The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-04
THE GULF COAST.
Mr.. cAMpsELL's oEscRlprloNoF 1T.
wh,r. the Southern Gentry Take Their Sumner
lsoaud FInd Their Pisa,urs-ThsC Co tag,s,
the Bathing aad Shell BoAd Drlr-
inE-PIns Country Prospects.

:
about 1t. A glance at the map will show
you something Of its general character. II
you had typographical map you would see
that this ancient town Of Bay St Louis Is
situated upon an abtuse triangle. at the
confluence OF the bay from which it takes
its name with the waters Of Mississippi
Sound. As matter Of fact we are simply
upon the Gulf OF Mexico, for the Gulf
waters wash the whole coast between New
Orleans and Mobile with the exception Of
the llstrip oil peninsula between the
Mississippi river and Lake Borgne. There
is a chain OF islands between us and the
Gull proper that forms this Sound. They
bear the names OF ship island, Cat island,
Isle au Pied, &C., and are from 10 to Is
miles, distant from the coast. We can see
the Government lights on two Of them
every night, and the trees are quite visible
when the day is clear.
The distance between New Orleans and
Mobile Is about 1876 miles. Prior to the build.
ing OF the present coast railroad, the travel.
lug and traiiicing was done by steamers
that came from Lake Ponchartrain into Lake
Borgue, thence into the Sound and thence
into Mobile bay. There are no steamers
now, the coast railroad having superseded
them, but there are still innumerable sail:
ing crait, mostly schooners, that ply the
waters, and that are principally engaged in
carrying pine lumber from the saw mills
situated upon the rivers that flow into these
Gulf waters.
As explained to you in my last letter,
the pine woods occupy the country in the
rear OF us far up into the interior OF not
only this State, but Of all the so called
Gulf Statss-in fact all the South Atlantic
States. You can infer from what said
that the poor character OF the soil and the
sparse population OF the woods do not tend
to build up dense population along the
coast. So far as the local agriculture is
concerned it would not 90 far to maintain
more than corporal's guard Of population
along the coast. 1t is the lumber trade OF
the inlets and rivers, together with the fact
that New Orleans distributes several thou.
sand Of its people along the coast in the
summer time that gives 1t such measure Of
prosperity as it enjoys. ~, y
a oOVLhbhN LONu phANSA.
This place is the first Of this chain Of
summer watering places after you leave
New Orleans. 1t hasa resident population
Of about 1000, which is swelled to three or
four times that number about the first OF
June and on to October. It has ak miles
OF beach on the sound and bay, and along
this beach there is fine shell road that re-.
minds one OF the old National road at its
best in its best days. 1t is q magnificent
drive, and Is never muddy or dirty. Along
this beach are hundreds OF cottages, most
Of them belonging to New Orleans people,
and most OF which are either closed or
tenanted for safe keeping from October to
May. In front Of most OF these cottages Is
private pier, built on piles, extending
several hundred yards out into the Sound,
and ut the end Of eich pier Is one or more
bathing HOUSES where the cottagers 60
down into the water, hidden by the piles
on which the houses are built one or more
times every day to cool themselves and re:
animate their exhausted vitality. | am
told that it is a very lively town during the
season, and that the beach presents scene
OF activity and social life not unlike that to
be seen at Long Branch or Cape May.
East OF this town six miles is another OF
these watering places, known as Pass Chris.
tiau-about like this one-and east OF that
again Is Mississippi City, where there is a
hotel that will accommodate 500 people,
which constitutes the important portion OF
the so.called "city"-and east again Of that
is Biloxi and East and West Pascagoula-all
Of which have their quota Of New Orleans
and Mobile people, and all OF which are,
to considerable extent, sustained by these
summer sojourners.
The trouble with all these coast watering
places Is the lack OF winter patronage. The
people can scarcely make enough out OF
their summer visitors to run them until the
next SEASON. Hence they are forced to
charge higher rates-S50 a head per month
than II they had something like a uni.
form patronage the year round. They are
all looking forward 10 united incursion
OF Yankees to help them out They say,
and with truth, too, that there Is no use in
the Northern people all rushing TO Florida
to spend the winter when they can afford
them on this coast as good climate and as
good time generally for less money.
auluuk thV S'oi"td IOa toho
Gulf coast is accessibility to both New Or
leans and Mobile. There are two through
trains each way daily, and one local train
between New Orleans and Biloxi, known as
the Coast Accommodation" 80 that visit
ors can vary their fishing, boating and
bathing along the shore by frequent visits
10 the two cities, il they SO desire.
l can offer the dislnterested testimony OF
q sojourner that the coast Is pleasant
region in the winter time. There is no
winter here to speak oi-none in the North.
ern sense. Quite often you want FIRE
mornings and evenings, but from l0A. NJ.
TO 6P NJ. you and your children can live
out OF doors In the genial and healthfIlsun-
shine, and can either make your foot prints
on the sands OF the beach, or bask in the
s.n on the piers with a fishing rod In your
hand, or take gun and gooff into the pine
woods.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.