The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-10

L
NoTE.-Square timber to Europe, lumber
TO Europe, South America, Mexico and the
West Indies.
Respectfully submitted.
w, NJ. GILLESPIE.
Some of these vessels load directly along
side the mills; other outside the bar OF
Pascagoula river by lighters. The largest
size timber ships lie in Ship Island Harbor,
near by.
Until this enterprise was started Dv
few OF our energetic citizens, about the
same time, and in the same spirit that ami
mated the patriotic WeSsOn when he put up
his pioneer cotton mill, It might be said that
Mississippi had no seaport, and no COM
merce. Every article consumed by her,
from the most necessary to the most super
huous, was the production Of a foreign or a
distant industry but the value of our great
staple is greater in proportion to population
than the average of production In other
States Add To the staple our capacity for
lumber supply, and the figures would be
amazing.
Nature has given us the most salubrious
and charming coast in the world, perforated
by noble riVers-lndented with capacious
bays and estuaries-a deep channel run
ming along its whole length, forming a ca
pacious harbor, protected bv chain of is
lands making an etfectual breakwater
against the winds and waves. Soundings of
these waters are accurately noted on the old
French and spanish Gharta. AS far back as
1896, an accurate survey was made by an
engineer under the authority OF the State,
and by order of the Brandon Bank aud
Railroad Company. Reconnisances were
made by engineers in the interest OF COM
pai4tes chartered by the Legislature OF
Louisiana III. ". 5. Coast Survey has
since made a thorough exploration, and it
must be conceded that we have harbor
equal TO all the requirements of connect &c.
We pay duties on imports to the amount of
millions of dollars annually; and of all our
vast ports and imports scarcely fraction
is shipped or received through our own
ports, Will posterity believe it? One of
the greatest communities on the continent,
fertile in lands, in staples and in CONNER
ciaI facilities; an intelligent population
over one hundred miles of coast, and a
noble harbor at our dOor-voluntarily i'm
porting all they consume and shipping all
they produce, through the ports of other
States.
Without any encouragement from the
State or National GoVernment-with no
railway communication with the interior,
paraly9ed by the ravages and exactions of
war--2 few of our citizens have Inaugural
ted direct trade in timber with Europe.
the West Indies, Mexico, and our own
Northern cities They likewise suDDlv
much of the lumber used by builders In
New Orleans, besides sending millions OF
feet, sawed to order, up the Mississippi ard
Missouri rivers,
Had cur State been wise, this great har-
with the interior by rail and the ships that
come for cargoes, would discharge their
freight at our own wharYes, A great com
mercial emporium would have grown up,
under our own Jurisdiction, supplying our
planters with foreign and domestic mer-
chandise, and a home market for their cot
ton.
During the war of 1914, the British feet
before the invasion of Louisiana, lay Sc
curely at anchor in these waters. Ships
fV-fh fapt 10 w fagU
miles of shore, inside of Ship Island, in
three and half to four fathoms OF water
over the bars of the Mississippi there are
generally but fourteen to sixteen feet, and
towage to the city, 100 miles, 81 90 per ton.
II often costs ship 81, 900 to $4,000 TO Dc", nm
and return, exclusive Of levee a"t.i,es Ms
bursting ship, say OF 90 IONS. In the mort
Of New Orleans rom the time she crosses
Tue DAT ..nu crosses it again on her return
costs some $1,000. These charges are paid
indirectly by the producers. Without know
ing it, they foot the bill in the additional
value added to the merchandise imported.
So secure is Ship Island harbor, and so easy
of access, a number Of foreign vessels come
in without pilot, guided only by the
charts. They often come with invalid
crews, whose health is restored while taking
in cargo in this port.
Give US the desired rail communication,
keep your port charges low, and it will not
be longer said that the great Cotton State Is
without a seaport. This quarter of Misss-
sippi, so long overlooked, would duplicate
its population, and contribute largely to the
National and State revenues. Our vast do
main. now paying no taxes, would become
private property. We would supply the
world with lumber and naval stores. We
would furnish consumers for the surplus
provisions produced in the interior, and
send them in return oysters, fish and trOpi
cal fruits, and the valuable merchandise
discharged through our custom house.
j. +. II. CLAIBORNE.