Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-19
MOBILE AND ITS DEFENCEs.
naarrtnsfaxa - q n.

Mobile Bay, on the vsst sid. Of which the city
Is situated 10 an extensive sheet Of water, thirty
miles long and an average Of thirteen broad II
Communicates with the Gulf of Mexico by two
straits, one on each side OF Dauphin Island The
strait on the east side, between DauphiA Island
and Mobile Point, has eighteen feet Of water,
while the one on the west side has only Eve feet
The main entrance to Mobile Bay, and in fact
the only one for sea going vessels between
Deuphin leland and Mobile Point 10 well de-
Tended. Fort Morgan, a formidable fortifcstion
for defence, Is on the extremity Of Mobile Point,
and the channel passes within a short distance Of
Fort Gaines, which has been put in thorough
state of defence since the war began, is on a
small island near Dauphin Island, and forms a
point blank range, vis-a-vis with and directly
west Of Fort Morgan
We believe these two forts comprise the de-
fences Of Mobile They are situated thirty miles
from the city-occe pest the forts and In the bay,
Mobile will be at the mercy Of the Federal feet
its surrender will be az much a necessity as that
OF NeV orleans
In 1860 Mobile had reputation by the L
census OF % 259 In 1880, its population was
3,1eI; In 1910, 12,676; and, in 1850, 2O5 % But
the population does not indicate the immense
bus ness done In Mobile. Ii Is the only port I'm
Alabama, and the great bulk Of the cotton Of
eastern NisSissl Dpi and western and central Ala
bama, finds a market here for foreign shipment
As far back as 1854, the total quantity of cotton
shipped from Mobile amounted, In that year, to
SIS, IOi ealrs, SIKH of all the cotton pro
duced in the UuiOn or this amount 307 5l3
DdlSf were 81 pprO 10 England. 90 SlI 10 france,
q O45 to other foreign States IA 626 to domestic
ports Its trade IN saws. iumbSr, and naval
stores IL also very lsrse. Since 1852 the Mobile
end Ohio Rdilroad has been completed to the
Mississippi river, at Columbus, Kentucky, giving
important additional facilities 10 the trade Of the
city, especially with portions Of Mississippi and
Tennessee heretofore shut out by the absence of
Communication.
The site Of Mobile Is but very little elevated
above the water, but sufficiently so for all purpo-
ssof convenient drainage The soil is dry and
sandy. Immediately opposite the city on the east
IL large, low IL and, covered with high grass
and rushes, known ss ''the ma 'sh;n above on the
north ia large swamp, extending along the
banks Of the river; and back OF the city, on the
northwest, west, and south, the dry sandy pine
hi i commence, eff riding deli htful and healthy
retreats from the heat, sickness, and anDoyances
OF the city during the summer and here have
sprung up the pleasant villages Of roulminyille,
spriAg H Ill. Cottage Hill, Summeryille, and Full
ton south from the city the shores OF the baV
are dotted for many mites with elegant Tesiien-
csE and these spotS have been usually exempt
II IN epidemic diseases.
TIE city Is not csmpactly built, except In the
portions occupied by the commercial and bust
ness houses Tie streets generally are wide, aud
run mostly north and south and east and west
Much attention has been paid Of late years to
plant ng shade trees elOng the pavements, and
the comfort and probably The health Of the place
has b-en much i'm proved thereby The prevail
Ing winds during the winter moths are the north
and northeast; fiom the middle Of April lat
which time hewarm spring weather begins) the
south winds, cool, refreshing, and laden with
moisture, make the heat quite besrable, and
these, being also the prevailing summer winds,
even In that bot SEASON, negative In a great meas
ure the climite extreme. The climate, however,
Is warm and relaxing to the energies and even
in the win er months is irving 70 the constitution
from the many aud sudden changes that occur
During the coldest weather the ground Is but
seldom frozen Most rain falls In December,
January, Juae and July.
No system OF Underground drainage has ever
been attempted at Mobile; the light, porous char
sctsr Of tie soil answering the ssms purpose and
making the streets dry immediate sf er the heav-
lest faIi OF rain The city 5 supplied with good
wholsso-ns water through the water works from
stream soma few miles distant
MJOI.e UIGains the county court house, several
Uai;s6 stats courts, the municipal courts the
city hall, all, and other public buildings; a
splendid Roman Catholic cathedral, numerous
churches OF vaTiouI denominations, hospitals,
scnOols, markets, G theatre and circss, several
first class hotels, etc. The hospita She Uoited
States Marine Hospital Bnd the City Hospital
ere large and commOdl Gus buildings, each ca
paJle Of accommodating from 25O TO 300 pa.
tsnts; and there ere other charitable institu
eminent the Catholic and Protestant Orphan
AsYlums, the Benevolent Society, which am NJ
Other functions. has charge OF destitute widows
and TIE Samaritan Society Il blind asylum Gas
also been fourded and an asy lum for the def and
dumb provided for There are three cemeteries
belonging 70 the city.
MoOiie was originally Spanish settlement
and al later period portiou Of Louisiana II
was surrendered 10 the Americans In lsl3. In
1914 10 was charIersd d as q town, and In lac be
cSLns city.