New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-27
The Pascagoula Lumber Trade.

| From the HanQSDOTo democrat
We have often referred to the immens
| lumber trade carried on by toe mill men 0
| Moss Point, and have recommended an,
urged the building of branch road fro1
| their mills to the New Orleans, Mobile AM
| Texas railroad, in order that it would still
increase. We copy from the st. Loui
| Times the following correspondence to sh07
! that the market of St. Louis is anxious TO
| the trade.
These are the letters:
Below you have letter we received to
| day from Messrs. w. Denny & Co, OF Mos
| Point, Mississippi, proprietors of one OF the
| largest lumber mills in the South, situated
at the junction of the three forks of Pasca
goula rivers, with Dog river about three
| miles from Pascagoula City and Bay sta
ton, of the Mobile and Texas railroad, be
tween New Orleans and Mobile, which
points ought to be able to ship at reasonable
treights, either by all rail via Mobile and
Ohio railroad and Iron Mountain railroad
to St. Louis, or by rail to New Orleans and
then by river to St. Louis. The demands OF
the West for hard pine lumber of the vari
Gus cuttings and qualities, with the present
prices in this and neighboring markets,
would justify very liberal shipments regu-
larIy to st. Louis, if freights were reason,
able.
That alone precludes the commencement
and developement of business with the i'm
mense lumber regions of Mississippi and
Alabama. The different railroads and
steamers running south need returning
freights, and if they would manage to in
duce the shipments of lumber this way a
very large business could be opened in it,
which would make their lands more valu-
able and create additional consumption of
provisions, and therefore more business be-
tween the respective points
We have written to Mr. Norman G.. Jones,
general freight agent of the New Orleans,
Mobile and Texas railroad, calling his at
tentiOn to the matter, and believe he will
give more liberal views in regard to it than
any recently entertained by other roads,
which seem unwilling TO name reasonable
rates of freights on account of being unable
TO compete with the river route. There are
nine lumber mills at Moss Point, Mississippi
of large capacity, and now doing business
with the gulf ports and capable of furnish
ing almost unlimited amounts of sawed
lumber OF all qualities of sizes.
COBB, DOLHONDE & co.
Moss POINT, September 25, 1872.
We are in receipt of your favor of Sep
TENDER 81 and have examined the prices of
yellow pine in the inclosed circular, and do
not think, with our present facilities of
reaching your market, that we could safely
ship any lumber there. 1t costs 50 per
thousand to put lumber on cars at the near
est point to our mill and SIS per thousand
to put it on cars at Mobile or New Orleans,
and it will have to be handled twice in
either case, more or less being injured by
said handling. If there was branch from
the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas rail
road to this place La distance of little over
three miles of level, firm road bed and no
bridging), we could then put lumber on the
cars at less than fifty cents per thousand,
and fill orders at points reached by rail
road. Until then we fear we will have to
let st. Louis give orders to more favored
places.
Yours, respectfully.
w. DENNY & co.
In commenting on the foregoing letters,
the Times thinks they point out that large
ami wealthy trade could be controlled by
St. Louis merchants if the railroads from
that city, and connecting lines that traverse
that section, would grant more liberal
tariffs in both directions. 1t continues its
We are informed that many cars return
from the South empty Now, wouldn't the
railroads find it to their interest to grant
liberal cuts, if not half rates, rather than
allow their cars to return empty2 This
would, besides increasing their revenue di-
reCtly, make business Indirectly and open
{"
thernnore, they would buy their supplies
from us, which would have to be- shipped
back over the same road, and on which full
rates could be charged.
Here is something for railroads to exer-
Else their energies upon. Let the New Or
leans, Mobile and Texas railroad build
branch to Moss Point (Mr. Denny says it |
S only little over three miles, and the
.oute is level and no bridging required).
There is little doubt that they would find it
% their interest, and that it would pay
we'll as an investment. We would also call
he attention Of tho barge line to the above
etters Perhaps it can lend a helping hand.
Without expressing any opinion as to the
1ropriety Of the railroad building branch
or special benefit Of the mill owners at one |
,oint, we still think the general aspect OF
he lumber trade with the West will war
ant careful investigation of the view here
opened up, both by our merchants and by
he connecting railroads.