Natchitoches populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1898-1899, 1899-02-10
Our Opportunities

Railroads proposition to come
through NatchitOches and put
their shops and division, have we
had such opportunities as we have
now for making this a wealthy and
populOuS city, and developing oul
great natural resources until the
whole surrounding country shall
blossom with great productive ell.
ergy and laugh in the security OF
peace and plenty.
At least three railroads are build
ing in a general direction this way,
and could be brought here by
proper effort on the part of our
people. The greatest aud surest
inducement to bring them would
be the building of the railroad,
foot and wagon bridge across Red
river at Grand Ecore. Every one
of these roads, and others that are
projected have to cross Red river,
and the building of the bridge is a
serious item to a road that il strug.
Cling for capital to build its line.
With the bridge assured and the
very fine country OH both sides of
the river, practically untouched by
railroads, the rich Cane river val
ley, the great pineries stretching
out the whole length of the Kis-
atchie and far beyond its most
southern and southwestern head.
waters, the railroads could not be
kept out of here.
But if the railroads find it hard
to build bridges, could we build
one at all 2 This would likely be the
first question asked by the doubt
ing Thomases.
This ward has voted 10 mills tax.
es to railroads, 5 Of which is now
forfeited. The city voted 5 mills
additional wich is now forfeited.
If just 5 mills of this were voted
to the bridge and That taken with
the l mill given by our Police Ju-
ry, a company of our local people
could organize and with a small
cash capital to start the work,
could build the bridge as easy as
falling off a log.
Once the bridge was built and the
railroads began to use it, the mon
ey would begin to return, and in a
few years it would be o source of
revenue to oil concerned.
But while this revenue would be
a big thing to the individuals tn.
king stock and to the city and par
ish, it would be as nothing com.
pared to the public benefits of two
Or three railroads and a free traffic |
bridge, bringing nearly half the
parish within easy trading reach of
our town,
With the railroads would come
factories and capital to develop
Dur latent resources, and with in
creased transportation facilities
would come the possibility of di-
Versifed crops, two crops a year
IN the same land, fruit, stock and
/ hundred other sources of reve-
lue that would bring wealth and
rood thrifty immigrants to our
section.
We can do this and now is the
lime, before all these railroads are
settled to some other point which
will surely give them inducements.
Then there is the offer OF o COM
press to our people for a reasona-
Die donation to assist id its build
NO, which would settle Natchito-
hes as a cotton market and ship
,ing point, enabling our merchants
o ship cotton at perhaps half the
they pay now and pay
rom g quarter to half cent per
pound more than without a COM
)ress. This Of course would bring
lerc ALL the cotton in our beauti-
al valley and the bulk of it from
III our great cotton producing Sec
ion around it.
Is it possible that our people or
my number OF them will fail to
espond to these opportunities.
They may not come again in a life
inc, and if they should be offered
gain in the next Is years, can we
Ifford to sit down and wait while