The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-03-23
Letter from Judge Cordill about
the Railroad.

We publish below a letter from
Judge G. C. Cordill, of Tensas parish.
to the editor of the Tensas Gazette, on
the much talked of railroad to be built
by company lately organized. and we
heartily approve what Judge Cor
dill SAYS in his letter. We also publish
what the Herald says about the Cole
road, in which it says 8 per cent. of
the capital stock has been paid in.
Now, this amount is only small item,
and it was necessary. to carry or the
work of surveying the line of route, if
it expected to make any showing
When the first mention of this road
being built appeared in print, it had
among he board of directors the name
of Hon. j. F. Ransdell, and we are re-
liable informed that he knew nothing
about it, and informed the organizers of |
this company that the use of his name
as director was unauthorized.
We thought it strange from the first
that a company should Immediately
jump up and organize to buiid this
road just as soon as 1t was given out
that there was IA possibility and strong
talk of the Texas and Pacific Railroad.
or the Gould syndicate, building road
through our river parishes to connect
with their lines at Vidalia and Arkan-
sas City.
Judge Cordill is right in what he
says. aud we believe that if the road is
to be built at all, the Texas and Pacific
will do it, and they should not have
any obstacles placed in their way by
which they may abandon its conslruc-
ton.
No doubt the representatives of the
Cole road, or the New Orleans,
Natchez & Arkansas Railway" will
shortly be along the route asking for
the rights of way, and our advice 10
land owners is not to sign anything, at
least until they learn more of the Texas
and Pacific project. Judge CoIdill
says he has personal reasons to know
that il is the intention of the Texas
and Pacific to build this road, and we
believe that he knows what he is talk
ing about in what he says:
New Orleans. La. March s. 1901.
Editor Tensas Gazette, ST. Joseph, La:
The Picayune of the 9th inst con-
tanned telegram from Vicksburg an
nouncing that railroad company had
been organized at that place for the
purpose of constructing railroad from
Vidalia to Lake Providence. 1t is
that the purpose of this or
ganiZation is to secure rights of way
between those places. and thus force
he Texas and Pacific, which contem-
plates building in that direction, to
,uy them out, or abandon the field to
he new company.
For the past twenty-five years the Z
people of Tensas and Concordia have
'een deceived by talk ofrailroad build
ng through that coungy, but they
lways turned out TO be paper roads.
low. | have personal reason to know
hat it is the intention of the Texas
nd Pacific to build up from Red river
long the Mississippi river to Arkansas
'ity, and then CONNECT with other
ronld lines to ST. Louis. ALREADY,
trough the efforts of Congressman
.ansdell and Senator McEnery. that
ompany has secured the right to
ridge Red river, and this line will
i've il the shortest line between New
rleans and st. Louis by 100 miles, as
) well as the lowest grade line.
AS resident of Tensas, and one de-
ring to see a great trunk line, con-
Getting New Orleans and St. Louis,
inning through this district, | hope e.
at the people will not give any en-
to the Vicksburg scheme
: giving it right of way, and thereby
,ssibly forcing the Texas and Pacific
delay or. maybe abandon its plan, or
ange it to the route furnished by
injection with the New Orleans and
1rtwestern at Vidalia. The Texas
d Pacific should not be hindered; it
ould be encouraged to extend its
ad to the Arkansas line.
Yours truly,
&C. CORDILL.
The Gazette commenting on the n