The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-24

and Northeastern
At the last session Of the City Cou,1-
Gil there was extended the time limit of
the Shreveport and Northeastern Rail
way from February to October next.
The most remarkable feature of this ex-
tent'on i the surprise experienced over
this action of the Council by the pro-
Jector Of the proposed railway. who has
declared that the first notice he received
of this concession was through the
newspapers, which leads to the logical
conclusion that the extension granted
was not only not solicited but was not
anticipated nor expected
What is the motive which suggested
this liberality Of the Council to a COM
pany whose railroad is as yet in the per
spectve2
According to agreement the road
should be completed on February D.
which is the time limited for which
Il
special tax, which is held i'll trust by
the city and which aggregates about
twenty-eight thousand dollars.
Has the Council, as the custodian Of
this fund the right to grant an extern
sion of time without the consent of the
taxpayers?
1t is safe to say that in a contention
It law this action Of the Council will
not be sustained
AIhis action of the Council is the more
surprising when it is considered that the
State Fair of Louisiana were securing
from the taxpayers assignments OF the
TAX which is to be applied i'll the inter
ests of the fair grounds and it, stock
holders and the city as well. on a plan
already given the fullest publicity and
which has been generally approved.
According to the stipulations actual
work should have begun at Shreveport
six months after the special tax Of
sever-eighths of mill had been voted
The bonus was to be $1,000 payable i'll
ten years or less. The road was to have
been completed i'll thirty months from
Shreveport to Homer before any money
could be paid to the company.
There may be a little dirt here and
these to show as an indication of intent
but nothing more can be exhibited.
Several months since when the fail
TIRE of the construction of this road was
apparent, the Caucasian believing that
it was i'll progress of construction sug-
gested the most generous encourage
ment possible to the company, but If
the construction is only speculative and
still in the perspective why grant such
a favor without the consent and the ap-
proval of those who have been and have
paid their portion of the tax iii the full
fillment of their agreement.
Some stress is laid on the possibilities
of shops, but the promise OF railroad
shops have no charms Of allurement for
the citizens of Shreveport who have ac-
quired some practical and lasting expe-
rience i'll connection with railroad shops.
In all attempt at the justification of
the Councils action it has been sug-
gested that the inlucement held out, at
the beginning to the Shreveport and
Northeastern be left opened to the
Louisiana and Arkansas or other COM
panies who may construct a road to
Shreveport, but this would be inconsist-
tent with and violative of the agreement
between the Shreveport and Northeast
ern and the taxpayers of the city OF
Shreveport.
As the Shreveport and Northeastern
has failed and can show no evl-
dence of practical construction i'll
the fulhllinent of its obligation,
the forfeiture of the bonus voted
i'll its aid is the only reasonable Sc
quence of the failure Of the contract and
the taxpayers can determine what ac-
ton they will take i'll the disposal Of
the money paid and hell i'll trust by the
city.