| From the New Orleans Times Picayune |
| |
| March 23, 1862 |
| |
| Texas & New Orleans Railroad |
| We observe the directors of
this company have reopened books of subscription to the capital stock,
and seem determined to lose no time in carrying this important
enterprise into operation. We are glad to see they are in earnest, for
surely no enterprise of this sort has ever been undertaken on this
continent so full of important results. |
| It is a link of 117 miles in
length; from New Iberia to Orange on the Sabine, which will connect
the Opelousas Railroad with all the railroads in Texas; from whence we
are hereafter to obtain our bread and meat -- a question at this
moment of vital importance, not only to New Orleans, but to the whole
Confederacy. |
| We understand it is the
opinion of their chief engineer -- a gentleman of large experience in
the construction of railroads -- that this road can be built in six
months, provided the means can be obtained to employ a sufficient
amount of labor. And it is more than probable that any amount of slave
labor can now be readily obtained. The directors are pushing
everything ahead in their preliminary arrangements, relying on the
patriotism and liberality of the country at large, and the sagacity of
our citizens in seeing and seizing on a good opportunity for a safe
and exceedingly profitable investment for supplying the means that
will be needed. |
| As to the question of the
investment there can be no question, placing all other considerations
out of view. The whole trade and travel between New Orleans and Texas
must pass over this road. It will have no competition, except by the
Gulf, and when it is considered how enormous this trade and travel
must be, it does not require the gift of prophecy to foresee that the
dividends must far exceed those of any railroad in America or any
other part of the world. |
| We hope this company will go
on and prosper, and that we shall be able to make a visit to our
friend at New Brannfels over this road and take our next Christmas
dinner with him. |