| From the New Orleans Daily Crescent |
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| August 10, 1861 |
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| Special to the New Orleans Crescent] |
| Houston, Texas, July 27, 1861 |
| Ed. Crescent, |
| Texas is preparing for the
"tug of war" when it comes, if come it must, within her borders. The
South Carolina lies off Galveston, ready to pounce upon all craft, great
or small, that come within her reach. She has done a small-potato
business since her arrival, capturing some dozen or less of the
schooners in the coasting trade, running to Galveston. Picking-up a
mosquito fleet without notice is a species of naval galantry Capt. Alden
and his officers may think highly of, as it is not uncharacteristic of
the cause they are engaged in. |
| For some weeks past we have
been sadly deficient in means of communication with your city; but,
after the 1st of August, we expect to have a regular mail route open via
New Iberia and the Sabine, by stage, and from thence to this city, 100
miles by railway. The Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company have finished
and equipped this road at an outlay of $2,500,000. The Louisiana
division, 115 miles to New Iberia, remains to be built. The merits of
this enterprise, many of your citizens are familiar with; its importance
to your city can hardly be overestimated. The multiform resources of
Texas present, in a commercial point of view, many attractions The
variety of soil and climate she possesses, enabling her to produce wheat
with the same adaptability she does cotton, places her towards New
Orleans as differing essentially from any of the States adjacent to the
lower Mississippi. |
| In fact, Texas represents the
South-western States in miniature, producing sugar, cotton and grain
largely. These, in connection with the products of the orchard and
dairy, and he limitless resources for raising cattle, horses, sheep and
hogs, form a combination of resources unequalled by any other portion of
the Confederacy. Your commerce requires Texas; she is an indispensable
adjunct to your future prosperity. Why should not your press arouse your
citizens to the importance of aiding the Louisiana division of the Texas
road? Now is the time to press the mater. There is iron enough in your
city that may be had to metal the 115 miles. The trade that the road
would command will in no way interfere with the Northern Texas trade you
now have. Once in connection with Houston by railroad, and you command
the heavy planting interest of the State, the Lower Trinity, Brazos and
Colorado regions. The new regime is fairly inaugurated, the minions of
Lincoln will scatter like chaff before Southern valor, and the time of
political and commercial independence is near at hand. Direct
importations from Europe will hereafter center at your port for
distribution over one-half of the Southern Confederacy, and if
facilities of transportation are extended to Texas within a year over
the route mentioned, the bulk of the trade of this great State will
necessarily be drawn to your city. You have the ability, if you have the
will, in New Orleans to render signal service now to this enterprise.
Independently of controlling the trade of Texas, it will prove a
profitable investment to all concerned. |
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