The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-08-01
REMOVAL OF THE CUSTOM.HOUSE FROM
BAY ST. LOUIS TO BILOXI.
Reply of "Justlce, to '.Clvls."

Editor Dcmocrat-Star:
Ii your issue OF the lIth inst. sp.
pears a communication from Moss
Point, Miss, dated the 9th INST. sign.
ell "Civis," relative to the removal OF
the Custom-house for the district OF
Pearl River, from Bay st. Louis
(Shieldshorough) to Biloxi.
Knowing your great sense of hon
or, justice and fair-plav, together with
your willingness at all times to give
your readers the opportunity of read
ing and informing themselves on both
sides of The question, SO as to enable
them to arrive at an intelligent con-
clusion, | respectfully ask space in
your valuable paper for Il few re-
marks in reply to some of the points
made by your correspondent in the
article named above.
In the first place, we both agree
that Bay st. Louis is not the proper
place for the CustOm-housr, therefore
there is do room for Il debate on that
point.
The article gives ont the erroneous
impression that there is no other bust
ness connected with the Customs SER
vice in the District excepting the for
cign expectation of lumber. This is
Incorrect, aud is liable to mislcad
those not familiar with the Custom
service. There is other business
transacted in this department Of our
government that onr people are more
directly interested in than the cXpor-
tation Of lumber to foreign countries,
such as taking out licenses, enroll
ments, registers, building vessels, |
having them admcasurcd, recorded
and documcnted in the CustOm-house.
Your correspondent states that
Biloxi is Il mere landing place for
Captains, whose vessels load at Ship
Island with lumber from Pascagoula
and Pearl river: HAT ii certainly
would be Il curiosity 10 know what
plea Biloxi makes for the Custom
house, or on what grounds she bases
her claims for it. Now, | will urO-
coed 10 try, If possible, TO disabusc
his mind of the idea of ''Biloyi being
a mere landing place for captains
and satisfy his curiosity as to The plea
and claims Biloxi makes for the Gus
tom-housc. {
The number Of vessels, according TO |
the annual alphabetical list of vessels.
aud recorded In this dis
irlct tor the fiscal year, ending June !
3Oth, 1870, was II hundred and sew b
enty-eight (I7S) vessels. OF this Q
number, Biloxi owns IS, Pascagoula i
So, Pennington 90, Bay ST. Louis 81, j
Springs 6. Pass Christian. a
llandsborO aud Stoucwall, 10. Thus Z
that Biloxi owns one-half Il
he vessels in This district, or as MANY c
IS all the other places in the district s.
,ut together. b
These vessels have 10 take out a IL
ense at least once a year; will u
IlangH masters two or three times a I'
ear, and will change owners once, u
7hich ncccssitates the master or own u
RS coming TO the Custom-house AT L
St. Louis 10 do so at an expense u
50 100 a round trip, Appropriated al
pom the following basis that there
two seamcn aud a captain on each x
essel; that the captain receives a.
90 and the seamen 81 per day, 70
which is a very low average) making re
) 90 per day for each vessel. When e
le captain goes to take out his Ii
change masters or change own
'siip the vessel has 10 stop aud loose
Ie whole day on account of his hav-
z TO ON Ia Bay ST. L1uis Ia trans =,
i his business with The Custom =
,use. You a add to the SO 80 the
ilroad fare from Biloxi TO BAY ST. 81
luis and return, which Is 50, max liz
e a grand total of s. 80 for cx- bf
incurred by each vessel owned IA
Biloxi.
is a recapituiation ofthe III
penso incurred by the IS vessels NJ
Tned in Biloxi: W
vessels for taking out license ~
once a year at $3.50 each,....S 4S4 90 II
vessels for changing masters br
3 times ayearat $3.50 each. 1f52 90 d.,
vessels for changing owner ~.
once a year At Sa;50eaeh.. 484 90 -.
Total. s ,420 30 to
I mean by the SIC so for each isi
ssel on change VI masters, is the ex- th.
lse incurred every time a vessel, fb,
ned IN Biloxi, changes her captain. a.
a man eau 20 master Of q YES ~,
ne has nrsi 70 apply 10 the Gus -
n-huuse, take the masters oath aud Ve
bis name endorsed on ihc ma no
g dOcnhscnia o. the vessel bv the aeI
ieeiof Of Customs under his OH ire
HaAH 81 81