Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-03-29
THE TExARKANA & FIT. SMITH.
The Officials of that Road Meet in
Texarkana.


Messrs w l. Taylor and A l. Still
well, presidents of the Texarkana &
TT. Smith railway and the Arkansas
construction company, respectively,
accompanied by other prominent per-
sonages, arrived in the city on board
their special car, "Isaak Walton" over
the Cotton Belt railway, at 10
o'clock yesterday morning. These
gentlemen were met by the resident
officers of the road upon their arrival,
and were escorted to places of accom-
mediation already provided for them.
After dinner the visiting officials re-
paired to the headquarters of their
local officers, where began confer
ence which lasted until q late hour
last night. The vital questions under
consideration, the final determination
and settlement of which constituted
the main object of the conference,
were first, the adoption Of the most
practical and feasible routes, north
and south, from this city, as determin-
ed by the preliminary surveys made
by the chief engineers, who for sever
al weeks past, have been in the field
engaged in this work, with
a large corps of assistants.
The numerous other details Of con-
struction were then taken up and full
ly discussed. 1t is thought that the
entire plan of action, as far as may at
present be determined upon has now
been arranged, and the contracts for
clearing, grading and bridging are, in
part at least, to be let to-day. Thus
the immediate commencement of the
work of construction is assured. For
excellent and obvious reasons, this
work will begin on the south end, ex-
tending the road from the present
terminus in this city toward Shreve-
port, La, to a navigable point on Red
river. The object Of this movement
is easily apparent, when we consider
that direct connection with transport
tation by water will be the means of
saving to the company nearly two
thirds of the entire cost of freight on
the rails and other material used
in constructing their lines,
or $5.874 on each ton
thereof The freight rate to Texarka-
ma at present, over rival lines on steel
rails, being 1887, while the transport
tation by water to navigable point
on Red river on the same material
will be only $50 per ton This means
a gross saving of about seventy-fiye
thousand dollars to the company, Oh
the single item of rails to be used on
the road between Texarkana and Fort
Smith. We may remark here Incl
IDENTIFY that this will also serve as an
illustration Of the difference in freight
rates on all articles of local commerce,
which will be created in favor of our
merchants be the completion Of
this road to the river. AT
present the most feasible
means of accomplishing this object
and which has probably been adopt
ed, is to connect with certain pri-
vate road which crosses the proposed
line of the Texarkana & Fort Smith
at no great distance from our city, and
which runs directly to terminus on
the banks Of Red river, at spot
below the mouth of Sulphur
thus afording almost constant water
supply, without the expense of dredg-
ing, the year round. Immediately
upon the completion Of this line the
great benefits arising therefrom to the
commercial and industrial interest Of
our city will make themselves felt
In no uncertain manner. Upon the
conclusion of their labors in this city
to-day the visiting officers of the
road will take their departure over
the Trans continental Ryy for Kansas
City, Mo-, via Sherman, Texas, where
their special car will be transferred to
the M, X. & L. Ry. While here the
party were entertained by Superin-
tendent w. A. Williams, who, in the
absence Of Manager i. d. Hubbell, did
the honors of the occasion. The par
ty, in addition to Messrs. Taylor and
Stilwell, numbered Messrs. Parry and
Keith, who compose one of the largest
and wealthiest firms Of coal and lum-
Der dealers and mill operators in the
Southwest.