The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-09-20
cOIFAx. GRANT PARISH La SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Is
Railroad Convention.
MONROE, La, Sept. IL, 1884.

HuISudut w tuO Satl fccuN~s ~ VIZ
association of business men Of Mon
roe upon the people of the parishes
of Morehouse, Onachita, Caldwell.
Catahoula and Rapides, to assemble
in convention in Monroe, for the pur-
pose OF, discussing, considering and
devisiug wise and practical means for
building aud equipping line OF rail-
road from Mariana, Arkansas, through
Bastrop and Monroe to Alexandra,
Louisiana, there we're present in
Monroe this day large delegations
from said parishes, who, on assem-
bling in convention, temporarily, Of
ganized by eIecting W. b. Sublett as
chairman, and Talbot Stillman as
secretary. both of Onachita.
D<A Rexford, Esq, of New York,
being in attendance was loudly called
| for to express his views on the prac-s
ticability and feasibility of the accom-
plishment by the people of the grand
project which prompted their gather
| ing here at this time and in conven-
ton, and 10 make suggestions, it any
be had. as to tile ways aud means
which this convention and the people
should devise and adopt to secure
that end.
Mr.. Rexford in response to the
kfiattering call stated that for many
years he hsd been engaged IN actual
railroad building, that never in hi
experience had be found country
requiring line of road SO urgently
as the section through which this
contemplated road would be built
1 nor people whose benefits arising
4 from The building and operation OF
this country SO far surpassed the
average that but few years of op
Grafton of this line, which must be-
come grand trunk line of railway,
would convert the Ouachita valley
into the richest country IN the pro
pressive and New South That be
had heard manifestations OF approval
of the project by numbers OF the
people of the parishes through which
the road would pass. and had person
. ally examined some of the territory
} That these reasons had stimulated
, him to move in the matter and that
! he had therefore formed a corpora
!, ton known as the Ouschita Valley
; railway company for the purpose o
e building this road and which woold
: do SO provided proper encourage
e ment was extended end the aid which
the parishes and towns concerned
5 could give is given. Mr. Rexfort
< then proposed. on the part OF hi
9 corporation, that if the parishes ane
s towns in interest would each lev,
:, ! and donate five mill tax for tel
9 years, make liberal donations o
I lands and give the right OF way ans
e depot grounds to his company unde
: conditions hereafter determined, tina
v they would give proper and binding
y assurances that the road will be built
It He further stated that his compan
}. was composed Of gentlemen wh
were selected from the interest the
:. would take in assisting the represen
It tatives of the people as named b
is this convention IN Obtaining the sub
/ sides and securities named and no
: for any capital which they might reT
. resent: that the capital would be pre-
q vided in due time and from abroad
[e The remarks Of Mr.. Bedford WEI
is received with much applause,
20 Messrs. Gunby, Of Ouachita. Davi
" of Caldwell, Leavel aud Handy,
70 Morehouse, Spann, of Caldwell, Moss
As ley, of Rapides, Uriah Millsaps nm
ID Conner, Of Ouachita, all addresse
in the convention on the proposition
y Mr. Rexford and the Ouachita Vale
railway company, by him represen
~ ed. and for which company be mao
al his proposition, These gentlemt
OF were of but one and the unanimo'
- opinion that their people would gla
Z" " accept such proposition, al
ell would most willingly levy and dona
an the. tax and make the addition
ne donations and concessions; wber
upon, on motion of Mr.. Guuby, q
following resolution was unanimou
~ " adopted:
~ Be IL resolved By this convention, tn
,he it is the sense of the delegates preset
,rd that the parishes and towns in inter'
:, along the line of the proposed railw
ell. will most readily levy and donate
of tax of FIVE mills for ten years; ma
n liberal donations of lands through tn
people grant right of way and don'
TED depot grounds in aid of such rslilwa
be Be 1t further resolved, That each a
on every delegate present, by the adopt
on of this resolution, commit himself
favor and energetically work tor
a procurement If the subsidies her
a is mentioned aud. for the great put
and work stated.
Tho MIR. Handy, of Morehouse. thon;