re: Little known facts about Baton Rouge

Concerning the bridge in BR:

Dual purpose bridges for cars and rail throughout LA, including BR, were funded to be built by the RR companies. HP Long's requirement for the RR companies, was if they wanted to build a bridge across the rive and a RR through LA, then they would have to also build a roadway alongside for cars to cross the river. Somehow he named all of these bridges after himself and his family.

Speculation (which is fact for most people here) is that it was cheaper to build the one in BR lower than the one in NOLA and it is also cheaper to use barges to traverse the MS River than it is to take an ocean going vessel and lock it up for months going up to Memphis and all parts north. So, the height of the bridge in BR has more to do with economics and less to do with stopping vessels in BR.

There seems to be lots of facts/myths of HP Long's grip around the balls of the RR companies back in the day.