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American Press
17-05-2025
- General
- American Press
The Informer: Opening of port brought rejoicing to Lake Charles
Ships crowd the docks of the Lake Charles Port on Oct. 27, 1930. (American Press Archives) 'Only once before in the history of Lake Charles — Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918 — was there such general and genuine rejoicing in the city,' reads the Dec. 3, 1926, American Press. 'And never before has any one achievement meant so much to the popular mind in Lake Charles as are the formal port and water opening ceremonies here today.' Lake Charles had been a port of call since the early 1800s for sailing vessels navigating the shallow river to pick up cargoes of lumber. The Intracoastal Canal connecting the Calcasieu and Sabine rivers was later completed in 1915. It was 20.5 miles long and 12 feet deep, with a 90-foot bottom width. In 1922, voters in Calcasieu Parish approved a $2.75 million bond issue to deepen and widen the Calcasieu River from the Intracoastal Canal to Lake Charles. The intent was to provide a navigation route through the Intracoastal Canal to the Sabine River and to the Gulf of Mexico. From their, the vision became larger. On April 1, 1925, commissioners met with representatives of the three rail lines serving Lake Charles —Southern Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Missouri Pacific — to discuss facilities and the role the rail lines would play in the future of the Port of Lake Charles. A special election was called for July 7, 1925, for $500,000 to build wharves, docks, warehouses, railway facilities and elevators for use in connection with the construction of the port. On Dec. 3, 1926, the dream became a reality. The American Press said trains, yachts and tug boats brought delegations by the hundreds from distant cities just to partake in the opening festivities. Long before the 9 a.m. ceremony began, Lake Charles began to hum with activity and music from 'the finest bands in the South,' including the Magnolia Refining company group from Beaumont, Texas, and the Centenary Cadets from Shreveport. Gov. Oramel Simpson and representatives of Gen. Edgar Jadwin, who was then chief of Army Engineers in Washington, D.C., were among the celebrated guests. 'The day opened clear and crisp with not a cloud in sight to dampen any one's aspirations and enthusiasm, and on schedule time formal ceremonies began with the grand parade from the Kansas City Southern deport at 10:20 a.m.,' the newspaper reads. 'From that hour on during the remainder of the day, one big event has followed another with a swiftness and magnitude that have eclipsed any celebration ever before attempted in Lake Charles.' Mayor Henry J. Geary presided at the opening of the formalities and introduced the Rev. R.H. Wynn, pastor of the Broad Street Methodist Church, who gave the invocation. 'After delivering the address of welcome in which he extended the keys of the city and of the port to the distinguished guests and to the visitors, Mayor Geary expressed greetings on the occasion, which he said is the outstanding epoch in the history of Lake Charles.' Nearly 100 years later, the Port — more formally, the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District — accounts for a large percentage of local economic revenue and more than $34 million in annual Lake Charles tax revenue. It covers more than 200 square miles in Calcasieu Parish and operates 5,400-plus acres.
Associated Press
07-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CPKC dedicates Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) today officially opened the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge with a ceremonial ribbon cutting held over the Rio Grande. 'The name Patrick J. Ottensmeyer will forever be a part of the proud history of Kansas City Southern and the legacy of CPKC,' said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. 'Pat believed strongly in the work our railroaders do every day enabling trade amongst great nations. His leadership and vision led to the development and completion of the second span of the international bridge between the United States and Mexico at North America's largest inland gateway. Having it bear his name is a fitting tribute to a remarkable leader and person.' Ottensmeyer served as final president and CEO of Kansas City Southern (KCS) from 2015 until April 14, 2023, upon the completion of the combination of Canadian Pacific and KCS that created CPKC. He passed away in July 2024. Among his many career recognitions, Ottensmeyer received the North American Rail Shippers Association Edward R. Hamberger Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. He was a two-time Railway Age Railroader of the Year (2020 and 2022) and received Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator Award in 2019. An advocate of North American trade, Ottensmeyer also served as the U.S. Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO) from 2019 to 2023. In this role as leader of the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, he was instrumental in representing business interests during the formation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from 2017-2020. The Ottensmeyer bridge is the only railroad bridge crossing the Rio Grande River linking Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, across the U.S.-Mexico border. The $100 million bridge more than doubles the capacity at the border of the most secure and efficient railway trade corridor between the United States and Mexico, the U.S.'s largest trading partner. The U.S. Presidential Permit for construction of the new bridge span was received in July 2020. Key features of the Ottensmeyer Bridge: New second track bridge with total length of 1,170 feet. Ballasted deck plate girder bridge built with six reinforced concrete piers. Second track bridge constructed on the right-of-way roughly 35 feet from existing track bridge, allowing trains to operate in both directions at the same time. 4,500 feet of new track. Enhanced border security investments, including a new VACIS X-ray railcar inspection system and surveillance cameras. About CPKC With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC. CP-IR
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CPKC dedicates Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) today officially opened the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge with a ceremonial ribbon cutting held over the Rio Grande. "The name Patrick J. Ottensmeyer will forever be a part of the proud history of Kansas City Southern and the legacy of CPKC," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. "Pat believed strongly in the work our railroaders do every day enabling trade amongst great nations. His leadership and vision led to the development and completion of the second span of the international bridge between the United States and Mexico at North America's largest inland gateway. Having it bear his name is a fitting tribute to a remarkable leader and person." Ottensmeyer served as final president and CEO of Kansas City Southern (KCS) from 2015 until April 14, 2023, upon the completion of the combination of Canadian Pacific and KCS that created CPKC. He passed away in July 2024. Among his many career recognitions, Ottensmeyer received the North American Rail Shippers Association Edward R. Hamberger Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. He was a two-time Railway Age Railroader of the Year (2020 and 2022) and received Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator Award in 2019. An advocate of North American trade, Ottensmeyer also served as the U.S. Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO) from 2019 to 2023. In this role as leader of the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, he was instrumental in representing business interests during the formation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) from 2017-2020. The Ottensmeyer bridge is the only railroad bridge crossing the Rio Grande River linking Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, across the U.S.-Mexico border. The $100 million bridge more than doubles the capacity at the border of the most secure and efficient railway trade corridor between the United States and Mexico, the U.S.'s largest trading partner. The U.S. Presidential Permit for construction of the new bridge span was received in July 2020. Key features of the Ottensmeyer Bridge: New second track bridge with total length of 1,170 feet. Ballasted deck plate girder bridge built with six reinforced concrete piers. Second track bridge constructed on the right-of-way roughly 35 feet from existing track bridge, allowing trains to operate in both directions at the same time. 4,500 feet of new track. Enhanced border security investments, including a new VACIS X-ray railcar inspection system and surveillance cameras. About CPKCWith its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC. CP-IR View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CPKC Sign in to access your portfolio
