The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-03-09
THE \. o., n. 1 n. 8. RArLRoAD.
The Initial Step Taken ~ the Wsrk
Witnessed BY City 0Aciais md
Citl1ens,
The First Dirt Thrown and by Orders
From Chief Engineer Wangato
ficks and Spades Break The
Ground For Building the Road.
[Natchez Democrat.

800 ~R0SV0 A11SoA
Ground For Building the Road.
[Natchez Democrat
A more beautiful day could not have
been desired than that of yesterday,
which Gen. Rice president OF the N.
O., N. 4 F. 8. road had fixed upon
for the Inauguration of the greatest
euserprise with which Nstchez has
been ever connected.
The company through Gen. Rice end
with the Mayor and Board Of Alder
men, had been unobtrasively and
quietly obtaining rights of way through |
the county and city preparatory TO the
OF the construction of the
road, and on yesterday
THE FIRST BLOW WAS STRUCK,
And the work commenced.
There was no parade or pretentious |
effort made to sigualize the event be-
You'd tho presence of grave men, who
could fully embrace the importance OF
the event on hand.
Consequently an invitation was only
extended to the representative business
men Of the city to join Gen. Rice at the
ferry landing, where the steam tugs
of w. ii. Brown Sons aud O'Netl d
Co., having been rendered by Captains
j. b. Scruggs aud j. B. O'Brtep, were
mo0red 10 receive the guests aud con-
vey them to the quarantine grounds,
below the city ,...
WHERE WORK WAS TO BE BEGUN.
The Mayor aud Aldermen, the
members Of the Board Of Supervisors
of the county, delegation from the
ministry, the bar, the medical frater-
nity, the press, the merchants, the
manufactures and citizens Of the city
and county, comprised the company
which numbered In all about $50.
Upon the grounds were Capt. Win
gate chief engineer, with his assistants
aad large number Of laborers, ready
to com mence work as soon as the sig
nal was given. |
President Rice took his stand upon
the spur OF q ridge where the work
was to begin and called to his side
Mayor Benbrooke, the President Of
the Board Of Supervisors, Hon. O.. N.
Wiitls, Capt. Jas. w. Lambert aud X.
Palmer Lenuesu, the orator of the
day: " - .t."E
Around this natural grand stand
under the outrageous oaks and mag
aolias which WOULD soon ba felleai by
the axe, the assembly grouped them.
selves, wien Capt. Jas. w. Lambert,
who has been one OF the promoters OF
the enterprise and an ardent friend to
| 1t, addressed the company in his usual
felicitous manner,
| GIVING A RArID HISTORY
OF the inception, aud accomplishment
thus far of the enterprise, and dwelt
upon the advantages 10 accrue from
tho completion of the work.
| Gen. Rice followed in q short address
sxorttng his hearers 10 patience, de-
elaring that he would make good a.
he bad done In the past all his pro-
misses in the future. Al the close of
bis remarks Gen. Rice took the spade,
at hand, aud ....
| TURNED THE FIRST EARTH
In the road bed on the N. O., N. Il F.
8. Railroad with the same energy OF
melton which charaeterizes all his
movements.
| Mayor Benbrook followed Gen. Rice
In fsrvld words Of hope and confidence,
and he too, for the city of Natchez,
TURNED THE SECOND SPADE FULL.
Mr.. X. Palmer Ianneau then took
the rostrum prepared by nature and In
one Of his most eloquent impromptu
efforts spoke feeliugiy of the hopes de.
ferred and disappointments Of the
people of Natchez, and Of the necessity
for
! PATIENCE AND FAITH
In the accomplishment OF great en-
terprises. He referred to what had
been done by those factors of success
Ia Natchez and argued truly that by
the past success, courage should be
strengthened.
Capt. f. d. Wtngate chief engineer,
then gave the most impressive of all
the speeches, by turning to the assem-
bled workmen who held spades and
axes In hand, in three Words
| 900 TO WORK.
Which was answered by the ringing
blows OF the axes and the dull thud of
the spades and picks as they penetrated
mother cath
AND THE FORT SCOTT ROAD WAS De-
II ever the hope of those present
had fanguished a. to the interest and
determination of the projectors of the
road, it was thoroughly revived on
yesterday, and the best business men
1