The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-03-21
BACK. WATER IN THE HAY0T Se.

ally low curing tne winter mohttlss Tie oaeh'
water from the Mississippi has atlast put Il II
fine navIeabIe order. of which advantage has
been taken BY the produce dealers; and tbs
scene Of activity now presented at the landing
| speaks well for the business Of our town
Quite a number of fiat boats, laden with al
sorts of Western produce can now be seer
there, and so far as we can learn, every thing
Of that kind can now be obtained there at river
prices.
Our planting friends who wish TO purchase
produce, and to whom Port Gibson is nearer
point than the Mississippi river, would do well
to price There before going elsewhere. They
will find that Corn, Hay, -four, &c, &c, can be
purchased as cheaply here, and Of as good quail.
ity as at any point on the river.
BY the way, we observe that our enterprsing
merchants--among whom we would specially
name Messrs. Fulkerson and Mason--are tax.
ing advantage Of theleasy and cheap navigation
of the Bayou to get their heavy stocks Of pro.
duce, groceries &c, in store, and we are as
sured by them that the costs of transportation
compared with wagoning, is mere triae
Some of them get up their own cargoes exclu.
siyely, manning the boats themselves and trans.
porting for their own sales, every article Of
Western produce, from corn and aeur and pork
down to potatoes and onions.
One of ourmerchants, who deals largely in
produce, and who is now laying in very heavy
supplies, informs us that the cost of transpor,
tatiOn to him, by means of the Bayou Pierre, is
about what the bridge toll would be in wagon
ing.
We have been delighted to observe the
spirit of enierprize and energy which now
characteristics the merchants OF Port Gibson, as
exemplifed, among other things, by the alaerity
with which they have taken advantage Of these
favorable circumstances to lay in, for their
spring sales, the heaviest stock of provisions
&C., that we ever remember to have seen in the
town during residence Of thirteen years.
And We are also gratiied to observe that they
are selling on such terms that no planter to
whom this is nearer point of supply than the
river, can have any excuse for going 70 the lat
ter. And when in addition to the heavy stock
of produce of which we have spoken, we add
the splendid assortments of Dry Goods, Hard
ware, Queensware &c., now offered here,
there is no reasonable room to doub. that, much
as the business of our town increased during
the past year, it is destined TO receive stiIl
greater additions in the course Of the present
spring and ensuing fall season.
In writing upon this subject we are reminded
that in similar article which appeared in our
last number, while speaking of the new store
rooms and stocks of goods in the town, we in
ldyertent!y omitted 10 mention the new store
Of Dir. P. Hopes. Mr.. II. has opened in
The room recently occupied by Mr.. j. R. Muir.
ray, large and splendid assortment of Dry
Goods, Hardware, Queensware, &c, and we are
yratified to observe that he finds an abundant
supply of customers. In fact every uewsstore
opened here, instead of injuring the business
# the merchants already established, seems
o add TO the business of The town to the full
mount of its sales. Mr.. Hoopes has been long
nd favorably known TO our citizens, and many
'ears ago was extensively engaged in the mer-
antile businesss almost on the very spot on
which he is now located. Since then, great
hanges have occurred : fortunes that were
nee deemed ecure, have been swept away as
caves BY hurricane. The whole face Of So
iety is changed, but changing times and seas
ms find him back in the old place, and with has
urbanity of manners, prepared as
# old, TO supply promptly all demands,
rom a large stock Of new goods, selected with
lis well known good judgment and perfect
of the wants of his customers.
We had commenced writing this merely for
he purpose of calling the attention of plan
ers to the fact that our landing is now well
supplied with Western produce, but we
lavc rambled on until we find it necessary to
i'd the latitndinarian SIC" to the original Ii.
lie of our article, and having done so. we viii,
~ virtue of its broad license, conclude with
ew thoughts respecting the business eapabl.
ties and advantages of Port Gibson.
A glance at the map of Mississippi will show
hat though our town is only eight miles from
he river, it is in reality many miles nearer the
Interior counties thansone would at first sup
'ose. This arises from the fact that the river
rom Yicksburg to Natehez, makes an immense
end to the eastward, and it is back Of lhis bend
hat we are located. We are therefore consi.
eritbly east Of The Cities above named, and
onsequently much nearerto the Eastern coun- |
es. Indeed weshave been assured BY some
t the small planters Of Lawrence, and adoin-.
ig counties, many Of whom during the past
inter have traded bere instead Of at Natchez,
(which point they have formerly gone, that
lie distance here is less, and the roads better.
an to the sCity of the Bluffs" We are also
ratified to learn that they were highly pleased
ith the results of their trading experiments,
they found that they could get their produce
J low here, and sell their cotton as. high, as in
atehez. So well pleased were they indeed.
'at they say they win not only return them.
Ives, but will bring their neighbors with them
ext season, the road being the shortest and
Est they have to alnarket. They complain f
uch. however of diffieultv In oroes;gcr -.