| From the Houston Telegraph |
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| November 6, 1861 |
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| The New Orleans Road |
| Twelve thousand dollars will
complete the Texas & New Orleans road from the present terminus to
Orange. The business the company has hitherto done has been mostly for
the Government, and for that they have not yet been paid. It is
thought that if the military authorities of the District would advance
to the company from their contingent funds, about what the Government
is owing it, the work might be completed. If this cannot be done, it
is of enough importance that this road should be completed at once to
demand that the people should raise the money in some way for it. |
| The only thing to be done is
to complete about a mile of trestle work in the Neches bottom {at
Beaumont, 87 miles from the Houston terminus}. The reason why
this has not been done before has been because the work was in low
swampy ground, surrounded by a dense forest, in which no man could
work more than two days in the summer without being taken sick. The
miasm is said to be almost thick enough to slice up and hang up to
dry. Cold weather has now come, and the work can now be done, provided
the money is at hand. When completed it will shorten the time from New
Orleans here twenty-four hours at the least, and as the northers
always detain the boats from twelve to twenty-four hours, this work
completed would save that in addition. |
| In times like these rapid
conveyance of the mails, as well as important freights and troops is
of the utmost importance, and we trust nothing will be left undone to
complete this most important road. |
| The Louisiana gap should also
be filled up without delay. We believe Government should, as a
military necessity, extend such aid to this enterprise as will insure
its rapid progress. We trust this will be laid before the next
Congress at an early day, and all the military necessities of the case
brought to their attention. |
| We are sure that nothing will
be left undone by the enterprising managers to put the work ahead.
Col. Gentry has shown himself the best railroad financier we have yet
had upon our Texas roads. |
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