Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-09-14
TIE NEW ORLEANS, N.ATCHEZ AND
FORT SCOTT ROED.

yesterday and inquired if there were
any new developments in the new
road. The General replied;
I'VE have let contract with the
Natchez Contracting Company, a
Missouri company, connected with
which is Hammett, Davidson e. Co.,
of Kansas City; Charles Hyde & Son,
of New York, and others. c. II. Ham
nett, Of Kansas City is president.
They are to build the road, doing the
grading, bridging, trestling, furnish
ing ties, and tracklaying from the
depot at Natchez over the bluffs to
Rayville, seventy-four miles distant,
on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and
Pacific road. The completion Of this
contract viii put the road in condi-
ton to receive the rolling stock.
am the president of the company as
well as originator and protector Of
the enterprise. Mr.. Waller Chenault
is the vice president, and Captain
James ". Lambert, editor of the
Natchez Democrat, is secretary.
"The line as projected runs from
Vidalia, La. opposite Natchez, tc
Winnsboro, Rayville and Bastrop. La.
on a most direct route, through Hot
Springs, Ark, and the nearest possible
direct line to Kansas City. 1t wa'
intended, in its original conception
by me, to be a through trunk lint
from New Orleans to Kansas City b,
the shortest route which a railroad
could run, and, barring unforseer
and insurmountable obstacles, it vii
SO be built.
Contracts were let last week to
st. Louis syndicate Of contractors
Mr.. Bethune, Hammett & Morrison
Crarey Bros. and others, well know
and strong financially. They will
their outfits are now en- route t
Nvtchez and will commence worl
this week on the east side of the rive
as well as the Louisiana side. Mayo
Benbrook of Natchez is now en- rout
to New York to deposit with tn
Farmers Loan and Trust Compan,
the 1920, 900 G per cent thirty years
bonds, in accordance with the city
contract as voted by the people.
"The parishes of Concordia, Gaia
houla, Franklin, Richland and More
house, through which this road vii
pass, are the richest in the State
About 40 per cent of the land is unde
cultivation and the remainder forest
of as valuable timber as can be foun
in the South. The line enters Arkar
sas little north of Bastrop and run
to Texarkana, Texas, points and mort
to Fort Smith via Little Rock, theme
to st. Louis and Kansas City vi
Hoxle. At the Arkansas river tn
line crosses the Little Rock and Fol
Smith railroad, forming a throug
route to Fort Smith and to India
territory points"
Speaking of the line and its col
nections General Rice said that col
nection would be made at Natche
with the Louisville, New Orleans an
Texas railroad to Jackson, Miss
connecting there with the Illino
Central and to New Orleans. A
Rayville, "A miles from Natchez, IL
line Of the Vicksburg, Shreveport an
Pacific is crossed. About 90 miles
Arkansas the trip branch of ii
Arkansas Valley railroad is crosses
Is miles further on connection is mao
: with the st. Louis, Arkansas an
Texas railroad, giving a direct rou
} to Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Memph
and st. Louis; so miles further on Il
I hne Of the Iron Mountain is inte
: ssetsd. opening up connections Wi
; Cleveland, Dallas Bradley, Ashlt
and Hot Springs counties.
GeDeral Rice will return to Match
to-day. He was born and spent
boyhood in Greenville, Tenn, al
afterwards practiced law in Georgi
In 1865 he took Horace Greely's a
: vice and went ives" to Kansas.
: This road and its connections,
says, will form a line IT'S mil
I shorter than any now existing rou
: between Kansas City and New {
leans.-Picayune.
y