The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1906-11-17
OUR RAILROADS..

that is doing in road building III
this section. A careful canvass
has been made in order to gather
all the Obtainable information
about the doings and prospective,
actions of the other two proposed
roads through this section. No
explanation is made why this in
formation is sought, or being ga
thered
1t may mean that an effort is
being made to circumvent any
active building operations.
Then, again. it may mean that
either or both Of the prospective
roads are about to become active.
The returns of the special eltc
ton of June 9th. 1906, voting a
special tax of 2 and ) mills res
pectively for the New Orleans.
Crowley and Western Railroad
Co. and the Central Railway 60
of Louisiana, were promulgated Oh
June 23rd. The conditions under
which these bonuses were granted
provide that the N. o., Z. and Wn.
road shall be completed and IN
operation between New Orleans
and Crowley Through New lberia)
on or before the close of the year
1909 Another condition prOvid.
ed that the building shall be com
menced within one year from the
PRONUNCIATION of the returns. The
tax is not collectible till the road
is in operation.
The Central agreed to have its
line in operation from the Missls-
sippi river, through this city, to
point at least 100 miles west OF
this place on or before the close of
1908; also, to establish round.
house and machine shops in this
city, and have same in operation,
at the same time. Ten days after
the PRONUNCIATION Of the returns,
showing an almost unanimous vote
of the tax, the Central suspended
all work of grading along the en-
tire line. On the east bank of the
Teche, south east of this city,
is a grade nearly 5 miles long.
West of this city is another grade
extending nearly to YOungville,
Is miles or more in length. In
the vicinity Of Charenton another
considerable stretch of road bed
was completed. Near Leesvllle
more grade work was done.
On July 4th, last, the order to sus-
pend all operations went into effect.
1t was given out at that time that a
g grade was sought at or near Lees
Vile, and that no further construction
work would be done until found. 1t
has never been made clear, and prob
ably never will be. just what influence
the 3 grade exercised over the work
from this point east.
After time the desired grade was
announced ami reports we're current
to the effect that work would be re-
sumed on the line on Oct 18th. After
that date had passed reports again
fixed a future date-Jany, 1907. In
the mean time the Office here has EN-.
phatically denied the impression that
the project of building the road has
fallen through.
About October LIST a report found
currency to the effect that the S. p.
had reached the K. G. So. promoters
with arguments showing the bad judg-
ment Of entering the territory of the
former BY the latter on competitive
basis. A line, promised. from Fort
Worth to Kansas City would put the
entire investment of the latter at the
mercy Of the former. Work on the
Central was in consequence suspended.
This left the field to the Owens road.
This latter road demanded the 3 grade,
found it. and is now prospecting its
SURVEYS on towards the Crescent City.
However wanting in fact these rumors
may be, the known facts and general
conditions lend much to the coloring
Of the story.
A new survey, under the auspices of
the Central. has been made. comming
from the west to this city. 1t is indi-
Gated that the new line has had all
the kinks and curves pulled out of il
from Crowley to this place. In doing
this All the grade work between this
city and Youngville will be abandon.
ed, as it is off the proper line. When
the Surveyor crops reached this place
it was disbanded and its members
sent elsewhere out of this territory.
A@ittle later we learn that the Owens
surveyors are stalking line through
Franklin, Centerville. and Patterson,
in all places locating the line between
the s. P. tracks and the Teche. Then