Year: 1867

While wish to participate in the advantages to
be derived from railway connections, under the con-
troll of Texas and while it is interest to unite
with Houston and Jefferson in their enterprises look
ing to the development of the State, should con-
tribute, far it lies in power to make Jeifer-
especially, and all that country lying north of it,
equally with ourselves parakerS Of all improvements
hereafter to be made in the navigation of the upper
Red river. This stream is the northern boundary of
the State for distance equal to its length from Shreve
port to its mouth; and from the eastern boundary OF
the State is now navigable for small boats about two
hundred miles Ii is thought an additional hundred
miles of fair high water navigation could be secured
by very small appropriation for the removal OF some
shoals All that portion bordering on the river from
the eastern boundary Of the State as tar up boats
now GO be.or the war, was tributary to Shreveport
| in high water. Above the point OF navigation the
trade was to Jefferson Since the waG, hCWcvcr, as
much less cotton has been raised large part the river
cotton has been hauled to Jefferson. Whatever direc-
ton whether 20 jefferson to Shreveport the cotton
of that region will hereafter permanently take, is i'm
material so far as the interest and the right of Texas
are concerned, in the property and Improvement Of
Red river The upper portion oil the stream is as
much the property Of Texas the lower portion is
the property of Louisiana, and both States have an
equal interest in the improvement of its navigation.
As the State Of Arkansas is also interested it might
be appealed to- to assist in the Improvement OF the
stream. We have doubt that upon the joint ap-
picaton of these States Congress could hereafter be
nGuceu 10 Il III INC Nolh, IL Ibt Et''tSo


themselves had taken the initiative by appropriations
through their respective Legislatures. We thiIk not
only that all this is practicable but that it is Eeccs
sty, and will be done. How soon, will depend chiefly
upon the interest the parties themselves will show
and it is clear u.s. the sooner they act IN the matter
the better for themselves. Now every bale Of cotton
coming from the Texas region upper Red river by


the river route, pays in freight and insurance, from
five to eight dollars reach Shreveport, and about
onehalf Of this is tax on the distractions to naFlga-
ton or nearly double much it costs from Shreve-
port to New Orleans The distractions removed, there
is no reason why this Texas cotton should pay more


in charges than cotton shipped from Shreveport &C.
cordng to distance. This consideration with their


rights in the river entities the producers of this coun
try to demand III consideration Of railroad conncc
tons, such assistance in improving their river naFiga
ton as will be equivalent to the advantages Shrcve
port derives from Texas railroads. Of course, exact
equivalents cannot be given or exchanged by the par
tics As cannot estimate to the dollar the amount
of benefit from their railroad enterprises they could
not ask or exact any specific sum for river improve
ments But they have a right to demand equiva
lent and as this cannot be absolute and fixed, they
should control the p10s operapdi Of improving the
river With this control jefferson could and would
greatly Improve the na7i cation OF the Cypress by
deepenirg the outlets around the raft. And this con
cession we might make both as matter OF equity and
poev since 10 other improvement is at all practical
hIc and this is following out the natural changes
Going on, to arrest which, and thereby njure the inn
proving navigation to jefferson, under the operation
of present causes would be as futile attempt the
effort to run the water up stream. Whether we lend
our aid TO assist the operation Of these water changes
or not, they will 90 on as beforc-more and more wa
ter will be taken from the old channel of the river,
and thrown through the outlets west of the raft lnto
the lake The effect Of this is of course TO back up
the water of the bayou, and hence the overflow OF
part of Jefferson The present and the past year. and
hence too, the splendid saltwater navigation Of the
bayou itself this spring.


SHREVEPORT AND JEFFERsoN-RATURAL oUTLETs-TaELR


PROPER RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.


The natural outlets for the of all that por
tion of Texas lying north of the 32d degree CT latitude
are the two ports Of Shreveport and Jefferson. If by
the united efforts Of the States bordering Oh Red river
assisted BIZ the general Governments the navigation Of
tile river could he successfully opened five hundred
miles above its present limits, no competing port OF
shirment could be found above