Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-06-01
COMMUNICATED.
Vickcburg, Miss, May 25th, 80

CON. Your railroad outlook is becom-
ing interesting reading from the
lower end of the line, and 1 want to
hear what Richland parish is doing
about it. 1t seems that Oak Ridge is
to have a feast, at which Gen. Rice is
expected. If the people up there are
to have the main line through their
country, then l can't see how you are
to escape having the Iron Horse
whistling from one end of your parish
to the other. |
This being so, you are "set up and
should be happy, with only one point
about which you can have any con-
Germ, and that is the place of crossing
or intersection of the two roads.
Next to the road itself, this seems to
me paramount consideration. When
two great railroads cross each other is
always place Of more or less i'm
portance. And town near you some
where is among the possibilities, OF
nice proportions. 81
Other territory being pretty well
occupied, am thinking Of counting
ties on that road as a tramp, or IN
some other easy and honorable voca-
ton, hence my pride of country and
hopes for the future, is the reason
why am troubling you to read this
dilation upon "your country's needs.
Your doors once opened to the West,
1 aprehend you will have to arm your
citizens to ward off the immigrants
till you have time to stake off your
lands you want to sell them. In
truth, l know of no community so
generally attractive to good white
people who want small farms as can
be found in Richland parish. No
country out of the Mississippi Valley
can begin to compare, and l know Of
none in all the swamp where teri
torial community is half so nicely and
naturally arranged. Good schools
and churches with a few more peo-
pie can be had convenient to every
family; your lands compare favorably
with the banks OF the Mississippi
river; you have to begin with an in
teligent and progressive resident
white people, and plenty of negroes
under home control. Now you want
a town to do you honor; an attractive,
slightly place, such as will invite
capital investments, offer places for
comfortable homes, and the most
healthy surroundings. In order to
do this some sacrifice may be called
for, indeed most all common benefits
are obtained through individual sacri'
fee. Thus, I may be pardoned when
1 say the Jordan place on this bank
of Beuf river, seems by far the most
suitable. 1t is centrally situated ano
accessible from more directions ant
under more varying circumstance
than any other. On the banks Of ;
live stream into which all low place.
can easily and thoroughly be drained
! Is above any overflow, and with NOR
, cleared country around it would b.
, perfectly healthy. Small boats, con
2 trolled by the railroads or local in
: terests, plying M and down the river
o carrying cotton, cotton seed ant
! through freight would by no mean
q be among the small resources OF sucl
! a place. There, with an abundan
y and so convenient water supply,
e cotton factory is possible, a compress
decidedly practicable, an oil mill ant
4 a brick yard absolute wants, for all o
which you have abundant supply an
: plenty of demand right at your doors
r Capital is now seeking places t
invest in our country, and we woul'
" do we'll to gid our habitation so as t
!. attract attention from the people VIII
are daily passing through our gates.
ia A gentleman coming through you
e country prospecting two years age
q was surprised when told that in tn
n contemplate shanties he saw. larg
- commercial interests was done b
capable, intelligent and enterprisin
% business men. He spoke Of the coul
70 houses at Rayville and Tallulah q
being out of accord with their SUI
b" roundings. They gave evidence
N pluck unsustained. Thus you Sc
At people passing through your countr
in review are impressed with its al
pearance. With the help of the \
a O., N. & F. s. road you have it
y, your power to build a beautiful tow
IL