The coast beacon. (Pass Christian, Miss.) 18??-1???, 1892-07-02
Our Beautiful Coast.

received from the different sections
asking information on the subject
of the merits and dement's of our
coast country that we deem it ex-
pedient to write a sort of epitomiz-
ed account of the conditions here,
and keep the matter in stock ready
at all times as far as possible to
answer the enquiries. This we
take much pleasure in doing, be-
cause we are glad of the oppor-
tunity of helping the discontinued
of other less favored counties into
the blessings which surround us.
The county of Harrison of which
we are the fortunate inhabitants,
lies along the shore of the Gulf of
Mexico, with a frontage on the
same of some thirty miles or more,
beside numerous bays and inlets.
The Louisville and Nashville rail
road runs along the entire breadth
of the county some 1000 feet from
the waters edge, and the stations
are so arranged that no person
living on the beach can be more
than one and half miles from a
station, A chain OF islands extends
along the main shore ten miles out
in the Gulf making one of the
greatest deepwater Harbors in the
world. This is Ship Island Harbor.
The lands fronting the Gulf are
dividing into small lots generally
half arpent in width, which is a
Spanish half arcre of SO feet. The
depth of the lots is from 1000 feet
upward. The timber growth along
the immediate front consists large
ly of live oak, magnolia, hickory,
but sometimes of pine The water
in the gulf, next to the land is
shallow for half mile out, and
this space is utilized in the plant
ing of oysters, and for fishing and
bathing. Oysters are taken from
the main reefs and deposited near
the shore, when they become the
property of the person swning the
land opposite and mahSg the de-
post. Generally there is large
profits in the increase of the plant
1ngs: Fish, shrimp and crabs
abound in the waters and can al
ways be had for the taking. There
are five large canning factOrys in
the cOun'y, which are engaged in
the canning of oysters and other
shell fish and vegetables and fruit.
The soil of the country is a light
sand, and without fertilization is
not fit for the purposes of agricul-
ture. For this reason agricultural
occupation has been almost entirely
neglected until within the last few
seasons, But vegetables farms
have now been opened. CONNER
cial fertilizers adopted and farming
here is proven beyond any ques-
Ion or cavil to surpass in profit the
same business in any other part of
this whole southern country. By
reason of the lightness of the soil
the nutriment furnished BY the
concentrated manures gives the
vegetation a rapid growth and
early maturity, which enables us to
reach the markets of the country
In advance of the season, thus Civ
ing us the most remunerative re-
turns. One hundred and fifty dol
lars per acre have BEEN made clear
of expenses, and it is common to
make 500 per acre. String beans,
cucumbers, squash, melons ard
potatoes are the vegetables mostly
planted. Ten or twelve dollars
will cover the amount spent per
acre for fertilizers. A large ex.
penditure would probably bring
still larger profits, of course in
dividual failures are often made,
but they are due almost without
exceptiO / to mistakes, and if 500
and upw ard per acre are not realiz
ed it is most surely due to the
faults of the planter or possibly to
the season, Freight and express
facilities are good and the rates
reasonable. All shipments are
made to the cities of the North.
Long Beach which is the principal
farming point in the county has
been able to ship in car load lots by
fast freight. After the spring
crop is marketed a kind of clover
and crab grass comes up on the
land which is saved for hay, at the
rate of one to two tons per acre.
This commands ready sale at as
high figures as the best western
hay brings. The hay alone will
more than pay for the fertilizers
for the entire cron of tho voar