The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-11-30

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HATrIEsBuRG, Mss, Nov. 10, lsaa.
Editor Democrat-Star.
To-day the regular passenger
train, four iu number each way,
commenced ruuning5daly between
New Orleans aud Meridian, on the
New Orleans and Northeastern.
railroad. About fse weeks ago
the first train from Meridian to
New Orleans passed over it. Since
the RAINING OF the very first train
the local business along the liuc
has increased very rapidly, which
together with through freight aud
passengers, will make it a paying
road almost from the beginnings
thing but few new roads have been
able to do.
A new era has dawued uponythe
people of this part OF Mississippi in
consequence OF the opening up of
this important line. The road is
in every respect arst.class, aud
from parties who have recently re,
turned from New Orleans, | learn
that it is in excellent condition.
Towns and villages are springing
up, almost iu day, at nearly
every depot. A new impulse has
been given to every branch of in
dus,ry, aud new enterprises havo
been inaugurated. The people in
aud near Ellisville, Hattiesburg,
Heidelberg, Poplarville, Slidell,
Crescent City aud other places on
the road, are living IN great expecta.
tions. with tue abiding conviction
that their respective places will be
very large towns, at least, if not
cities OF no small pretentious; and,
they are proving their faith by
work, by investing their money
largely.
Tam not so well acquainted with,
any part OF the county ,on tho line
as | am with that section which
lies IN Perry aud adjacent counties.
From personal observation / can
safely say that l have seen but few
countries that are IN many respect
more beautiful than this. There,
are hero too many natural advan.
tages which have, in the language
of President Arthur, to be seen to
be Appreciated. Tue soil cannot be
said to be rich, but it takes fer.
tilizers very kindly aud retains
them well. The timber is OF the.
very best quality--pine of CURSE
aud in great abundance. After
the timber interest is exhausted,
farming will be made profitable
berej but until then not sufficient
IN it to make 1t a success. As long
as the laboring classes can cut down
a pine tree, cut two or three sticks
from 1t, haul them short distance
aud realize one dollar each, they
are not likely to turn their. atten-
tion 10 cultivatiug the. soil. We,
therefore, do not think the timber
interest of the country such an
evidence of abiding prosperity as
the undevelopcd resources OF the
soil. The rauge for sheep, cattle
and hogs is still very good, though
that will fail as the country settles.
Clear running brooks with shining
pebbles on the bottom are among
the attractive features of the coun.
try. Water power, sufficient to
drive vast machinery, can be had
almost anywhere. Doctors have
something to do here as elsewhere,
though less in proportion to popu.
Iation, am inclined to thlnk, than
any other that / ever saw. Since
the work on the railroad com-
menced, lawyers, law makers, law
and the officers thereof, have been
10 great demand; for out laws, rif.
raffs ah1 tramps have increased
amazingly. The introduction and
sale of spurious liquors here is
doing a great deal OF damage. Be.
fore the construction Of the rail.
road, liquor was not sold or even
drank to any noticeable extent In
this country; but now drunkenness
Is becoming very common. Barring
the bad influence Of whisky, society
is very good. A good class of
people-hospitable, generous and
kind-hearted-are found.
The Industry here in the shape
of saw mill business is likely, in
the future, to effect Scranton aud
Moss Point to some extent. 1t is
well known that the latter places
are furnished with logs for the
voracious teeth OF the numerous
saws from the country bordering
the rivers that flow in the vicinity
of this road. Large bodies OF tim
bpred lands have been entered BY
capitalists of the North presume
: able for the purpose OF establish
ing mills here aud saving the Tim
Der. What effect IL will have upon
the interest OF your towns, remains