The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-05
NUMBER AZ,

Bay of St. Louis is the only harbor east of
Pearl River, for small vessels that may be
caught by the gales or hurricanes common on
this coast in spring and summer, but particu
larly during August and September.
During the winter we rarely have high
winds, and when we do have them they are
from the north and northwest, against which
the main land is sufficient protection. For
vessels over 800 tons there is sufficient harbor,
with good holding bottom, any where from
the west end of Ship Island to Pass Marion
and Pass Christian, distance Of some twenty
four miles, and over three miles wide, where
vessels of from ten to twenty feet draft may
ride at anchor in safety. at all times. But
every sea-faring man will admit that in sea
ports the world over, for every vessel draw
ing fourteen feet and over, there are perhaps
twenty that draw under twelve feet. Thi-
light-draft class of vessels in a roadstead such
as Ship Island Harbor, uniformly seek that
port which is the most sheltered, where there
is less sea and currents, where the bottom.
offers safest anchorage, and the ship is least
liable to injury should her hull chance to rub
the bottom, and where cargo can be dis
charged and received the easiest. E
In the harbor or roadstead formed by Ship
tion ,ckiek lies Immediately btsceen Cat Island
and the main land, combines these requisites
more than any other section of said roadstead
The sea from the eastward is, in a great mea-
sure, broken by the n. Z. point of Cat Island
No sea can rise from the S. E., s. or even
S. W., being covered effectually by Cat Island.
But little sea can rise from the s. w. or W.,
being protected there by the Square Hand
kerchief," several extensive oyster banks and
other shoals lying between Pass Christian,
Pass Marion, and the west end Of Cat Island
These form the west end of the roadstead
Little or no sea can be raised from the n. W.,
n, and n. E., owing to the proximity Of the
main land to the usual anchorage.
On the other hand, eastward Of Cat Island,
the sea is often very heavy, in Ship Island
HarJor, rolling in from the East, or from s.
and S. W., through the gap between Ship and
Cat Islands, which are some five or six miles
apart. Consequently only the largest class
vessels can lay in that part of the harbor in
ease and security. A vessel of 100 tons will
founder at anchor, where one of 500 tons may
ride in safety. 1t is absolutely certain, be the
terminus where it may, that that part of the
harbor lying. between Cat Island and the
main land, being the smoothest and safest,
will be most protected.
Vessels in Ship Island roadstead must lie
from two and a-half to nine miles from the
main land, according to their draft, and there
fore the business must be done by lighters.
and these lighters must have secure place
to receive cargo for the outward bound ships,
and to discharge what they transport from
them. The lighters once landed, few miles,
more or less of transit, is of minor import
ance; but the necessity an easy and secure
berth for loading and unloading along shore
cannot be dispensed with. To transfer their
loads to the ships in waiting is always prac-
tlcable in ordinary weather, by putting the
ship across the sea, and hauling the lighter to
leeward where she will be protected by the
bulk of the larger vessels. But along shore
the lighter must be protected by natural or
artificial harbor. To secure this disideratum
it is proposed to erect at Mississippi City
breakwater. One at all adequate would pro-
badly cost half as much as the railroad itself;
besides, it is well known to those who have
resided long on this sea-board, that artificial
structures, or structures of any kind, at what
ever distance from the shore, occasions accu-
mutations of sand and other deposits, which
in few years would render it quite as diff
cult for vessel to get to the breakwater as
it is now to get to the Shore at that point
From these considerations it appears TO me
that the BAY OF ST. LOUIS is the most desir.
able place for the terminus of the Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad. Il is only four or fac
miles from that portion of the harbor or road
stead 'caic1naust be most .frequeated, and not
more than fifteen or eighteen mics from the
the deepest water, where ships of the greatest
magnitude will anchor. 1t is the most acces-
sible harbor during the prevalent gales, since
it lies to the westward of Ship island road.
stead, and those gales almost uniformly blow
from the eastward; it is, therefore, to the lee
ward, point easy to attain: for it is easier.
during gale, to make twenty miles to lee
ward than one to windward From the east
ward, Bay of st. Louis is always accessible
to vessels, drawing six or eight feet, through
Pass Christian, Pass Marion and Cat Island
Pass; and from sea through the Pass south of
Cat Island, around the Square Handkerchief
for vessels of ten feet draft. Steamers and
small sea-going vessels may, at all times, be
in safety here, at OF near the pier-head or ter
minus of railroad, which cannot be done at
any other place on the whole sea-board of Mis- |
sssippi! Here, the shoals being narrow, the |
expense of constructing wharf and pier-head |
would be comparatively small. Anywhere |
west of Henderson's Point, owing to the ex-
tent of shoal water, and the exposure to a |
rolling sea and the prevailing gales, the ex-
pense of wharf and pier-head if built of
granite, would be enormous If of timber |
they would be liable to be swept away, or to
be destroyed by the ship worms.
Lighters to give dispatch to vessels, and to
be safe in the rough water they would often |
encounter, especially when we have easteIly |
and westerly winds, should carry forty to fifty
tons, and draw from six to seven feet, other |
wise cargo would be exposed to damage and
ships to detention. For such lighter our Bay |
is the only appropriate place.
| have thus, Sir given you the details of
my experience. Make what disposition you |
think fit of them, if they can subserve the
public interest. Our friend, Judge Toulme, |
whose residence here has been longer than
mine, concurs with me in the facts and views |
herein submitted, and will probably make |
some additional statements.
Very respectfully yours,
j. c. MONET. !