The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-11-13


4 operation in America was the Sout
| Carolina Railroad, previously referre
: to, which was constructed 1928 to 1885,
The Baltimore & Ohio had previousl
experimental with locomotives bu
l. continued the use of horse power unit
1892.
e A railway was not planned in Franc
e until 1888, and in Belgium in 1880, bu
the latter was not begun until 1888
: The first steam railway in Austria wa,
| organized in 1893; the first in German,
was opened in 1885; the first in Russia
from 1885 to 1887, but the operation Of
the latter was simply of an experiment
tai nature, and really the first practical
railroading done in Russia was in 1880
We can see, therefore, what credit is
due to a small coterie of Mississinpi
planters who organized in 1881 rail.
road intended entirely for steam. and
who had it in operation and completed
IN lS4l. The thoroughness and good
judgment with which they did their
work is proven by the fact that their
original gauge and grades are being
used at this day.
There can be no doubt that in the
ability to painstakingly work out, ar
range, systematic and bring to a sue
cessful conclusion an unlimited uuan-
tlty of puzzling details, in other words
in executive capacity, Edward McGebee
possessed mind of prodigious scope,
Note-Regardins Opening of the West
Feliciana Railroad.
- The year of the completion of the
road given in the foregoing as 1897
was taken from Memoirs of Mississip- /
pl," published In two massive volumes
by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., of
Chicago. But while lacking positive
information on the subject, the writer
feels morally certain it is incorrect
Inc road was begun from Bayou Sara,
where material arrived by river. AS
soon as 1t was constructed eight miles
Out to Resale, the homestead of Mr.
robert H. Barrow, depot was located
1t that point and trains put in opera.
ion. They were run to that point for
ome years, construction, in the mean |
line, being continued to Laurel Hill /
Is soon as completed to the latter
olnt the terminal depot was moved l.
hlther, and it was some years later
efore trains were able to run to Il
Voodville. t
An act OF the Mississippi legislature q
pproved December %, 1888, authorizes lt
ne commencing of the railroad in h
Mississippi within one year, to be COM Il
leted within four years from date. IL
An act approved February "a, 1916, OF
Stends the time of completion to es
pril l, 1889. tl
We have so far been able to locate "a
other act granting further extern OF
on, from which II might be inferred to
at the road was completed by the &c
tier date, but the recollection of such 81
the older citizens as we have been an
lie to consult is to the effect that the Ia
ad was not completed until the
rites, Like other unsettled points, "a
are still searching information re. Gu
riding the matter. pa
'te'-oate OF the Completion Of the -
West Feliciana Railroad. Cd
~ CO..
In 1904 the writer employed Mr.. John n,
Bryant, Of Woodville, then an old Of
IN, who has been engaged in the w,
publishing business at that do,
Int practically all his life, to make 70,
lgent search for positive information no,
to the date of the completion to INF
'odville of the West Feliciana Rail. In
ID. No positive records, public or in .
vate, could be found, either in Wood Of
e or in the general offices of the on,
q M. V. R. R., as to when the road he,
been completed either to Resale Gov
lrel Hill or finally to Woodville but
concensus of opinion ON the part of y
older inhabitants was to the effect 10
t it reached it's final terminus in yea
l or 1912. eht
]. S. McGEHEE. ~
-~