The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-01-22
The North aud South Railroad.

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We publish in this Issue. two lette. 5
taken from the 0uachi:a Telegraph. one
from John ii. Rice Esq. and the other
from c. NJ. Neel Jr., Secretary Pine
Bluff, Monroe. and New Orleans Railway
Co., to Vim. Sublctt Esq, Monroe, La.
In commenting on these letters, we
must admit that we are inadequate to the
task of holding argument with our able
confrere of the Telegraph, and with Mr..
Sublett of Monroe, who both appear to
think that the road referred to, should be
built by Monroe an thenced to Alexan-
dria. We admit that Alexandria should
be the objective point, but without wish
ing to disparaga the interests of our sis
ter parishes. through which. this road
would pass. if built by Monroe. we must
say, that railroad built from Fort Scott
Kansas. to Malvern Ark. has no need to
come by Monroe to reach Alexandria.
While we are not an engineer, and know
nothing Of the cost Of building railroads,
of the topography of the country. we
claim that we do know something.
We claim, that railroad from Mall
vern Ark, via of Monroe La, will find
Il great many distractions, to overcome
which. will require an immense amount
Of labor and capital to be expended. LIST.
The Ouachita river is in the way, with an
overlooked swamp nearly every year;
and to overcome this, great deal of
trestling will have to be done. I'd. There
are the almost formidable Ouachita hills,
which every one knows. who is acqnain-
ted with the country, will be terribly in
the way. Sd. Little river Will again be
In the way. Nor is this all. Steamboat
competition will interfere with the road
shonld it be built on this route.
The most practicable route from Mall
vern Ark, to Alexandria, La, cheaper in
construction, besides being great deal
nearer, at least Is miles, is to cross V & S
railroad west of Monroe, either at Rustan
or Arcadia. Ruston is on a direct line |
from Malvern Ark, to Alexandria, |
La, Arcadia is little west of direct |
line. \ nearer and better route still. |
would be to come down the Iron Noun |
tain road to any point in the south wes-
tern portion of Arkansas. and thence |
across for Alexandria, crossing the v & |
S railroad ut Arcadia, La. We say this |
road on this route would be q cheaper |
road in construction, and a mnch better |
paying road. than by Monroe. Some
reasons for this assertion we will try to /
give. LIST. There is not river in the way
till you reach Redsriver at -Alexandria,
ed. Ii is what might lie termed ridge /
route, being on the dividing lands be-
tween Red river and Ouachita river. No
overlooked lands to 90 through, no
steamboat competition, besides timber on
this route can easily be had, wherever il
is needed. Can it be, that the trade in
the Ouachita valley. the carrying of pro-
duce. etc., is an inducement? Then it is
more SO on this proposed route. because
it passes through the richest portion of
North La. It again, would pass through
the great iron fields of Claiborne and
Bienvllle parishes, which are now at
considerable notice, the great
marble fields Of VIM, besides, no three
contiguous parishes in La, can boast of
more long leaf pine timber, than the par
lshes Of Bienville, VIM aud Grant,
through which road built on this route
would pass. |,
Alexandria should be the objective
point for this road, as there it would con-
nect with the \ o & p r X, and have
access to the great sugar aud molasses
fields of the South.
We do not know that word we have
aid. or could say, will have any effect in
his direction, but we must say, that any
me could see that this would be n much
,etter route than via Monroe, La. 1t
nay be said that tho parishes along that
quite have voted a mill tax for 10 years,
md that viii be an inducement, but we
re inclined to think that nothing has
een done b. those parishes, bat what
ould be done by parishes further west,
they had any assurance, that the road
'ould be built. A right of way could be
eadily obtained anyway; and we think
he builders Of this road should, before
cciding to run by Monroe, and along
ne Ouachita river, take look over the
onntry, and see If we have not dealt
18th facts all along.