The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-02-25
FROM v1CKsBURG TO SHREVEPORT

FROM vICKSBUR6 TO SHREVEPORT.
lFrom the N. O. Times-Democrat].
Announcement is made that contracts
have been signed for the extension of
the ", s. and p. Railroad from Mon
roe west to Shreveport. The distance
is about 100 miles, and the route for
the greater part of the distance lies
through a high, slightly rolling coun.
try, in which railroad building can be
cheaply and expeditiously prosecuted.
1t Is stated that the terms of these con-
tracts stipuIate for the completion Of the
road by December 1st of the present
year. The railroad bridge at Monroe
is nearly finished, and grading as far
west as Arcadia-4O miles-has been
under way for some time past. The
prospect, therefore seems excellent.
| We have every right to expect. that be-
fore next Christmas there will be
through rail communication to Shreve-
port, via Vicksburg and should the
Isarlanger managers carry out their
scheme of Improvement as regards the
already completed road from Vicks-
burg to Monroe, the trip will be as
pleasant and as rapid as any in the
South.
A great deal of work, however, must
be done before that cOnsummattQn can
be reached. The 72 miles of road be-
tween Vicksburg and Monroe are in
great dflapidation. The bed Is rough +,
rails are more than twenty years old,
badly worn and incapable of enduring
speed greater than fifteen or twenty
miles an hour. Furthermore, about
thirty miles of the road are inundated
regularly every spring to such an ex-
tent as to suspend traffic during a period
of several weeks. This stretch will
have to be raised-in some places as
much as six feet-the embellishments
will have to be strengthened, and the
track held with steel fish-bar rails and
heavily ballasted. Without these inn
provements, it would be an idle waste
to spend money in extending the road
beyond Monroe. We understand that
the company propose to effect all these
Improvements, however; in fact, we
know that the raising of the roadbed
through the swamp was inaugurated
early last fall and pushed as rapidly as
possible until the premature inunda-
ton of the low lands compelled q sus-
pension of the work. 1t appears that
the idea is to prosecute the reparation
of the old road contemporaneously with
the construction of the new extension,
SO that the entire line from Vicksburg
to Shreveport will be brought up to a
high standard of efficiency and opened
to traffic and travel as a completed
whole.
The opening of the road through
North Louisiana will be of inestimable
benefit to tho people. 1t will at once
enhance the value of property and in
crease the rewards of industry through
| ,pk Soofinr - Harof0.
fore the district lying between the Qua
chita and Red rivers has been practi-
cally out of the world. The difficulties
of transportation are so great rs to iso-
late the people almost entirely. Their
crops have to be hauled long distances
over bad roads through the mud and
sleet Of winter, and the profits of agri.
culture are so severely taxed az to
leave but little for the farmer. The
new order of things will be gratefully
and beneficially felt. 1t remaining only
for the company to adopts liberal and
far.seeing policy in order to develop the
vast resources of the country through
which the road runs, to induce popula-
ton and to promote varied and lucra-
tive industries. Such policy will give
to the northern part of the State sub
stantial and enduring prosperity. 1t
will people those thinly settled parishes
with thrifty and conservative citizens
and furnish the needed impetus for q
great and peaceful development. North
Louisiana is to be congratulated upon
the prospect.
GENERAL HANCOCK.
A special dispatch to the New Or
leans Times-Democrat, from Vicks-
burg and dated the 10Th, says:
Among the passengers by the Chou