Railroad Comes to Farmerville - 1904 Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 12/2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= Farmerville "Gazette" issue of Wednesday, 19 October 1904 Editorial on page 2 written by owner/publisher J. G. Trimble ================================================================================== The "New" Farmerville. The town of Farmerville is on the threshold of a new era. She is at last about to be favored with railway facilities. Ere another issue of the The Gazette is sent out to its readers, it is confidently believed that the "iron horse" - that necessary forerunner of push and prosperity will be making regular daily visits to our town bringing in its wake new activities, new inspirations and new enterprises. For many years the patient people of Farmerville have been longing, hoping and praying for a rail road to connect them with the outside world. They have always believed that with up to date facilities for transportation the town would soon be transformed into one of the most prosperous of the hill sections of Louisiana. To what extent this belief is ever to be realized depends entirely on the interest of her people in the upbuilding and developement of the old town. With the proper effort in that direction her citizens can make of Farmerville a most desirable place in which to live. It is not coloring the picture any too highly to say that she possesses the natural advantages to grow soon into a flourishing town of from 2000 to 3000 people. Only a proper effort on the part of her citizens is required to make it such. A few decades ago she had a population of nearly a thousand people and at that time held a conspicuous position from a commercial standpoint, halding yearly about 10,000 bales of cotton. Then she had no railway facilities, and now with both rail and water transportation it is no idel hope to believe that she can soon double those proportions. Other places in North Louisiana not so favorably situated as FArmerville are doing a prosperous business, steadily growing in proportion to the increased population of their trade territory. As Farmerville is the parish seat and enjoys the advantages of a central location, other things being equal, people will naturally prefer to do their trading here. Almost every citizen is compelled at times during the year to come to the parish capital to attend court, settle taxes, etc; and it is more satisfactory to farmers to transact their business at one place. This is a strong drawing card in Farmerville's favor. With a good healthy location, with first class water, with an excellent free school, with both rail and water transportation to compete in assuring low freight rates, with large timber interests, with a big saw mill plant assured, with one of the prettiest new court houses in North Louisiana, with a two story brick bank building and two story drug store under actual construction and other brick buildings under contemplation, with agricultural lands second to none in the hill section of the south, well adapted to various kinds of staple farm products, vegetables and fruits, and last but not least, with a hospitable and warm hearted people, there is nothing to prevent Farmerville from becoming an ideal residence place and prosperous business point. It is true that she does not present a most attractive appearance just now. We admit that she has been a sleepy town for the past few years - we might say almost dead, but with the advent of the long hoped for railroad, new life and renewed energy will be instilled into her people, a "new" Farmerville will rise out of the lethargy of the old town. Come to the grand barbecue which will be given here on Oct. 27th and 28th and see for yourself the great things promised for the future of this place. Attractive residence lots have been surveyed out in the Smith and Trimble subdivisions of the town and we hope soon to see these sections dotted with pretty homes, and with happy and prosperous people. All good citizens who desire to cast their lots with us can be guaranteed a most cordial welcome and the people of the "old" Farmerville will join hands with those of the "new" FArmerville in a strong effort to make it one of the best towns in North Louisiana. It is to be hoped that the people of Union parish and other parishes who feel in interest in Farmerville's upbuilding will come to the barbecue and make it a grand reunion of old friends. Several prominent speakers, including some of the State officials are expected to be with us on that occasion. J. G. Trimble ================================================================================= Note: Farmerville businessman James G. Trimble was the son of "Gazette" founder, Judge James Etherington Trimble who died in a shootout in Farmerville in December 1887. ================================================================================== ###########################################################