The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-03-29
HOUSTON, GENITAL ARKANSAS
ANDNORTHERN RAILROAD

WI >'1i1 eIe i'pio ooNSioE'liSlit VI
railroad enterprises in that section OF
the State, we extract the following in.
teresting report from the Alexandria
Toau1s Talk. BY way Of the Morgan
tap the H., G. A. & n. r. R., which
will no doubt be running into Alex.
andria inside Of a year, will give La
fayette the most direct line to St.
Louis:
/ Major c. G. Woodbridge, Chief
Engineer of the Houston, Central Ar.
kansas and Northern Railroad, arriv-
ed in Alexandria early in the week, a
meeting pf the citizens of Alexandra
and surrounding country was held at
the city hall, March 18th. Judge
j. r. Thornton was called upon to pre-
side. Judge Thornton stated that
Major Woodbridge was Of the opinion
that It would be best for citizen of
Alexandria to explain to the meeting
what the railroad company asked for,
and what the company proposed to do
in return. He then stated what was
expected of Alexandria, and what the
Company would do in return.
He said that the road had passed
into the hands Of Jay Gould, and it
was we'll known that when Mr.. Gould
ordered road built it was done. A
short line from St. Louis to New Or
leans was what Mr.. Gould wanted, and
the extension of the Houston, Cen
trail Arkansas and Northern Railroad
from Columbia, La, to Alexandra,
would give him a short line to St.
Louis. This road has already been
located to the head Of Catahoula lake.
From this point two routes Have been
selected-one crossing Red river near
Experiment plantation, running through
Avoyelles parish and connecting with
the Texas & Pacific at Rosa Station;
the other route comes direct through
Rapides parish, for about eight miles,
crossing Red river at Alexandria. Mr..
Woodbridge, the speaker said, was in
favor Of the Alexandria route. Mr..
Gould, some weeks ago, preferred the
Avoyelles Route, because it would
shorten the route. from New Orleans
to St. Louis at least 20 miles. The
grade by the Avoyelles route was less
also than that to Alexandria.
The chairman said he had seen
proof from Mr.. Gould stating posi-
lively that if the City Of Alexandria
would give what Eas asked Of it
through Major Woodbridge, that the
road would be completed to Alexan-
dria as fast as money and men could
do it. The chair emphasized the fact
that this was the best offer that Alex
audria had yet had, because the gem
tleman at the head Of the Company
had the means to carry out his state
ments and contracts, and would do so.
Judge Thornton Informed the meet
ing that if this railroad was built to
Alexandria that we would be only
526 miles from St. Louis instead Of
772 miles, the distance via the I. Il.
P. and Iron Mountain roads. The
distance from Alexandria to Kansas
City by this new road would be 500
miles instead 1855 miles as by the
present nearest rail route.
If the people Of Alexandria secure
the H., G. A. & n. r. r., the chair.
man stated that it would prove great
lever in securing other projected rail
roads. He spoke of the Aransas Pass
Railway Company now building to
Alexandria, and surveyed to Ammo
Coco Bayou. That if we secure the
H., G. A. & N. R. r. that we were
certain Of getting other roads. The
following is what is asked Of Alexan-
dria by The H., G. A. & n. r. R.:
Rigkt Of way through the parish for
about s miles.
Thirty acres Of land for depot and
terminal facilitses.
Exemption from parish taxation for
ten years.
A 5 mill tax f6r 10 years time.
The property owners have already
voted a 5 mill tax for 10 years to ibis
company, arrangements have already.
been made to give the 80 acres Of
land, and the parish authorities have
already passed an ordinance renting
taxation for 10 years to the first rail-
road company building. into Alexan-
dria from the North.
A committee Of six prominent and
influential citizens was appointed to
carry out the sense of the meeting,
which endorsed all the propositions
made by the Company.
The people Of Alexandria are alive
to their interests, and their city is
bound to grow rapidly under such
spirit and enterprise. Mr.. Woodbridge
stated that he could have the road
completed and cars running into Alex
andria in Il months; then Lafayette
will ho Odh nni1nc nt,,ror CT T.nr1;a ond