St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1905-04-29
PERHAPS WITHIN
SIXTY DAYS.
Win The Construction Of The Dpel0usas.
Northeastern & Gulf Railroad Begln.
PRESIDENT LEWIS BRINGS THIS NEWS
MF. Lewis and Engineer ufteIl Return From
New York, Crowned With Success.

The proposed Opelousas, North
eastern & Gulf Railroad is no more a
struggling infant.
It has put aside its sWadding
clothes, and is on the eve of donning
long pants.
And President Thos. II. Lewis, you
may say the daddy of the fast devel-
oping child, and whose marvelously
persistent and well-managed efforts
to incubate and brood it has evoked
admiration on every hand, is all smiles
smiles of victory, which is gladly
taken up by the people at large. All
hurrah three cheers!p
But while Mr.. Lewis was the prime
mover and stimulating spirit in the
matter, cheering and commanding
forward March when opposition
seemed to appall others, he has a
host Of faithful lieutenants who
deserve praise and gratitude for the
gladstone accomplishment.
May the community who is soon to
be relieved from the oppression of a
merciless corporation reward the.
faithful in a fit manner.
President Thos. H. Lewis and Engi-
neer Leonce E. Littell, returned from
their trip to New York, where they
met parties, by pre-arrangement,
who propose to finance and con-
struet the 0pelousas, Gulf & North
eastern Railroad, for the company.
The construction company which pro-
poses to build the road is interested
in large timbered tracts in the north
eastern portion Of this parish. 1t is
not determined as yet whether the
road will connect with the Texas &
Pacific, the Red River Valley or the
Frisco systems. An experienced
engineer from the West will soon be.
upon the ground, accompanied by
representative of the parties who pro-
pose to construct the line. They will
go over the projected line from the
northeastern portion Of this parish to
Abbeville, via Rayne and Crowley,
and it is not doubted that their report
will be highly favorable, both as to
the cheapness with which the road
can be built, and the quantity of traf-
fic and travel which the road when
completed would command. An
agreement was reached, which was
reduced to writing and signed by Mr..
Is
Lewis and the representative of the
construction company, for himself
and his associates. Mr.. Lewis believes
that the work of construction will
begin within sixty days from date.
Mr.. Lewis states that the inn
preston that any other railway COM
pany or corporation is interested in
this road, is erroneous. The Ope-
lousas, Gulf & Northeastern Railway
Company will, itself, borrow the
money for the construction of the
road, and will itself construct the
road.
The tax subsidy already voted, and
the additional amount expected to be
voted by the wards along the line,
will, it is estimated, produce a fund
Of over $500, 900 in aid Of the con
struction of the road. That amount
will, it is estimated, pay one-half
the cost of construction for eighty
miles, that is to say, from the 7. & P.
to Abbeville. With such substantial
aid pledged toward the payment Of
capital and interest of the bonds to
=
be issued, the officers Of the company
have no doubt of their ability TO float
the bonds, which are to be payable in
fifty years and bear FIVE per cent in
terest.
Mr. Fsahulssan Aanafnfea