| From the The Standard {Clarksville, Tex.} |
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| February 9, 1861 |
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| Cheap Railroad |
| The following from the Message
of Gov. Moore of Louisiana, shows the cheapest mode of rail road
construction. It is the plan upon which it was desired to construct
the Memphis & El Paso, if the necessary funds to purchase 200
negroes could have been obtained. |
| The report transmitted to me
by the President of the Grosse Tete & Opelousas Railroad Company {Baton Rouge, Grosse Tete & Opelousas RR},
gives a satisfactory view of that valuable public improvement. Six
miles of the second section of twelve miles, from the Bayou Grosse
Tete to Livonia, are by this time completed, and the whole will be
finished by the middle of this month. The whole cost of the section
will not exceed $8500 per mile, and the remaining distance of thirteen
miles, from Livonia to the Atchafalaya river, is not expected to cost
more, and will be completed throughout by the first of January next.
The company have the means in hand, or if any small debt should
remain, it can be immediately discharged by the estimated receipts of
the road, or by the sale of negroes belonging to the company. This
road has been constructed with extraordinary economy, mainly by the
labor of slaves. The example is well worthy the study of railroad
companies in the south. The full reports of affairs of these roads,
with such other matters concerning them as may be thought important,
will be communicated to you as fast as received. |
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