The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-10-19
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS
THE RAILROAD ELECTION.


THE RAILROAD ELECTION.
Some time ago the Advocate entered at
some length into description of the COM
advantages of Baton Rouge, and
it unhesitatingly asserted without fear OF
that they were unsurpassed
by any other town city in the United
States. The Advocate showed that Baton
Rouge offered at its front and its contiguous
bank facilities for a sea and river port of
seven miles in length, where wharves and
other landing facilities of q n absolutely per-
manent character could be erected. When
it is considered that the Mississippi is as deep
between Baton Rouge and New Orleans
1t is from the mouth of the river to New
Orleans, and that a steam vessel can ascend
the 1870 miles of river intervening between
the two points, in 10 or IL hours, it is in
no way extravagant to assert in these days
of progress that there is no good reason to
contend that Baton Rouge cannot be sea-
port as well as New Orleans. Baton Rouge
lies on the first elevated plateau on the Mis-
siSsippi and it offers unquestionable advant-
ages for bridge across the Mississippi. 1t
enjoys an exceptionally superb and healthful
climate, by reason of the fact that, on air
AuSSS 41OAl SuC CdSls II ICSCVSS ALS oISCZCS
of Lake Pontchartrain and the gulf across
not more than IS miles of country; and from
the gulf, on the west, from about the same
distance. 1t has artesian water of unsur-
passed quality. 1t stands air line for
a railroad that will some day be built be-
tween Mobile and Lafayette, from which
points great interests will seek connections
with the Mississippi for, these Interests will
not be content very long to stand the un-
necessary expense and loss of time that the
great curve by way of New Orleans now
imposes upon these interests.
From Lafayette to New Orleans, by the
Southern Pacific route, the distance is ia
miles. From Lafayette to Baton Rouge it
is only 81 miles. Hence the oil interests of
Beaumont and Jennings would save IS miles
of rail transportation by a road from Lafa-
yette to Baton Rouge that would put their
product on the Mississippi at point 1870
miles above New Orleans. Thence it could
be distributed up and down the Mississippi
and, by rail connection going eastward
from Baton Rouge, to markets reached by
the main trunk of the Illinois Central, the
Queen and Crescent, the Ship Island and
Gulf, the Louisville and Nashville, and
finally to Mobile and all the roads and sea
routes at that port. A glance at the map
will best show the possibilities to which we
have reference.
1t ought to be PLAIN day that every
mile of railroad that will be built from
Baton Rouge in eastward direction, will
become growing inducement for the large
interests centering at Mobile on one side and
Lafayette on the other, to connect with
such line. So that. if the people of
Baton Rouge wish to hasten the consumma-
ton have briefly outlined, they must
help to start this line, the completion of
to proportions that may well dazzle the i'm
aginaton of the most sanguine believers in
the splendid future OF our city.-Baton
Rouge Advocate.
The Gazette has had occasion
several times to refer to the advant-
ages of railroad from Lafayette to
Baton Rouge. The Advocate does
not exaggerate the great benefits
which would accrue to the capital
city of the State if such a road were
built.
The people of Lafayette and
DdIOu NouSS anu INTERMEDIATE
points should employ the most
practical means to make known
the splendid opportunity offered to
capitalists by the proposed railway.
The road suggested by the Advo-
cate would place this town within
two hours reach of the Mississippi
river at Baton Rouge and the Illi-
nois Central and Texas Pacific rail-
roads. The benefits to this section
of direct railway connection with
Baton Rouge are incalculable.
An air line between Lafayette and
Mobile has been thought Of before
and it is no pipe-dream of Col.
Jones. On the contrary, many
railroad men have expressed the
opinion entertained by Col. Jones
that this railroad evil some day be
built" OF course, no one can tell
exactly when that will be, but the
people who are interested in it can
do much to hasten its coming.
The Gazette hopes that the peo-
pie of this section will think of the
suggestion thrown out by Col
Jones, for they can not give their
attention to project If greater