The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-11-29
IMPORTANT TO LAFAYETTE
Southern Pacific to Make
Through Connection
With Red River VAL
ley at Alexandria.


with interest," by the people OF
Lafayette:
There is very wen-grounded
belief in well-Dostcd railroad cir.
cles that within the next twelve
months the Southern Pacific will
be a competitor of the Texas and
Pacific Railroad in the North
Louisiana business, owning or
controlling practically direct
line between New Orleans and
Shreveport.
Several facts lead to this be-
lief. AS it at present stands the
Southern Pacific needs only to
build gap of 25 miles between
Cheneyville and Alexandria to
connect with the Shreveport and
he'd RIVER Valley Railroad to
close the link that would give
New Orleans new direct rail
connection with the thrivino
North Louisiana city, passing as
well through the most abund-
antly fertile and productive
agricultural section of the State
with particular possibilities in
the matter of controlling i very
large amount of cotton hauling.
The Southern Pacific's line from
New Orleans to Shreveport, if
put into effect, would be over the
main line to Lafayette: from La
fayette the Cheneyville branch
runs almost due north to Cheney !
vile, where a junction with the
Texas and Pacific is made. ,,
From Cheneyville to Alexandria
the Southern Pacific at present
uses the Texas and Pacific. but
If the 25 miles gap were closed.
the Southern Pacific's rails would
connect with those Of the Shreve-
port and Red River Valley on the
side of the Red River.
from there the Shreveport and
ted River Valley crosses it's new D
teel bridge and follows the s
astern bank of the Red River P
nto Shreveport and thus the a.
eW through line between New +,
'rleans and Shreveport would v
e formed ~
A fact most significant in sub in
of the report that the
outhern Pacific would make
lis move, is that the Southern
acific has sold tickets from
eW York, via the Morgan
eamship line to New Orleans.
I'd through to Shreveport over
e Shreveport and Red River
alley Railroad. Mr.. Edenborn s
ad is valuable property and
s been in operation since last
ay and there can be no cues
N but that either the Texas
q Pacific would like to own or INT
ntrol it to get the Southern ira
cific out of the field, or that no'
, Southern Pacific would like "a
own or control it so as to gain Y
entrance into a very rich and cot
'ductive territory. By the as
t that tickets sold by the Phi;
1thern. Pacific to Shreveport
routed over the Shreveport
Red River Valley it would 800
'ear as if the big transcOnti ,N
tai line had gotten the inside
ck and if it does not own. II 1
east has a very close traffic iiui,
angement with the EdenbOrn to-,
4. cOlu
may have been that the
as and Pacific had this DOS
lily in view when it began to LII
'truct it's new line between fran
ress and Shreveport along the accc
bank of the Red River, the
r. r. V. running along the R<
ern bank. When this road uh,
mpleted, which it is expected n,,1,1
e in less than a year, the ape,,
IS and Pacific not only will
srse another splendid cotton 90
on but will have a water an {
route and as well be able to Jean
the heavy grades now ne line
Try to overcome on the main
between Cypress and
veport. With a water level