The Handsboro Democrat. [volume] (Handsboro, Miss.) 1858-1878, 1872-01-13
CFrom the St. Loais Times.
The Merits of ship Island Har-
bor.

, Mayor Shryock, of st. Louis
asked and obtained leave to pre-
3 sent the following cnmmanication
prefacing the same by ~appropriat,
!; remarks, and the communication, BY
t order of the Board, was referred tt
the Executive Council, and ordered
to be spread on the minutes Of Tho
Board /:
To the National Board of Trade, as
sembled at St. Louis:
Gentlemen Coming from the
Gulf shore If the State Of Mississip-
pi, where there is no board Of trade
nor community of merchants in sul.
ficient numbers 10 Justify organiza-
tion for commercial advancement,
ask permission to introduce to your
notice, for future consideration, the
merits of +" Ship Island Harbor" as
an outlet for the products of the Mis-
sissippi Valley, and to invite inquiry
into its adaptabilty as a sea port.
The harbor is well known as the
best and easiest of access of all the
Gulf harbors, and is formed by the
island, which serves as breakwater
against the waves Of the Gulf; and
is basin Of irregular form, immedi-
ately inside the island, varying in
width from a half mile to two aud
half miles, it's length is about six
miles, aud its depth from twenty to
forty feet. Its general course is from
southeast to northwest.
The channel at the entrance over
the bar is more than half mile wide
and its depth is twenty-three feet at
low tide, aud twenty-five feet at full
tide.
By the natural channel ship lead
ed to twenty-one feet may sail to
within seveu miles Of the main shore
without the aid Of pilot or danger
of grounding.
To complete the connection with
the main shore it is necessary to ex-
cavate a channel through the bed Of
the sound FIVE miles in leugth, and
to locate docks and wharves at the
north end of the channel so excaval-
I'd, by reclaiming the land for that
purpose
The entire cut for such channel
will be in bed Of pure clay with
10 log nor stump to offer obstruction
% the dredges; aud in a substance
which, while it offers least resist
lnce TO the operations of dredging
machinery. gives the best ard most
material for the sides OF
he channel, and for the stability Of
lie banks which it is proposed 10
for the location of the
locks and wharvts.
An inner breakwater will be neces.
AIRY to cover aud prot, ct vessels I
ying at the wharves, and cause '
way to connect The reclaimed land c
comprising the docks and other i'm
rovements) With the main shore, for {
dilway and ordinary purposes Of |
d
The question Of cheap outlet to y
ca for the rapidly increasing pro- Q
ucts of this great valley has en-
aged the attention IF our citizens
n several years. and its solution is I
nxiousIy sought and desired hy
lerchants, farmers and manufac- I
lrers.
The disadvantages incidental to Q
.ew Orleans as marine port are
20 well known to call for any ex- q
'nded mention. shall for the pur. P
Dse Of comparison allude to two or v
iree points only.
1st. The distance from the sea.
I'D consequent cost of towage to
liling vessels, and loss of time to al
9TH steamers and sailing vessels
I'd. The insufficient depth Of water U
the passes, and consequent cur
ilment Of carrying capacity on the q
.rt of the larger class of vessels, 81
d.
Sd. Tie compelled high rates Of Z
light growing out Of the two
uses above mentioned.
s DISTANCES FROM SEA. m
New Orleans, by the river, 1870
les. 8,
Mississippi City, crossing the H
Ind, 10 miles. y
DEPTH OF WATER ON THE BARS. A.
pass, mouth of the Mis-.
sippi river, l6 to II feet.
Ship Island pass, connecting the "a
# with Mississippi Sound, 20 to
feet.
Expenses incidental to sailing
sels arriving at or departing from
W Orleans
'ilotage, $3.50 per foot of draft rat
Ter. cot
'owage, 81 .25 per ton measure. on
NJ up stream. . shi
.evee dues or wharfage for first boz
lays, per ton, 90 cents for first Ne
10 tons Is cents per ton on ex- An
! over 1000 tons.
tevedores' charges for discbarg-
(as per contracD.
Iarbor master, 8 cents per ton. ]
IN outward voyage: in /
ompressiDg, where cotton is The add
90, 70 cents per bale. shiI