RAILROADS IN CALCASIEU PARISH - 1890'S
Submitted by Margaret Rentrop Moore

Source: Southwest Louisiana Biographical & Historical by William
Henry Perrin; published 1891 page 144 - 145.


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Railroads. -Calcasieu  , until the building of the Louisiana Western Rail-
road, now a link in the Southern Pacific system, was without railroads, and was
dependent entirely on water transportation. But the railroad has given it an
importance abroad that it did not before possess. The completion of the Kansas
& City, Watkins & Gulf Railway now being constructed from Lake Charles
north to Alexandria, where it will make most advantageous northern connection,
will give Calcasieu parish railroad facilities not excelled by any parish in the
State. The road is already graded to Alexandria, and track-laying has com-
menced. Thus, it will be seen, it is only a question of a short time when the
products of Kansas and the great Northwest will find their way to the markets
of the world through this deep-water port. For when the improvements are
made already ordered by the Congress of the United States of deepening Cal-
casieu Pass, then Lake Charles becomes one of the safest and most important
seaports on the Gulf of Mexico.
     Mr. J. B. Watkins, of what is known as the Watkins Syndicate, is doing,
a great thing for this country in building this new railroad. The American says
very truly of it and the great benefit it will be to this section:
     The Kansas City, Watkins & Gulf Railway, now being built from this city
in a northerly direction, is progressing as rapidly as could be expected. The
winter has been very favorable for railroad building, and the contractors,
Messrs.  Kennedy and Stone, have made excellent headway. The building of this
road will do more for this section of country than anything else. Already the
country along the line is fast being settled by the thrifty Northern and Western
farmers, who know that with the completion of this North and South road this
will be one of the most inviting sections of country in the South for the fruit
grower.  We are informed by a reliable gentleman that the lands along the line
and near  it are being taken up very fast, all seeing the great future of this
country in fruits. This gentleman says there are excellent rice lands and fruit
lands along the line for some distance, but his opinion is they will not last
long, as they mean money to every one who owns them.

    Mr. John Speer, writing to the Dail Globe, Council Bluff, Iowa, thus
expresses his opinion of the Calcasieu Pass as a deep water seaport and as a
terminal point for a railroad from the Northwestern States:
    
    Two railroads are already projected between Kansas City and that point, one

of them the Kansas City, Watkins &  Gulf road, is already constructed
about sixty miles. The route from Kansas City passes over an almost level
country, with an average decline of about one foot to the mile. On this route e
best forest of timber for two hundred and fifty miles to be found in the ted
States.  Much of the land is subject to pre-emption and settlement. The timber
consists largely of the long leaf pine, so marked in its superiority that it is
known at Galveston and New Orleans as the Calcasieu pine, and is used for 
mental work such as wainscoting, car finishing, etc. The other varieties
cypress, ash all kinds of oak, hickory, pecan, white (rum, magnolia, etc. iron
and other mineral abound. In fact it is rich in all that will go to up a
country, and sustain railroads. The land is suitable for corn, cotton, oats,
potatoes, apples, peaches, pears, plums, and everywhere small fruits. The
advantages of this route are six hundred miles less railroad haul through 
almost level country,  avoiding the resistance of nature in crossing the 
divides of the continent, including the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains. To
this be added that most important factor, competition between marts of 
business on the gulf and the Atlantic.
    
     The new negotiations now pending in the congress of all American nations
destined to afford opportunities for trade unparalleled in the history of the
country. Blaine, Carlisle and other statesmen fully appreciate it. These States
are in the direct line of it and have but to seize the opportunity to secure
it. The farmers of Iowa do not want to know how to raise more corn and wheat,
but how to get rid of them, as of other productions. The saving of the cost of
transportation as well as the advantages of competition, is the remedy