The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-11-06
what Railroads Do and Undo.

Il its recent issues, said: "Half CEN
ury ago Decatur, Ga, objected TO ,
having the shops Of the Georgia rail-.
road. and was afraid of the Irish
aborers. They were located In the
woods, and there to-day stands Atlanta,
Lhe queen city Of the South. {
.sCovington, Ga, rejected the request
Of the same road to 60 through the
streets Of the village. To-day Covingo
ION stands a monument of the mistake
81 Atty years ago. Covlpgton Of fifty
wears ago feared the railroad would
Brighten horses in its streets. Coving-
ton Of today fears IT will have no
horses TO frighten.
ssEIyton forced the railroads around
It's limits Birmingham let the road
through lie centre. To-day there Is no
Elyton, while Birmingham's growth
almost rivals that Of Atlanta"
Z Other equally conspicuous instances
c0nld be mentioned OF towns that lost
their opportunity by neglecting to
secure railroads. Palestine In Texas
thus lost the chance Of taking the posi-.
ton Marshall. now occupies. Leavens-
worth, q city of 10000 declined to aid
the railroad with 800, 900 to construct
bridge across the river. Almost be-
fore the people had time to think, the
bridge was located at point further
M the river, and around 1t Kansas
City has almost with magical celebrity
grown to be city of one hundred and
thirty thousand inhabitants, while
Leayenworth has scarcely retained Its
twenty thousand. The list might be
swelled with hundreds Of other ex~
amples OF places that have been built
ND or destroyed by securing or failing
to secure the benefit Of railroads. They
are 80 numerous that 1t would seem to
US any locality that has chance at
railroad should not fall to take lesson
from them.-Natchez Democrat.
The above strikes home to our peo-
pie. Just now we are in position to
strike the tide at its flood, and In the
Language of the Bard Of Avon, ride on
to fortune.
There is. no denying that our country
| is rich In undeveloped resources and
that our people in every sphere OF life
are Ianguishing, almost in poverty,
simply from tho lack of development
OF the country. There is no denying,
either, that railroads are great devel-
opers. just read what railroads have
done for other sections and ask you're
selves why they would not do the
same for this country. Why, indeed
In New Eogland States and portions
of the West people are growing rich
I tilling soil that we of this country
would not have as gracious gift
Why 1t is that they grow rich cultiva-
ting such lands while we have the rich
/ est lands in the world and grow poorer
every year? 1t is simply because the
people are energetic and progressive,
they never let chance slip to get 9
, railroad or other improvement and
the result is their country attracts The
!, emmigrant; they believe in improved
, farming and stock raising and they
have the people to consume theil
, products, So it will be with us Wher
. we get railroads running through ou
. country. 1t will be more accessible
3 and people will come among us VIII
a believe in the New England ant
! Western way of doing things ant
!. thrift and enterprise will take the plac
9 Of letharey, small farms instead of bi
j. ones. less land and better cultivation
e diversified crops and stock raising wi
9 be the idea, aud then you will see thi
o country prosper.
X a country of this kind around tow
IS will make it rich and populous. TAX
= the local application to Monroe. Ge'
d graphically. it is the best situated tow
u we know of. II has country aroun
o for miles In every direction of tt
6 compass that is naturally as rich
=. any in the world. The town has sui
rs sisted for century and is still tow
3 because the country has not been de-
10 eloped. Let q North and South raj
u road run through it and the SURROUND
81 ing country develop as 1t will sure
D, do and Monroe has a future before 1t
p bright that we are unable to picture
q On the other hand let the road give
the go-by and see where it will b
The article copied from the Match
Democrat above answers.
L.