The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-03
For the MississiRpidn.
Letters from our Sea Coast.
NUMBER II.
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NUMBER II.
Editor of Mississippian In aformer COM
munication merely alluded to this village
The Bay of st. Louis is one Of the most pleas
ant summer resorts of the South The better
acquainted I become with the place and the
population, the more pleased and delighted
am with both West Of Martins wharf at
Shieldsboro'. the Coast is lined with hundreds
of elegant and commodious mansions, which
are tenanted in the summer by refined and
noble-hearted type of American and French
Creoles The inhabitants here dispense most
bountiful and charming hospitality, and are
particularly gay and eminently social in their
habits. There is none Of the sOulless and
bridled city civility, extracted courtesy, and
chilling fornality that we witness at the wa
tering places in the more Northern portion OF
the confederacy; but every act comes warm
and gushing from generous hearts which de-
light in contributing to the enjoyment of eve
nv one-all with whom | meet extend the
kindest treatment.
The Coast is rapidly filling up, and splendid
residences dot the shore at every interval for
more than ten miles, The private parties are
exceedingly agreeable, generally unpremedi-
tated, and consequently without fornality and
always delightful. The ladies-and more
magnificent ones are to be found nowhere on
the globe, dress in STYLE simple, appropri-
ate, and free from superfuous display. This
is characteristic rarely to be seen at other
places, and merits an appreciation and endorse
ment which would put the brand of cOndenl-
nation upon the prevailing and unnecessary
extravaganza Of the day. The pernicious
prodigality of the county is.very detrimental
to high moral principles
The principal hotel at this place is kept by
Mrs. Pierce, lady who gives great satisfac-
ton to the public Her table is furnished on
scale of magnificence, commensurate with
the wants of the most fastidious in the Gull
nary line She deserves the patronage of the
community for unceasing and untiring exer-
tons in securing everything that can possibly
contribute to comfort The travelling public,
while stopping here, will find at the Pierce
House accommodations of superior sort; and
its convenience to the wharf, telegraph office,
and post office, renders it more desirable than
any other public house in town. | mean no
disparagement to otherpersons engaged in this
| l,,c fn. 1lan 10
lean to the side of the ladies. So much for
hotels. .r
The agricultural resources of the Coast will
demand notice in this letter, together with
the pine lands. Long and short staple cotton
on lands properly treated yield one thousand
pounds to the acre ; corn from twenty to for
ty bushels; tobacco of the Cuban and Florida
varieties thrives finely, and is very remunera-
tive upland rice is prolific crop; and Irish
and sweet potatoes yield enormously:
am now writing from the farm Of Col.
Claiborne, Immediately on the Bay of st.
Louis Before me is field of corn averaging
three ears to the stalk (the Peabody Variety
the acre. This land is sand and Vegetable
mould on subsoil of clay. 1t was lined two
years ago and has since been MANFRED with
fsh-a species of sardine caught here in
seines, by wagon lOads-when decomposed
with pine straw or other vegetable matter,
| they produce a stimulant almost equal to
guano. | see here likewise the finest fruits
pears, apples, peaches, melons and grapes of
different Sorts equal to any in the world
Col c. is now making preparations to plant a
vineyard of thirty acres, for wine grapes do
not rot here, and the vineyards produce abun-
dainty. The Coast of this State is in the same
latitude with the fine grape countries in the
South of Europe. The whole sea shore region
is adapted to long staple cotton. Maj. Willis
H. Claiborne and Maj Andrew gackson. are
cultivating it extensively fifteen miles West
lands similar to those Of Florida. They make
about five bales to the hand, averaging three
hundred pounds, and worth generally one
hundred and twenty dollars per bale
A crop of tobacco grown here on pine land,
by the late DR.. Williams, was converted into
cigars, which brought sixty to sixty-five dol
lars per thousand. Besides this, the produc-
ton of turpentine has now become of great
Importance. The trees are equal if not supe-
rior to those of North and South Carolina in
their capacity. Most of the cultivators are
persons inexperienced in the business, and of
necessity the minutia Of dipping. chipping,
scraping, has not yet reached that perfection,
which is observed in those States in which it
is the particular product. However, in the
course of ten years, it is more than probable
that many of the turpentine raisers of North
Carolina, whose trees are becoming exhausted
annually-will have all the long leaf pines of
South Mississippi producing that profitable
article. The estimate is after paying all ex-
penses from five to seven hundred to the
hand. The lands can be purchased at from
ten to twenty-five cents an acre.
The lumber trade employs large capital
perhaps million of dollars This business,
with the transportation of cord-wood, light
wood, charcoal, tar, brick, sand and shells. to
New Orleans, calls into service some five hun
dred sloops, schooners and barges Many
persons accumulate great wealth, and double
the number could be used with the same
handsome dividends.
The fishing and oystering operations demand
about one hundred sails, and might be made
very remunerative
have given above, a very unsatisfactory
and incomplete synopsis of the principal pro-
ducts of this region; being but little acquaint-
ed with agricultural affairs, l am compelled to
be brief in order to be Ineligible This is, in
fact section full of resources, rich and valu- |
able, and deserves the study and investigation
OF our public men and capitalists.
| am surprised and mortified to find so few
persons from interior and middle Mississinni |
spending the summer months here. It is the /
most delightful climate on earth, both in cold
and warm weather. The bathing would COM
mand the admiration of neptune, the fishing
would delight and charm a Henry, a Wal
ton, or Webster; andas for sleeping-Som.
nus never luxuriated 50 sweetly in the delights I
OF profound and undisturbed repose. Econo-
my in living is seen on all sides. You buy
nothing scarcely, except coffee and sugar. /
am certain that there is not planter in the
state who would not have residence here
II he We're aware of the advantages, the BEN
eflts, the primitive, simple, and rural enjoy
ments to be found among this population
Inc inhabitants just back from the Coast the
defendants of the occupants of this territory
under lberville-act upon Goldsmith's maxim,
that
:, "All earth-born cares are wrong:
Man wants but little here below.
Non A. Il. ~