| From the New Orleans Times Picayune |
| |
| April 9, 1862 |
| |
| New Orleans & Texas Railroad |
| The Houston Telegraph, copying
from this paper a paragraph relative to the high prices of provisions
in the New Orleans market, says, "You of the Pic. would be happy
if you only knew the (rail) way to good luck," and adds: |
| "We of Houston pay five
cents per pound for beef. If you will finish the New Orleans and Texas
Railway we will furnish it to you for eight cents, and make money off
you at the same time, and also pay your road a good price for getting
us to your market." |
| We, "of the Pic.,"
we believe, have pretty well indicated that we are quite aware of the
"rail-way to good luck," to which our Texas contemporary
alludes. And he may be assured that it shall not be our fault if the
New Orleans and Texas Railroad is not un fait accompli, at the
earliest possible moment. |
| There are many other
advantages, of the most important character, besides the supply of
beef to the New Orleans market, which must inevitably accrue from the
establishment of railway intercommunication between this city and
Texas. Everything necessary for the sustenance of an extensive tier of
Confederate States, supplied in abundance, would find easy and safe
transportation. Not only been, but port and poultry, mutton and game,
corn, wheat and the other cereals, with vegetables of all sorts, and
fruits of many kinds, would be furnished to us in any desired
quantity, and Texas would become a fruitful and prolific garner, to
which, for everything necessary for life, we might go as customers.
Texas, through such a medium, would find a ready and profitable outlet
for that great staple of so large a portion of her soil, we mean wool,
while, in return, we would have access to the bountiful fountain of
such needed supplies as are to be found among us. |
| And then, considered in a
military point of view, what a rich blessing would free and extensive
railway communication between the Mississippi river and every part of
Texas inevitably prove! But we have already dealt at length on this
consideration, as well as the rest, in our frequent allusions to this
great work of internal improvement. |
| It is a notable fact that when
all those enterprises which have been commenced and completed in this
part of the Confederacy have been finished and put into active
practical operation, it has always soon come to be remarked, with a
kind of special wonder, "how astonishing it now seems that this
was never thought of before! how could we have got on so long without
it! what would we take now to relinquish and deprive ourselves of its
advantages!" |
| So, we predict, will it be,
one day or other, and that at no remote period of time, with regard to
the New Orleans & Texas Railroad. |
|