The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-22
MfssIssfppI aBd the River and
HaFbOr BBEIl

1t is said that the amounts asked for
Improvement of rivers, harbors and
other public works the present session of
Congress, will aggregate large sum and
are to be equally divided between the
North and the South. We trust the
Representatives from the South viii see
+ that it is. The South contributes IL ex-
f portable productions, and therefore to
+ the commerce and general wealth Of the
country. larger amount than the North.
+ In this distribution the interests Of Mis-
sissippi will not be neglected. Her
vigiIant and able representatives are at
their posts and will take care that they
receive proper attention. We would
I bespeak a liberal appropriation for our
/ Seashore, especially the harbor of Pasca-
goula and the entrance of the river.
Pascagouia Is exporting a large quantity
of lumber of the best description. The
demand tor it in foreign markets Is daily
increasing and the supply would be vastly
increased from the contiguous forests, but
for the Instructions to navigation which
could be removed for a comparatively
small appropriation. We say small
compared to what Is obtained for
other harbors Of less importance We
have noticed a labored argument deliv
cred in the Senate the other day by Mr.
Mitchell of Oregon, in support OF a bill
appropriating 100000 to Coos Bay aud
Harbor, on the Northern Pacific, but
the figures he adduces to show the extent
and value of its expectations do noe
compare with the harbor of Pa-cagoula.
At the last session Of Congress, clause
was inserted in the River ami Harbor
of costs of necessary improvements to
that harbOr. The law has been com
piled with, and now the demand is made
tor the appropriation.
One hundred thousand dollars might
be appropriated for our principal sea
shore harbor, subject to survey and es-
innate under the direction OF the Chief
of Engineers The improvement Of the
Yazoo, TaIlahatchie and YalIobu~ha
rivers deserve special consideration.
1t is part of the general system of i'm
proving the Mississippi river and its
tributaries which the strictest construc-
tionists admit to be within the power
and part of the bounden duty, of the
federal government. As important a
stream as Pearl river, penetrating the
Der region on the globe and fine agri-
cultural and pastoral country withal,
has been overlooked in the past legisla
ton of the country, but that was when
more attention wa- given to theories, and
less to essentials, than in this practical
generation. A good beginning has been
made for the improvement of the Mis-
sissiPpi river and harbor at Nicksburg,
and as the government has committed IL
self to the work, we may safely predict
that it will be completed without I'M
necessary delay. When that city be
becomes the eastern terminus of the
great trans continental railway, on the
line of the Bind parallel as it certain
ly ought to be, inasmuch as it is i'm
on the line Of the shortest
route to the Atlantic, and the Mississip |
pi river at that point is spanned by an
iron bridge capable of supporting the
immense trade and travel which would /
be poured through it from East to West
and from West to East, it will be indeed |
a city upon hill, in which the entire |
State will feel just and commendabIe
pride Our railway from Vicksburg to
Meridian will constitute an essential link |
in this grand system of thoroughfare,
the two oceans by the speed !
lest and most practical route which the
hand of nature has pointed out.