The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-02-19
THE HILL BILL.

We have before us a bill introduced In the
State Senate by Senator Hill, of Ellisville, zen.
titled IAN Act to define the navigable waters
in this State, and to regulate the erection of
oooms and chutes, and the rafting of logs
therein which our limited space for the pres
ent prevents us from publishing, but hope to
do 40 shortly, unless it shall have died of in
anition before that time.
Since the introduction of this bill we have
heard a full and free expression Of opinion
with reference to it from a large number of log
and timber men, coming from every section of
the country, to be effected by it, tributary to
this lumber mart, and We are free to say that
Interpretation to it is practically unanimous,
and should it become q law is liable to produce
sre7oluhon 10 the business. It is introduced
to regulate and govern, decidedly for the
worse.
II would be almost impossible for us to point
out all the objections to the bill in one article,
so will only refer to one section for the pres.
ent, promising to have a good deal more to
say at a future time, should occasion require it.
Section 4 provides that "logmen, lumbermen,
&C., may erect permanent booms and chutes in
any of the navigable waters of the State, the
same not to occupy more than one -half of the
water an ohstructoJ - r.,
Under the provision of this proposed law, as
well as under the common law, the P~ascagoula
river and every stream entering it, or it's tribu.
%taries, including the smallest spring branch
capable of floating a log when swollen by rains,
are recognized as manageable streams. This is
just as it should be, and has been universally
recognized and acted upon until a recent date,
and no one has ever claimed or exercised the
rightto permanently obstruct any portion Of
these streams. They are Natures highways,
and should be kept permanently free and open
for the use of every man who may have occas.
sion to do so nothing else would be fair, lust
or proper, which all fair-mindcd men will rccog.
nize
The partial obstruction of any of these
streams is a menace to the very industry for
which they are now almost exclusively used,
liable to cause the destruction and loss of large
amounts Of property, which has already hap
pened at Hattiesburg, the frs, and only place
where there has ever been even a partial OBJ.
s%truction in any of our waters.
If this becomes a law, any number of mills
may be put up on the rivers and smaller
streams, and half the water permanently OBJ.
structed by the construction of booms for the
storage of logs and timber, rendering the navi.
CATION so hazardous as to cause MANY persons
to abandon the use of them as a means of
transportation, to the detrimcnt of themselves
and a large milling interest besides. We have
no objection t" a man having his mill or other
property where ever it may suit him, but not
to the detrimcnt or injury of any other man or
set OF men. No, let these streams forever re.
main free and uninolcstcd for the use of any
and every man alike that he may have access
to any market in which to sell his products.
There has been no general demand for this
or any otherlaw on this subject, and this one
seems to have been prepared specially in the
interest Of parties who have already partially
one ofou streams, and permits any
one else to do the same thing at his pleasure.
thus making the interest of the general public
subseryient to private interests. Such a law
would no doubt cause the General Government
to cease making appropriations for the cleaning
out of our streams, and this leaves us to work
out our own salvation in a matter of great inter
est to- large section of country.