The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-16
ALEXANDRIA, THE FUTURE
GREAT.
New Orleans States.1

railroad officials who are competent to
judge of such matters that the pro-
gress of the tiourishing little town of
Alexandria, in Rapides Parish, has
been remarkably rapid within the past
three Or four years, and they predict
that the day is not far distant when it
will have population of $4,000 and
will become one of the largest and
most important railway centers in the
Southwest. The completion of the
Southern Pacific and the Texas and
Pacific Railroads to Alexandria. was
the beginning of the new life which
the town has taken on and the feun-
dat1on of its present growth and de-
yelopment.
Within short period of time, what
was strangling and slowly decaying
little village of 5000 souls, has loom
ed mp into a thriving community, which
gives promise of being within the next
decade tue second largest city in the
State and the center of trade of mid.
die and western Louisiana. The geo.
graphical position which the town &C.
cupies, together with the fact that it is
in the heart of the greatest cotton
growing and lumber region of the
South, have attracted the attention of
Jay Gould and other capitalists en-
gagged in the development of the south
west and the result is that to-day there
are five railway lines under construc.
ton, all of which have Alexandria as
their objective point, and from which
they will radiate like spokes from the
hub of a wheel.
The roads are the Houston, Central
Arkansas and Northern, which is now
being built by Mr.. Gould from the
Arkansas line southwark through Mon
roe to Alexandra, traversing the most
fertile and thickly settled portions of
the valleys of the Ouachita and Red
River. The Louisiana and Northern,
which runs from Alexandria via Gibbs
and Homer to connection with the
Iron Mountain Railroad in Arkansas.
A portion of this line is now in opera.
ton, and is known in the northern
part of the State as the BeardsIey
line. A third and a very important
road is also being built as rapidly as
possible from Trinity, Texas, on the
International and Great Northern, via
Ogden, and through Vernon Parish to
Alexandria. This line has been com.
pleted to Ogden, and will penetrate
one of the finest, long leaf pine forests
in the State and become one of the
largest lumber shipping roads in the
country.
The fourth road is the Kansas City,
Watkins and Gulf, now under con-
struction from Lake Charles to Alex
andria and portion of which has
been completed.
The fifth line in course of construc-
ton is the Louisiana, Arkansas and
Missouri, which will extend from Alex
andria via Delhi to a northern connec-
ton in Missouri. These lines with
the Texas and Pacific and the South
ern Pacific will make the fortunate
little city of Alexandra the center for
seven railroads, and thus she will be
able to boast of having one more rail-
road than New Orleans, the metropolis
of the South.
There can be no doubt about the
fact that the future of Alexandria is
indeed bright and encouraging, and
that it is appreciated by shrewd bust
ness men is shown by the promptness
with which they are investing their
money in various enterprises at that
point. Within a few weeks the char
ter for street railroad has been per-
fected and the construction of it will
commence in the course of the next
six months and will be followed, we
understand, by electric light plants
and other enterprises which will make
the town attractive and progressive
1t is also intended to increase the cap.
ital stock of the Rapides Bank to
100000 and to change it to Ma
tional Bank, aud make it one of the
most substantial financial institutions
in the State.
1t is also the purpose of a company
which has been organized with the ne
cessary capital, to start in short lime
the publication Of a well-edited and
daily paper, which will d.
much to advertise the town abroad and
call the attention of capitalists to the
fine field which Alexandra offers for
paying investments and the establish
ment of enterprises which are bound
to grow and prosper with the develop
ment of tho country by the railway
lines now being built as fast as money
and muscle can do the work.
The Su:es congratulates the cIti-
Gems of Alexandria on the fact that
there is nothing in the nature of a
boom in the present growth of their
beautiful little city, but that it is based
On the development of the substantial
resources of the magnificent territory
in which the town is located. We
also feel qnite sure that in the near
future they will be in the full enjoy
ment of the prosperity which has been
predicted for them and that they will
have the satisfaction at an early day
Of seeing their city selected as the
na.;tol of th;n Ctnta tharafnra ra boil