The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-03-21

upon t1c coast. LUG building OF
the projected Pascagoula aud Moss
Poiut railroad will be the entering
wedge--the local star-whieh will
point uherringly to a grand ceutral
State railroad to the coast most
likely terminating at PaScagoula.
In the year 1856 congress grant
ed % the State OF Mississippi 652..
500 acres of land in aid of the con.
struction of a railroad from Brandon
to the Gulf of Mexico. The con.
gressional bill making this liberal
grant, provided that if the road
should not be built and completed in
ten years from the date of this
grant, the lands thus granted should
revert to the United States. The
State OF Mississippi intending 10
avail herself OF pis graut, in the
year 1860 had the route of this road
surveyed, definitely located aud
map of location of the road filed in
the office OF the secretary of the
interior. The route OF this road
then located, was from Brandon to
Pascagoula, or some other point
on our seaboard, opposite Ship
island harbor. The grand object OF
this prosposed Interstate railroad
was to connect, by direct railroad
communication the great grain
States OF the Northwest with u
shipping point on the Mexican
gulf, through which the commerce
OF the State might pass aud be
conducted. This road, SO import.
ant to the commercial and other
interests of Mississippi, was not
built within the time limited by
the grant of said lands nor were
any steps to build said road
taken further than to locate
the iolte. This conditional
grant OF land to the State
was forfeited in 1866 and reverted
to the United States. l have not
space in this article to dwell upon
this important subject, further
than TO state that u bill lis now
pending before congress declaring
forfeited certain grants OF land
made to certain States in aid OF
the contraction of railroads in said
State, which bill includes in its
provisions the grant of land IN aid
OF the projected railroad from
Brandon to the guilt of Mexico, gen
orally known as the Gulf aud Ship
Islaud railroad. 1t is most likely
that this bill will pass congress as
| it was introduced aud thus put u
quietus to the hopes OF the people
of Mississippi, as to the .tndtie OF
this long cherished grant.
Notwithstanding, however, our
able congressmanIIrom this district,
the Hon. Ii. s. Van Eaton, has
offered an amendment to the bill
declaring certain grants forfeited |;
which amendment exempts from
the provision of said bill, so much
of said act as relates to said grant
of lands in aid of u railroad from
Brandon to the Gulf of Mexico.
Should Mr.. Van Eaton's amend.
ment be rejected by congress, it is
not ut all visionary to believe, at
least to hope that new aud differ.
ent grant OF the public lands in the
State may be obtained from con-
gress in the not distant future, in
aid of a grand central railroad
through the State, terminating up
on the gulf.
In view of the many interests
commercial, agricultural aud me-
chanical-being in prospect in
South Mississippi, more especially
| in the coast counties, l am per
suaded to call the attention of the
people, aud particularly OF the bal
OF the coast counties to the neces
sity of having a branch of the Fed
eral court established here on the
coast.
There are almost daily applica
tions to lawyers here upon th,
coast as to business which can only
be available to q certain class o
suffers in the Federal court. w,
greatly need here on the coast al
admiralty court. The coast is th,
only point in Mississippi where {
maritime court is much needed.
Admiralty is the name OF a cour
whose jurisdiction takes cognizanc,
of acts done upon, or relating t,
the sea of transactions and pro
: ceedings relative to commerc,
and navigation, and to damages
and injuries upon the sea. 1t EN-
braces cases of salvage -actioo
for torts-acti0ns on contract
such as seamen's wages, pilotage
materials aud all marilime con
tractracts aud causes--all cases O
torts or injuries committed upol
the high seas, aud In ports au,
harbors within the ebb and flow Q
the tide.
The district court, rs a court 0
| Admiralty, may redress persoua
wrongs. committed upon a passen
ger, or a seaman by the master Q
a vessel on the high seas.
: In this court seaman or sallo
, has a remedy certain and speedy ft
: the collection of his wages, detaiI
ed from him by the captain {
/ master of a vessel upon which
I has earned wages; whereas in
: common law court he has no,
D him, available remedy. And it
not Indispensable that the services
/ which may be brought an action