The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-06-01
A Strong Recommendation.
[Alexandria Town Talk.1

II seems that short time ago, Pres
ident w. A. Bright, of the H., G. A.
& N. II. r., wrote to Congressman
Newton G. Blanchard asking his opin-
ion ofthe advfsabiiity Of building said
road as proposed !. e. from Pine
Bluff, Ark, via Alexandria, La., to
Houston, Texas. Mr.. Blanchard has
kindly furnished Town Talk with a
copy Of his reply, which IL given be-
low. ".E 80. T la5a
1t is the honest belief Of Town Talk
TIA, Mr.. Blanchard has not spoken too
strong in favor of the road proposed.
Anybody familiar with the country
through hich the line IL expected to
run must say caudidiy, as does Mr..
Blanchard: "Capitalists, seeking in-
vestments Ia railroads, could not do
better than lend you (Mr. Brightly a
helping hand" e t
Opening up as it will sparsely set-
tied but rich country, to thousands OF
homeseekers in America; bringing to
market millions OF feet OF the finest
long leaf-pine and cypress timbers to
be found in the World; a rich agricul.
tural timber country, combined with a
delightful climate, where cane, cotton,
corn, oats, rice, figs, peaches, ETC., grow
side by side with healthfulness one Of
its biggest cards-a few years after this
road is built, will make 1t one of the
most valuable railroad properties In
the Uoited States.
These are facts, and what our Con.
gressman says below of the Houston,
Central Arkansas & Northern II, r.
are also facts
"SIIREvEpoRT, May 1G, 1889.
Maj. w. A. Bright, H., G. A. & N. r.
r =, Monroe, La.
Dear SRI am In receipt of the
prospectus Of the Houston, Central Ar.
kansas aud Northern Railroad which
you kindly sent me. have examined
the proposed line of the road, from
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, through the par.
ishes of Nforehouse, Ouachita, Caid.
we'll, Catahoula, Grant and Rapides,
in Louisiana, to Alexandria in the lat
ter State, and thence In Southwestern.
ly direction to Houston, Texas.
know Of no better field for SUCCESS
ful railroad construction and operation
than the one you have determined on.
am familiar with the country In Lou
lsiana which you propose to occupy
and it is one which, in my judgment,
will rapidly develop under the stimu-
lus of rapid transit aud cheap trauspor.
tation.
1t is not only good farming coun-
try, hut its timber resources are, per-
haps, superior to those of any other
section in the entire South. The long
leaf pine-next to the cypress "the
boss" Of southern lumber trees, abounds
in extensive forests Ia the parishes of
Catahoula, Caldwell, Grant, RapIdes
and Vernon, as well as In ths parishes
adjoining them, and great traffic in
lumber must necessarily develop along
the line Of the proposed road. Tho re-
ma1kable spectacle witnessed in the
opening of the Oklahoma territory,
and the wild rush for iand-holdiugs
| which ensued, proves that multitudes
| of the American pe0ple-the overflow
from the older States, are already land
hungry, and the Hae country through
which your road runs must inevitably
| attract crowds OF settlers and home.
seekers as soon as the completion o.
the road affords the means of easy ac.
cess. Capitalists, seeking investments
in railroads, could not do better thar
lend you n helping hand.
Wishing you success in the enter
prise, I am very truly yours,
N. G. BLASCHARD.
"rhe Lord helps those that hel,
themselves Act on this theory an,