The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-09-26
Railroad Convention.

MONROE, Ia. sept. ii, 1854.
Pursuant TO call issued by the associ-
alton of business men of Monroe upon the
people of the parishes Of Morehouse,
Ouaehita, Caldwell. Catahoula aud Rap
ides, to assemble in convention in Mon
roe. for the purpose of discussing. con.
sidering and dcyising wise andspractical
means for building and equipping line
of railroad from Mariana, Arkansas,
through Bastrop and Monroe to Alexan-
dria, Louisiana, there were present in
Monroe this day large delegations from
said parishes. who. ON assembling IN con-
vention. temporarily, organized by elect
ing W b Sublett rs chairman, and Talbot
Stiilman as secretary. beth cf OEaehita.
DA Rexford Esq, OF New York. being
in attendance wrs loudly called fer To
express his views ON the plactieabilify
and feasibility of the accomplishment By
the people of the grand project which
prompted their gathering here at this
time and in convention, and to make sug-
gcstions, ii any he had, as 10 the ways
aud means which this convention and the
people should devise and adopt to secure
that END.
Mr.. Rexford in response to the Halter
| ing call stated that for many years he
had been engaged in actual railroad bull
ding, that never in his experience had he
found country requiring line OF road
| SO urgently as the section through which
this Contemplated road would be built,
| ncr people whose benefits arising from
the building and operation Of this coun-
try so far surpassed the average that but
a few years of operation of this line,
| which must become grand trunk line Of
railway, would convert fhe Ouachita val
lev into the richest country in the pro-
eressive and New South. That he hae
heard manifestations of approval OF tue
roiect by numbers of the people of ths
parishes through which the road woule
pass, and had personally examined som:
of the territory. That these reasons hat
stimulated him to move in the matter ant
that he had therefore formed a corpora
rion known as the Ouachira Valley rail
way company for the purpose OF buildin:
this road and which would do so proyi
ded proper encouragement was EXTENDED
! and the aid which the parishes and town
concerned could give is given. MIR. Rex
ford then proposed. ON the part OF tn
corporation, that if the parishes AM
towns in interest would each levy an
donate five mill rax for ten gears, max
liberal donations OF lands ana give IN
riubt of way ard depot grounds to hl
company under conditions hereafter de
ternined, that they would. give prope
| and binding assurances that The road WI
be built.
He further stated that this compan
. Was composed of gentlemen who were g
lected from the interest thev woriu tar
III assisting the representatives OF "a
neople MS named by this convention
obtaining the subsidies and securities M
med and not for any capital which the
might represent: that the capital woul
he provided in due time and from abroa'
Ihe remarks Of Mr.. Rexford were n
ceived with much applause.
Messrs. Gunby, of Ouachita. Davis,
Caldwell, I.eavel and Handy. OF Nor
house. Spann. of Caldwell. Mosely,
Rapides. Uriah Millsaps. and Conner,
Ouachita, all addressed the conventit
an the proposition Of Mr.. Rexford at
the Ouachifa Valley railway company,
y him represented, and for which compal
: he made his proposition. These gend
men were Of but one and the unaainio
opinion that their people would glad
accept such proposition, and won
r,ns.' williully levy aud donate the I:
and make tire additional donations ai
! concessions: whereupon, on melton
Mr.. Gunby, the following sesolution "
unanimously adopted:
BE it resolved by this conventions ih
II IS the sense Of the delegates presei
> that the parishes and towns in inters
along the line of the proposed railway v
most readily levy and donate tax q q
mills for ten years: make liberal qon
tions of lands through their people gra
81 right Of way and donate depot efoun
IN aid Of such railway.
Be it further resolved, That eacn a
i every delegate present, BY the aeopti
Of this resolution, commit nimseI 70
4. yor and energericaily work ior me y
curement of the subsidies nef9n Ms