The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-03-22
TIE ROAD. is A CERTAINTY.

We accepted sn invitation from Mr..
w. K. Spurlock last Friday, and in
company with Mr.. Robt. Nicholson
went up to Carmel, Ark, to look at
the work, If any was really being done
on the construction of the RAILROAD by
The contractors for the Memphis,
Helena and Louisiana railroad. We
bsd heard so many rumors about the
back line and the font liue that we
thought we would go and take look
so as to report the facts TO our readers.
We left Providence last Friday even-
ing about half past 2, behind two Of
Mr.. Spurlock's fine mules, and at 7
O'Clock we were at Cariols, Ark, a
distance of IS miles. We remained
there Friday night in the care of Mr.
Peter Ford, who runs a. dry goods
store, drug store, undertaking estab-
lishment, hotel and livery stable, be-
sides being justice Of the peace, and
a few more enterprises that we forgot
to put down.
We got an early start from Cariols
and was at Carmel, distance Of about
| 6 miles by O'Clock. x was the most
horrible road we ever saw.
Carmel has three stores, but the
owner of the large plantation, is DIR.
| G.. A. Scott, who we found 10 be
'hi2h-toued gentleman, full of push and
energy, and who informed us that he
had already sold. twenty lots, aud fiue
| stores. would be erected on them at an
early date. 1t is a beautiful location
| for town. right on the brink of the
hills, and there is nothing 10 keep il
from being husiiing place.
| We met Mr.. Mccarthy and son, the
contractors, who we found to be affa-
BILE aud hospilable gentlemen, who bad
break fast prepared for US and talked
railroad all the time.
The distance from the Louisiana'line
to Trippe Junction, Ark, is AZ IL
miles, and from Carmel to Trippe IS
miles. The entire line is covered by
contractors with the exception of IL
miles, which was thought would be
taken this week. From the Louisiana
line TO Carmel il is Z IL miles, and
Kilbourn & Wetherby have taken q
contract for L 1-2 miles Of this from the
line north; then Mr.. Nicholson joins
them with 8 miles through old fields.
This leaves about miles on the south
side of Bayou Macon to be let, which
is very bad work. From the bayou 10
Carmel the distance is about mile,
an0 the embankme for this distance
was TO have been completed to-day
part of il being a l6. foot fill. and the
heaviest work on the line. Work was
started Monday north from Carmel
and these contractors have four miles
of work. The right Of way, one hun
dred feet wide,. from Carmel, both
north and south, 10 cut out as far as The
eye can see. Mr.. Mccarthy informed
us that with good weather The 40 1-2
miles will be ready tor the cross ties
and rails within three months. Tim
Der, ties aud other material lie being
brought TO both Lake Village and
rrippe junction in large quantities.
We hardly think that work will be
started south OF the Louisiana line
within three months. We were given
to understand that the Arkansas work
would have to be completed first, and
then large forces would be started all
along the line in ;his state. The road
is certainty. and all the work we saw
is several miles south of where they
would have taken the back line, il
THEY intended to do this. So there is
nothing 10 do but wait, and only a
short lime at that, when wo will have
a railroad at last. Then we will have
a booming parish, aud booming and
real live town.