The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-08-19
From the Hannsboro Democrat.
Letter from H. r. Harrison, Esq.
a uARBoR FOR MISSISSIPPI.
p. K. MEYERS, ESQ. J:

L
Ipromised to write you an article for pub
LEGATION upon the above named subject, and
as you have done me the favor to make men
ton of my name in connection with the can
vass for Congress in November next there
by bringing me before the public, L VIII
make good my promise.
Few people in our State need be told oil
the plan winch have been successfully been
presented, having this object in vieT-from
the lighterage plan of 1s36-7-S TO that of 9
long pier to jet out and over the shallow
waters of the sound. a distance of ten OF
twelve miles. to reaclthe deep basin lying
north of Ship Island Pass. Neither of these
plans are calculated to furnish cheap con-
nectiOn with the harbor as now constituted
The plan which / have struck upon Is moi
new ; it has been in use for many years II
deepening the channels and entrances tC
harbors in all parts of the civilized portion
of the earth, and marked instance Is soon To
be cOmmemorated by grand display among
fhe magnates of Europe and Asia, in the
opening of canal extending from the Red
Sea to the Mediterranean, across the IsthmuS
of SueZ.
The means used in this great enterprise
are the same as propose to use In making
the new harbor in Mississippi Sound-dredg <
ing by machinery. The experience of the
last twenty years has given rise to great I'M
provements in dredging machines, and the
advantages to be gained by the latter inVen-
tons are diminished costs of work and vast
ly increased capacity. realizing extraordl-
nary results with moderate outlay.
There are now in the New Orleans, Mobile
and Chattanooga Railroad Company, four OF
these machines, engaged in forming road
bed across the marshes which stretch from
point ten miles west of Shieldsboro, IN
Hancock county, to Chef Monteur Bayou. a
distance of nineteen miles east OF New Or
leans. There will be two more of these ma
chimes added to the number early in Au-
gust as they are now nearly completed
These boats are each discharging loo cubic
yards of earth ia a working day. Ihere
needs to be no further argument TO prove
the feasibility of the plan.
There is still much to be done, and IN
various ways, to bring about this much
desired result, and it lies with the people OF
the State and the Legislature TO favor the
project in each stage ofits progress lrst,
to pledge candidates for representatives and
Tor the Senate, to its suppOrtln Dotn HOUSES VI
Assembly when it shall be presented for ac-
ton, on application for charter, which APP
plication will be soon made after the organ
iZaticn of the two Houses. The subject IL
one of such consequences to the state, tnat
have no doubt liberal charter will be
granted to one who will take it in hand with
any sure promise of completion within a
reasonable time. 1t would be impossible to
estimate, even approximately, the increased
value of property throughout the whole
State, which would surely follow the esta0-
and a system of railroads running through
the interior and beyond her limits, to unite
with railroads from the East, West and
North A road from New Orleans to Mo
bile, as we are aware, is in rapid process OF
construction. and will be in full operation
IN the spring of 1870. That road OF itself
will connect ouDcoast with all accessible
points on this continent, but shorter roads
will be built to connect the new port with
the great West, by tapping the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad at or near Enterprise, which
will be followed by the construction OF ouI
own road to Canton.
The task of bringing about the much need
ed connection with the railroads OF the West
and North, l propose to undertake after pro-
curing charter which will invite subscrip-
tions, and to the end of succeeding in my
task ask to be accredited to Congress as
the Representative from the Fifth Congress
sional District, as one who has been many
years resident of the District, and who
has the State at heart-whose large expert
ence as man of business will qualify hin
to meet men of influence connected with
railroads, and with finance, OH equal ground
and whose entire devotion to the subject o.
this article, has prepared him for the task
he has undertaken.
I do not propose to forestall the action o.
the Nominating Committees who will bt
delegated by the District to select candi-
dates for their approval, but nevertheless
cannot abstain from replying to your kline
notice in last weeks paper, by saying tina
seek the position solely because | can SCI
! in it means of access to the men wish Il
! come in contact with, and an influence to b.
exercised inifavor ofmy undertakings, which
would not be obtainable in any o5her way
Yours respectfully,
RICHARD +. HARRISON.
| HHRRIsoN COUNTY, July q, 1869.