| From the New Orleans Times Picayune |
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| February 22, 1862 |
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| 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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