Year: 1871

| RA1LhOADs


In announcing the completion of this roat


to Donaldsonville we neglected to give tn,


distance. 1t is sixty three miles from New
! Orleans to Donaldsonville by the route O


the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas rail


road. A considerable portion of the roa(
| has been constructed through the heavily
timbered swamp lands bordering on the


Mississippi. In obtaining the most direc


route practicable the company could moi


entirely avoid the swamp lands; and to


build the road through these lands has beer


work of immense labor and expense A


person cannot form an adequate idea of the


work performed without passing over the


road and observing the difficulties that had


to be overcome. Messrs. Reynolds, Dow.


ling d Co. were the principal contractors


for the work done between here and Don.


aldsonville; and through their untiring


energy and skill as railroad contractors,


the road has been constructed almost within


year from the time it was commenced.


Difficulties have stood in the path of this


work that to men of less determination


would have looked insurmontable.


What Messrs. Reynolds, Dowling & Co


have accomplished between here and Don


aldsonville will stand as the very best evil


dence of what can be done, and serve to


stimulate others in similar undertakings


Enough has been done since the organiza


tion of the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas


Railroad Company to give ample assurance


that within the next twelve months the


road will have crossed the Sabine and made


rapid Strides toward Houston. The road


between DonaldsOnville and Grand river, a
distance of twenty-one miles, has been
graded and is ready fer the ties. That
portion extending from Grand river to Yer
million, fortytwo ard a half miles, is to be
put under contract Immediately.


We regret to learn that good deal of
opposition has been made to the building of
the road between here and DonaldsOnville,
and that some of the planters, through
whose lands the road passes, have actually
commenced suits for damages against the
company. Instead of railroads damaging
lands, they are conceded to be great source
of increased value to the lands through
which they pass and those adjoining. This
has proved to be the case in other States,
and can not fail to bring about like results
here. The people of Texas are satisfied
that railroads will enhance the value
OF their lands, and are therefore will
ing to aid in their construction. The peo-
pie Of Louisiana generally are taking the
same course. They are inviting the con-
struction of railroads as means of bene-
fitting themselves, and therefore can not
it possible that any court or iury
can be found TO give damages to persons
who seltshly take a different view from
that entertained by a very large majority
OF the people upon this subject We be-
lieve the read will be a decided benefit to
every acre of ground through which it
passes, and think it should at least elicit the
friendly feelings of every landowner and
man OF business along its line. We want
to see this country thickly populated with
a thrifty yeomanry; with men who will
come IN here and settle as the men of the
North, East and West do in those
sections of our country, and make
inns a paradise instead of a bowling
wilderness. Many plantations, embracing
thousands OF acres of land that |
we're formerly cultivated by slave labor are
low laying dormant, and are of no value in !
he hands of men who will not cultivate
hem. Some of the most tOurishing planta-
ions between here and Donaldsonville be- |
ore the war, are now uncultivated and GO
ng to ruin for the want of some one to make |
hem blossom like the rose. The large |
plantation system, under the slave labor |
eglme, never brought this section of our |
ountry to that perfection that was attained |
II other sections by the aid of free labor |
md farms cultivated in comparatively small |
racts. Yet that system served to benefit |
he planter, and TO a degree the country,
md was preferable to no cultivation. The |
.0olltlon OF slavery has proved the death |
now to the successful working, to even the |
'lanter, OF the large plantation system as a |
General rule. And the time is gradually |
approaching when the lands OF our State |
will be cultivated in small tracts bv heads
II families; and when that system once pre-
ais here. then will a general prosperity
'ervade the State and the lands become
aluable as the population becomes dense


his condition Of things in the South will
make railroads profitable to railroad com
anles as well as landowners and all
lasses OF business men. We want popula-
ion, and railroads are calculated to encour-
ge immigration to the State: therefore
ailroads should be encouraged. The spirit
hat would oppose railroads would oppose
Immigration into the State. and a system
f settlement that would rapidly bring our
lnds into cultivation. Let our planters
'ho are still laboring under old fogy
otions remember this and go in for pro-
ress. This is the true way TO meet the
resent and the future, and by taking a
old stand, resolved TO aid in the new order
things, they may remedy much of the
istortune that was inflicted upon them
nd the country.


SMALL EIGHTY ACRE FARM FOR SALE AT