The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-05-01
From 1he Paseagouia Star.
MA ne BOR6 FOAe SaGSSES@MP@H.
REPORT OF col. HARDEE. STATE RNGINEER,
UPON THE BAR AT THE MOUTH OF JORDAN
RIvER-PAsCAGoULA RIvEE-THE
NECESSITY FOR HARBOR-THE
PINE LUMBER TRADE, ETC.
OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER OF MIss.-l
JACKSON. March is. 1873. !

OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER OF MIss-l
JACKSON, March is, 1873.
His Excellency. Gov. r. C. Powers:
SIR-In obedience to instructions received
from you, l have made the surveys and ex-
aminations OF the several points on the sea
Coast designated by you. and herewith
have the honor of transmitting report OF
the same with accompanying map.
The bar 1T the mouth OF Jordan river
which empties into the Bay of st. Louis
can be permanently improved at an eSti-
mated cost of about three thousand dollars.
This bar is about five hundred yards III
len 9Th. and has a depth of water OF about
-four "a half feet at low tide, with mud
bottosI. This bar requires to be deepened
only rwo or three feet in order to admit
without difficulty or detention all schooners
or water craft plying in the present trade
of that section.
The survey and examination of Pasca-
goula river was invested with great deal
of interest for the reason That on careful
study of the Coast Survey chart before go
ing upon the ground, was convinced that
there were very great natural advantages
for harbOr at that point. On the accom-
panving map | have given general out
line of the plan proposed by me for
permanent improvement of the harboT.
The object To be attained is TO allow vessels
drawing seventeen feet of water which now
have to lie AT anchor at the point Is de>lgna-
ted upon the map. To- come with tf1at draIl,
OF water INTO I8~Ca9duIa river anu lHCIe
discharge aud receive freightS. and thus
convert il into a suitable port of entry, etc.
This can be accomplished. il i estimated.
by an expenditure of a sum not exceeding
two hundred thousand dollars. and when
omplered will give Mississippi permanent
sea- porr and han Dor far superior TO that OF
Mobile. The sum can certainly re secured
from the General Government q the proper
Information, together with some definite
plan, can be laid before the authorities for
their consideration. With this view, |
would suggest that a more thorough ana
detailed survey be ordered by you than that
already made. together with the prepare
ton of more elaborate plans to be ready
and forwarded to Wa hington by the time
Congress convenes. 1t is believed that an
expenditure of twenty or twenty-five
thousand dollars for the purpose of closing
certain oRtlctS, etc, designated upon the
map, and thereby concentrating the river
and tidal currents Immediately upon the
main bar at the mouth of the river, would
have the eff ct of deepening the natural
channel very materially and 10 far greater
extent than the application of double tnat
amount of money directly TO dredging plr-
poses Immediately on the bar. THIS elect
produced of concentrating distributed
currents. etc. has been already d5monstra-
ted in work recently performed IN Mobile
harbor, under authority OF the state OF
Alabama: and there can be no question
that similar results can be obtained al the
mouth OF Pa~c4EOuid river. WNcfc tlc hat
ural condiiIous and surroundings are very
nearly the same When the different outlets
are permanently closed, and the result es-
tablished as nticpated, then the remainder
of the work necessary can be clearly eSti-
mated and performed by Il thorough system
of dredging to the outer point required.
1t the State would make the appropria-
ton necessary to close he outlets Is pro-
posed 50 that the work could he COM
menced before Congress meets again. this
sum would undoubtedly be returned by any
appropriation hereafter made by the gen
eltl government, and this advance by the
State tor the work would give an earnest
for I'll better securing OF the whole amount
required. The commerce already estab-
lish-d ut the mouth OF Pascagoula river is
far greater than the general public have
any knowledge of.
! found some dozen or more extensive
saw mills in successful operation, which
ship lumber now largely, under adverse
circumstances, to foreign ports. and If the
harbor should be improved as suggested, |
this business would no doubt be built up to |
an enormous extent. There is already a
capital of nearly one million of dollars in |
vested in these saw mills and their appur- |
tenances The supply of pine timber trib- !
utary to this point by the streams concen- |
trating there. is ineXhaustible.
All of which Is respectfully submitted.
THOMAS HARDEE.
State Engineer.