The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-04-27
MONROE, THE CAPITAL OF THE QUA
CHITA VALLEY.
Times Democrat

A letter we publish elsewhere gives
a very interesting review Of the ca pital
OF the Ouachita Valley, Monroe, and
the various projects, railroads, etc, un-
der way there. All Louisiana knows
the energy, activity and earnestness OF
the people Of Monroe, who have built
their town into prosperity in SO COM
para'ively short y period but it does
not fully understand the new spirit ex-
listing there, the many new enterprises
under wsy ; it is not aware Of al, that
Monroe has undertaken of late, and
done.
The Ouachita Valley ia one "f the
most beautiful, aud, at the s..',st. .ne,
Que Of the most productive, eg.uns of
the South; aud it was inevitable that
great city should grow up in its cen
tire. The French colonists saw this q
| century ago, SAW the special advani
ages that the site upon which Monroe
Glands to-day presented, aud erected
there fort. With these valuable adj
vantages, backed, by an active, ener-
getic population, Monroe has rapidly
| moved f0rward-not with a boom, an
unstable kind Of advance at best, but
grown steadily, certainly and without
any set back. 1t has thus developed
into city OF 1900 people, active and
busting, with important industries, Il
large business with the neighboring
country, and promises 10 become the
railroad centre of Its section of the
State Within the next few. days. Ii is
already the capital Of that section in
every respect, social, industrial! and
otherwise, aud u beautiful town to
boot, as the title, s'The City of Flow
ers," shows.
| AS we have said, there is no boom
at Monroe, no sudden fluctuations or
advances In the value of property, no
running up Of land to a fabulous figure,
to be- followed by an equally sudden
caliapse; but many lots are sold At inns
proving prices, houses and other build
ings are put up, aud the large number
of investors show how many people
have confidence in Monroe's future.
A good example Of that con tidence ia
exhibited In the Houston, Central Ar
kansas mud Northern Railroad, now
being constructed from Mouroe az a
centre, both toward the north and the
south. The town already has one rail
road-:he N.ckeburg, Shreveport and
Pacitic-connec,ing it with Shreveport
on one side and Vicksburs on the OF her
and uniting the Red and the Mississ.
sippi rivers and ii has also exceIien,
water communications with New Or.
leans by the Oaachita but its ambi
ton is great. 1t has never been salis.
fed with n single railroad, aud has
always demanded n line running north
and south. That line is now under
way. twill bs completed to .Cuiun,.
bia by the middle of June, aud throug h
its whole iengtL-444 miles-wiihiu
two years and half
| 1t was the Origtnsi intention of the
gentlemen who control the Houston
Central Arkansas aud Northern Rail
road, to build it sout Inward from P,nt
Bluff, its northern terminus, but TIM
advantages that Monroe offered in.
duced them TO change their intentions
and to begin building from Monroe
both north AID south. TO the south
the road will run near Columbia in
Caldwell parish, crossing the Ouachitt
near that point, thence te Alexandria
thence to Houston, crossing the Sabine
ut Burr's Ferry. TO the north, it viii
run to Bassrop, thence through Ham
burg and Monticello, Arkansas, to Pine
Bluff. Its total length will be A
miles and il Will run nearly southwes
by northwest, traversing Louisiana ant
Arkansas, and running through tn,
rich cotton belt OF the Ouachita valley
which will give it plenty of business
} while its lumber trade is bound to b.
immense. No part of the Suu'h il
, more heavily timbered than the entir,
) country it crosses. There is lumbe
enough there 10 give the railroad bust
, ness for decades to come. THIS whot
reg ion will be developed and advance
\ ~, . To-, -: