The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-12-14
The Gulf Coast Country,
BY MAURICE THOMPSON.

The following extracts are taken
from a letter written by Maurice
Thompson, Of Indiana, the distin
guished author who has seen much OF
the world and spent several winters
on this Gulf coast e.
West Of Mobile lies the typical coast coun-
try, with u high, dry, sandy soil. elevated
from ten tn fifty feet above the sea level In
the better portions. and possessing Il climate
the most healthful and enjoyable tall the
year round that | have yet discovered.
Grape culture (Which, although IL has been
successful for IA hundred years, Is yet in Its
infancylNill prove as remuncrative here AS
In California. The vines grow naturally and
bear wonderful quantities Of perfect fruit.
The far.famed scuppernons seems TO have
found its ideal habitat here, and the wine
made from these grapes u light white pro-
duct Of the flavor Of the best claret, finds IL
ready market.
Pears thrive to perfection. Some OF the
older orchards are really superb beyond cOm-
parison, both in the size Of the trees and in
the quantity and quality Of the fruit. Peach
rs do not do 50 well, though with care they
are grow successfully and yield a handsome
profit. Figs flourish, the trees requiring
scarcely any { .tentiOn. and the crop is some
thing almost Incredible, though as yet the
fruit has not been marketed In any large
way. Oranges were profitable before the Sc
we're frost some years ago destroyed most OF
the old orchards.
Pecans Of the very best variety are grown
the trees bearing from the eighth or tenth
year; and those groves that are fifteen or
twenty years old often bear TO each tree
from two to four barrels OF nuts, worth from
$40 to $50 the barrel.
OF small fruits the yield Is very great
with the minimum of labor In cultivation,
especially Of blackberries, dew berries and
Strawberries.
Cabbage, turnips. caulinower, lettuce,
beets, .adishes,onlons and almost all kinds OF
garden plants are easily grown, with but lit
tie use OF fertilizers.
Ihave given the above details from actual
knowledge. with a view to attracting tha at
tention Of men Of small means to IA region
or country where well directed labor and
economy will give most satisfactory returns
In a climate which in summer, owing to the
prevailing gulf breezes is not as warm us
that of the middle states, and which In win
ter is like perpetual spring.
Last winter an English artist spent some
days with me along the coast sketching. and
it was II matter OF great wonder to him that
such "a country, with such n sky. "a sea like
emerald and a climate not equalled by that
of the South OF France should have remain
ed SO long almost unknown to those who are
forever looking for an ideal winter home.
Tn artist turned his gaze from sea to land
and said:
What a very fine paradise this would soon
be were 1t as near to London as it is to New
York"
People are swarming every winter into
Florida. where they pass the season In little
inland towns that are beautiful enough and
warm enough; but here on the gulf coast
they can have all that Florida can offer
with the addition Of a fine sea view and easy
communication with the metropolis OF the
low country. The lectures, the opera, the
plays. the libraries and the churches OF New
Orleans may be reached any day, returning
the same evening. Those who like outdoor
sports and recreation can have fine fishing
and shooting. Water fowl are abundant on
the island marshes and estuaries; red snap
pers, sheephead and bass are plentiful, and
there is no end OF the best oysters in all the
waters. Watching, boating and sea bathing
are kept up by, some persons the year round.
Upon the whole. the sixty or eighty miles
OF gulf coast can be justly called the most
attractive region now open to northern emf
grants who desire to find "a delightfully."-
healthful climate, superb weather all the
year, and land ut once very cheap and fairly
productive. AS a winter resort for invalids.
and for those seeking exhilerating rest, it is
an ideal country.