The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1885-10-24
A RAILROAD TO ABBEvlLLE.

iron tee to any Of our sister towns,
that. we may have rail communica,
ton with the outside world. If we
get two roads to this place: so much
the better, we hope, for Abbeville
and country adjacent thereto, as
competition is the life Of trade, and
we have q traffic worth competing
for. as insignificant as our little
town may appear to some unac,
ouainted with the business OF this
place. The Louisiana Farmer has
the following to say regarding a
railroad from New Iberia to this
place
The construction Of the Louisiana
Central Railroad, from Lafayette to
Baton Rouge, seems TO be a settled
thing. and our Abbeville contempt
rary is making earnest efforts to
link that town to the terminus Of the
road at Lafayette. Should this sue;
seed, many Of the planters and deal.
ers. residing between this place and
Abbeviile, who now find a market
in this place, will seek the rail route
and thus deprive us Of a handsome
trade. Of course, we should be
awake to the matter and prevent, II
possible, this placing in jeopardy OF
our interests. Other towns around
are undoubtedly envious of the
sceptre Of trade winch now crowns
our important little city, and would
do their utmost to Guido her advan.
tascs and resources. Bnt, to speak
candidIy the truth and without par
TALLY, we think it would be a grave
error On the part Of the trade of
Abbeville to urge a connection with
the Louisiana Central at Lafayette.
More important items are to be con.
sidered besides the u that the two
parishes form a district and would
! facilitate the going to and fro of
ceri:ciu individuals. That is only a
question Of legislative enactment.
altered or cLenged to suit emergen,
cies. Uoo,r ali considerations are
the inducements offered by New
Iberia more numerous snd lmpor'
tant. All or nearly ali of the manu-.
featured n%ecessagies Of lie are Of
lered by New Iberia. lumber, ice,
oil, soap. etc, a be had at almost
unlimited quantities, and in return,
New Orleans alone surpasses New
Iberia as a market for the sale of
crops in general end horned cattle,
the raising of which is q source of
immense revenue to Ike parish of
Vermilion. We doubt not il would
be a very easy matter to call a con.
yentiou CT the merchants and bust
ness men Of both .owaa, and from
whom could be selected a committee
to confer with and offer substantial
aid to the Morgan railroad aulhori-
ties to build the branch at once.
Mutual representation. however,
should no logger be manifested.
The Louisiana Central Railroad
is evidently mani;sstjng an untold
interest in the minds Of many, and
we are pleased to note that imme
date steps are being taken by neigh
boring towns, to have it extended
70 other locall.ieE than was a, FIRST
contemplated for ;ts terminus. The
company, after attaining a thorough
knowledge Of the vast amount o.
business to De accrued therelrom
and the fine region OF country
through which this road will pass
has wisely concluded to make The
extension from Lafayette to this
place, and the citizens Of that city
are sparing neither pains or time il
their endeavors to accomplish tli;
most desired end. The Lafayett,
Advertiser Of the 18th contains the
following concerning said read
We are happy to inform our citi.
zens that in the course OF next week
they, and those Of surrounding
towns, will he invited to attend
grand meeting in this place 10 take
preliminary steps for the organiza
ton of the Lafayette and Abbevill'
Railroad Company" and we hope
also that our friends of VermilioZ
parish will take similar steps to car
ry out this much needed and desery
ed improvement. We understand
that the meeting will be held Thurs
day next, 22d, at the courthouse
public notices Of which will bs