The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-28
LUMBER SEIZURES AT PAsCAGOULA.

Quite an exciting condition Of affairs exists
along the Paseagoula river among the lum-
bsrmen The agent of the government,
Mr.. Carter has made large seizures of lumber
on the banks Of this river on an allegation
that 1t was cut from the public lands.
The amount seized Is immense. Some idea Of
1t may bs formed by u reference to tho num-
Der of ships which cleared with lumber from
the Paseagoula last year. There were 1876 OF
these elearanoes. including many large foreign
vessels, which have been long engaged in the
business Of transporting the yellow pine lum-
Der peculiar to this region, which Is in great
demand In Europe, and sells readily for from
nine to fifteen dollars q thousand feet. The
cutting, saving and selling this lumber has
roved very valuable. The profits enure how
ever, chiefly TO eapitalistswho employ laborets
ut III oderate rates to cut this lumber Though
the latter are personally liable for the depre-
dations on the public property. the govern
ment agent has preferred to hold their en-
ployers and the millmen responsible to the
law. Henoeathe seizure of the lumber in their
hands and on board Of the vessels lying In the
river and In Mississippi Sound. The original
writ of representation having been set asideby
Judge Hill, Of the United States Circuit Court
for the Mississippi circuit, the agent of the
government obtained writs Of replevin and
reseized the lumber, and United States mar
shals now claim to be In possession thereof
To maintain their possession and prevent the
departure of the ships detained. the revenue
cutter John A. Dix has been sent to the mouth
Of the Paseagoula. whore she Is now anchored
Near her arc several largo foreign ships
loaded with lumber. which arc detained by
the marshal.
In the meantime the parties resident claiming
to hold this lumber by good title, have taken
writs Of replsvin from the Mississippi courts
alleging that the lumber was cut from private
lands. bought from the State. Similar writs
have also been obtained by Mr.. Price, the
land agent Of the State of Alabama. who
claims that oil the lumber brought down
from the Eseambia and other branches of the
Pascagoula. was cut from lands belonging 10
the State of Alabama This vast amount Of
lumber s thus held under three writs Of re-
plevin, which are represented by the mar
shals Of the United States courts, by the
sheritfs Of the adjacent counties Of Misss-
sippi, and by the land agent of the State of
Alabama The contest between these par-
ties Is peculiarly exciting and interest
ing one, and involves large values and
very important business. The government
agent claims that the government has been
defrauded Of millions Of dollars of valuable
property through the denuding Of these
splendid forests. and that the States Of Mis-
sissippi and Alabama have been In like man
ner seriously damaged by the devastation
OF property which must eventually have
enured to the great enrichment of those
States, and the increase Of their assess-
ment and that this has caused the Inn
pairment OF the values Of the private prop
erty of persons who have bought large guam
titles Of these lands from the government.
At the same time 1t Ia charged by the govern
ment agent that the profits Of this expropria-
ton Of the government forests have re-
bounded only to the enrichment of specua-
tors and nonresident capitalists. These ut
least are the allegations of the government
agent, Of the truth Of which, as well as Of
the other questions Of law and fact involved
in these seizures, the courts will make proper
inquiry and render final judgment.