NP, NOTP 2/22A/1862

From the New Orleans Times Picayune
 
February 22, 1862
 
New Orleans & Texas Railroad
To the Citizens of Louisiana:
   By an act of the Legislature of this State, approved January 23, 1862, a charter was given, and a grant of lands made for the purpose of constructing a railroad from the New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western Railroad at or near New Iberia to Orange, on the Sabine river, the present terminus of the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, and thus connecting the railroad system of Texas with New Orleans; thereby giving this city a continuous railroad connection westward of nearly seven hundred miles, and opening up to our commercial interests one of the most fertile and productive regions on the American continent, besides exempting us in a great measure from dependence upon the Northwest for our supplies of grain and other provisions, as it is well known that Texas has capacity to supply been, pork and mutton for the whole Confederacy, and a large portion of its want of flour and other breadstuffs. She now produces more wool than all the other Confederate States combined. She is teeming with an industrious, enterprising, and rapidly increasing -population, and her early destiny is to be a great agricultural empire, whose abundant products will guarantee our independence of the North for supplies. Now, fellow citizens, all we need to make the Crescent City the great mart for this nascent empire, and to open a market for our enterprising merchants and manufacturers is the construction of a line of railroad only one hundred and seventeen miles in length -- one of the most easily and cheaply constructed and maintained roads ever built in any country.
   This road will all be within the limits of Louisiana. The Texas & New Orleans road is already constructed to the Sabine river. Our neighbor is at our door asking us to join her and assist in pouring her riches into our lap, that we may be her storehouse and market, as she will be our overflowing granary. Does it not behoove us to immediately prepare to buy and sell with her. This is one of the most necessary steps to secure to New Orleans the proud position for which nature has so well fitted her, of being the great commercial emporium of this glorious young Confederacy. All the necessary energy, enterprise and capital of our citizens should be devoted to this purpose, so that at the conclusion of the war the Crescent City shall stand beyond competition. Let us be ready for that great commercial revolution which will follow the present political one.
   There is still a stronger reason why this link of railroad should be completed at once -- a patriotic reason which for us the main motive for attempting it at this time. It is a grand military necessity -- a national want. Its construction is like furnishing our Government with an army where she now has none. It will save the national treasury millions of money; preserve the lives of hundreds of our brave soldiers, and give ample facilities for the protection of many hundreds of miles of our seaboard and frontier. Were Texas attacked by the Federals, our brave Louisiana troops could speedily fly to her relief. Were New Orleans in danger thousands of stalwart Texans in a few hours would be with us ready to deal death and destruction to a common foe.
   Had this road been completed six months ago many a Texan mother, wife, sister, and daughter, who are now bowed down with grief, would have been happy and exultant over the deeds of noble daring in the field performed by those they loved and mourn, and in whom the seeds of ??? were planted in the terrible march across the country where it is proposed to construct this road.
   In a pecuniary point of view the investment of money in this enterprise will be highly remunerative. The whole cost of the road will be about two million dollars. At a low estimate its gross earnings will exceed one million and a half the first year after completion, and increase afterwards. If the operating expenses b e fifty per cent. and they need not exceed forty, it will give net earnings of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum, thus yielding a dividend of probably over thirty per cent. per annum.
   This statement we know will appear exaggerated, but it is based upon facts and upon the judgment of those who have had the most experience and study in such matters, and are thoroughly conversant with the business to be done.
   The undersigned, a committee appointed by the coporators to receive subscriptions to the capital stock, and superintend the organization of this company, will cheerfully give such further information as may be desired by persons who wish to assist in this great enterprise.
   The land grant to the company is six sections to the mile -- the title of one hundred and twenty sections to vest when each twenty miles of road is finished. Hence the company will own, when the enterprise is completed, considerably over four hundred thousand acres of land which, at five dollars per acre, will  be worth two million dollars -- near about the cost of the road.
   Finally, we feel confident that when we have evinced our earnestness in this matter by putting our shoulders to the wheel, the Confederate Government will grant or lend us liberal aid in speedily constructing the work.
   Fellow citizens, we make this appeal to your patriotism, your public spirit, and your self interest, with confidence that you will not let it pass unheeded.
L. F. Generes W. A. Violett
S. O. Nelson R. W. Rayne
Addison Cammack Mason Pilcher
S. H. Kennedy M. J. Zuntz
A. M. Gentry L. H. Place
Claiborne Steele J. L. Macaulay
Robert Mott B. J. Sage
Sample Moore C. M. Congreve

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