St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-15
Improvement in Louisiana This Year.

Improvement in Louisiana This Year.
We give the following from that rella-
BILE journal, The BienvilIe Neao Era, pub
lished at Gibsland, and edited by Thomas
J. Mangham
owe all like to theorize about political
economy, education, art, science, religion,
etc. !; but we have sometimes to lay aside
abstract theories and pick up hard, solid
realities when we would discuss the sub
ject of the material progress and prosper
ity of the country. But, in doing SO, we
can consistently assume the role of
prophet, provided we have good reason
upon which to predicate our predictions.
Upon this basis we predict that there
will be more miles of railroad constructed
in Louisiana this year than ever before
since it has been State. Why?
l. Because the immense amount OF cap
ital that has been accommodating and con-
centrating in New York is compelled to
seek new fields of investment and circula-
tion-for as our physical vitality depends
upon the healthy circulation of the blood,
so does the life of the financial world de-
pend upon the active circulation of money,
seeking new arteries or channels through
which to flow as it increases-and there is,
perhaps no more promising and inviting
field on the globe for such investment than
Louisiana.
2. Nearly, if not quite, all other fields
of prof table investment have been worked
up and are occupied, which forces this
Northern capital to seek new channels.
8. We have the occular and incontrovert-
ible evidence that this unparalleled rail-
road construction is already going on.
Arrangements have been made for the
completion of the Louisiana North Il South
Railway-already running from this place
to Homer-from Homer to Hope, Ark,
via Magnolia and the same road will
doubles be pushed southwark from this
place during the year. Rapid grading and
track laying is going forward on the Hous
ton. Central Arkansas and Northern Rail
road, north and south from Monroe. The
engineers of the Natchez and Fort Scott
road had run their survey from Natchez to
a point in the western portion of Richland
parish last week We are assured this
road will be built Then there are the
Brickley ARK and Alexandria road and
what is known as Steele's, upon both OF
which it is said work will begin this year
4. The demands of the commerce of our
State render the construction of some OF
these roads an absolute necessity, it being
necessary to bring the sugar, rice and cot
ton plantations and timber lands of Louis
lana and the grain, meat and lumber
markets of the Northwest into closer COM
munication with each other. Besides, our
Northern neighbors want our early vege-
tables and fruits and this kind of traffic
requires direct and rapid transportati N.
These are very tangible reasons upon
which to base such prediction, ale they
not?
But these are not by far the most i'm
portant factors in the advancement of the
material interest of our State, but great
helps. We need factories, founderies,
mills operatives and miners, to utilize the
products and develop our latent resources,
and we should direct our united efforts to-
ward securing them.
While laboring for the advancement of
our country, there will necessarily be some
friction on account of local interests and
jealousy but we should not allow our
local pride and self interest to degenerate
into envy and malice-that is unmanly and
contemptible-butle let US encourage each
other in the enterprises we put on foot, in
stead of trying to retard or defeat them.
Let us try to emulate, but not defeat or
injure one another, in our efforts to i'm
prove our condition. There is plenty for
us all to do-plenty of improvement to be
made in each town and community-in-
stead of throwing obstacles in each others
way. What will directly benefit one, will
indirectly benefit the whole.
Having invited the capital to our coun-
try, let US not try to drive it away just be-
cause it is not invested in some pet scheme
of ours, ~ because it is not to be placed in
our own town or neighborhood. Let us
extend a cordial welcome to all who come
among us seeking homes or places to in,
vest capital.