The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-09-22
SHREVEPORT,
II. H. Hargrove in the N. o. Picayune.


That Shreveport is the foremost
Southern city of like size and popu-
lation is an acknowledged fact by all
who are familiar with her great prog
ress and enterprising spirit. That
she has been the architect of her own
fortunes is attested by the story of
her wonderful advancement in recent
years. In business sagacity she is
the wizard of the State, and in for
ward movements and we'll known
achievements she has been the giant
of the Southern cities.
These achievements have not been
in some chosen line to the neglect
and exclusion of all other interests,
but practically cover every feature of
its steady and brilliant develop
ment, comprising new manufacturing
plants, more capital, increased wealth
among the people, enlarged popula
ton, new railroads, better sanitary
measures, modern city equipments i'll
every detail, and thus it's onward
strides are made steady and easy.
A general statement of its prog
ress, however, terse and clear, will
be more convincing when accompa-
MED with a specific bill of particu-
lars-hence the exact facts of the
liberal treatment to all enterprises
seeking to secure a business home
with this city shall be fled in evil
dence with the Picayune.
The building of railroads is one
evidence of a towns progress, thrift
and prosperity, for where there is
no commerce there will be no inter-
section and crossing and headquar-
ters of railroads.
Shreveport in this line can safely
challenge comparison with any city
of like size, for it now has seven rail
roads entering its borders, and two
other approacbing-one from the
north and the other from the west,
and now enjoys a passenger traffic
from the coming and going of four
teen daily passenger trains. Shreve-
port has helped to build each of these,
except the Vicksburg, Shreveport
and Pacific. 1t has given in financial
aid as follows: Texas and Pacific
railroad, 100000; Houston and
Shreveport railroad, $4,000; St.
Louis and Southwestern railroad,
$4,000; Kansas City. Shreveport
and Gulf railroad, S325,000; Shreve-
port and Coushatta railroad, $4,000.
Total, SG25,OOO.
The liberal and enterprising people
of this city have contributed hand
some cash donations to every manu-
featuring enterprise established here
in the last ten years, and are willing
to continue this splendid policy to
all others who will found any indus
trial plant here which will augment
its further financial and commercial
supremacy.
A further EVIDENCE of the city's
enterprise and liberality is to be
found in the voluntary street i'm
provements completed and under
contract. The property owners on
Milan and part OF Crockett, aud all
on Texas street and avenue and road
have voluntarily contracted to brick
the entire streets With u 9-inch con-
crete foundation and 3-inch brick
on its side as a surface, and thirteen
blocks of this work has been CON-
pleted, and is highly commended for
its permanency and value. There
remains about one and one half miles
more of this work under contract to
be finished in the near future, and
this will ultimately lead to similar
improvements on all prominent
streets. It is estimated that the
work completed and that under con-
tract will involve an expenditure of
100000.
The old constitution of Louisiana
did not permit the people to levy a
special tax for school-house coustruc-
ton, and thus our city has labored
under great disadvantages in this
line; but its enlightened and liberal
people, to meet this emergency, have,
by special written contract, agreed
to pay an annual amount equal to 5
uills on their individual assessments
for three years to erect at least three
brick public school-houses, to cost
about $4,000, exclusive of the
ground.
This contract is signed and in
dorsed by SIS per cent of the tax
payers, and all of the railroads and
banks and other important corpora
tons, and is now esteemed by our
people to have been the highest and
best test of their liberality and enter
prise, as it tests their willingness to
do greater things for their commu-
nifty than the constitution of the
State permits to be done legally.
These expenditures of money have
brought reputation to this city for
/, l. 1. I