that they will gladly build tt
+ road-bed if the merchants of Ne
Iberia will come down with han'
! some subscriptions.
The precedent established b
our neighbors of Terrebonue an
S Lafourche. should incite US
r like efforts. We now listen for
h voice from the merchants. WI
cpnaka fret 2