| From the Opelousas Courier (Opelousas,
La.) |
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| March 22, 1862 |
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| New Orleans & Houston Railroad |
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Who could have expected, ten years or more ago, to go by
railroad direct from here to Houston, where railroads are built, or
being built, to all parts of Texas? Yet this is in prospect of being
speedily within our power.
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B. J. Sage Esq., who has been
laboring for years to have the direct connection from New Iberia to
the Sabine made {the New Orleans &
Texas RR}, and who will address our
planters today, informs us that the Legislature has chartered a
company for this purpose and has endowed it with about 400,000 acres
of land and his object is now to get the planters, on the ground of
patriotism and self-interest, to put their surplus of negro labor on
the road; taking their pay in stock. The company will be able to
advance enough money to feed and clothe the negroes , and to pay the
taxes on them if such money be required. Mr. Sage estimates that the
compensation per able bodied male hand will be from $400 to $550. This
compensation consists in the stock, which must be very profitable as
there is immense business waiting, as the road is without a rival, and
in the stockholders' pro vala share of the land.
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The connection between New Orleans and New Iberia is
perfect; and the railroad is finished from the Sabine to Houston.
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The closing of the gap (117 miles)
will connect Louisiana and all her railroads and rivers with the
commercial center of Texas, where all her railroads meet. That magnificent
State can fully supply the loss of the Great West, which was closed
against us in the vain hope that by starving we would submit Texas can
furnish the Southern Confederacy abundantly with beef, pork,
breadstuffs and everything formerly obtained from the Western States,
besides salt, wool, and many other important staples.
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This road is one of the most
important feeders to our Opelousas road, joining it nearly a right
angles, and connecting this place by railroad directly with Houston
and all Texas.
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But it is the military necessity
that induces the completion of the road now; for it is indispensable
to have transportation of soldiers, arms, munitions and supplies from
one point to another of our vulnerable coast. This road would reduce
the number of men, &c., necessary, one-half, and it is estimated
that every year more than the whole cost of the road would be saved to
the Government and people. Besides, if this road were made, thousands
of brave Texan soldiers could rush to our aid in a sudden emergency as
could soldiers from all the Confederacy to her in case of need.
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The new state of things which
results from shutting up the West, will necessity, sooner or later,
the extension of the Opelousas and other roads, northwesterly through
the center of Texas, to the Pacific road and beyond to the
wheat, corn and pork region, and we are glad to know that the grading
of our road from the Vermillion to this place is under contract to
responsible parties and is actually being done: Messrs. Mouton are
grading from the Vermillion to the Cara?? and Messrs. McKintry from
that to Opelousas.
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These signs of progress are very
cheering, and those who are carrying forward these enterprises with so
much ability and energy should be countenanced and aided in every
possible way by our planters and other citizens.
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