The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-03-13

Senate be appointed as IA committee
To visit our coast, at as early day a.
convenient, and fully and carefully
investigate the matter as stated in
the foregoing preamble, and all inter.
est that our State has or may have on
said coast, and report its findings and
recommendation back to this Legis-
laturc as soon as practicable.
Resolved further, that the sum OF
$500, or so much thereof as may be
necessary, he and is hereby expended
out OF the contingent expense fund
of the House and Senate for the nee
csSary expenses to be incurred by said
committee.
In pursuance OF the above rcsou-
tion, your committee reached Bay ST.
Louis at 10 o'clock on the morning Of
February %, 1896, and found anchored
there the United States revenue cut
ter Seward, awaiting the arrival Of
your committee, which had been kind
ly placed at our disposal by the gov
ernmcnt officials. Here the commit
tee went aboard said vessel, and pro-
cecded directly to the city Of Biloxi.
A meeting OF the committee was held
on board the vessel, at which the fol-
lowing plan Of action was decided
upon:
Resolved |. That all the places on
our coast which are applicants for
deep water harbor shall he represented
by one pilot from each place. who
shall be present and supervise the
soundngs as they shall be taken.
>. That leadman shall be ap-
pointed to take the soundngs.
3. That the secretary Of the legisla
tive committee shall keep a record Of
all the soundings taken, and in case
OF dispute his record shall be consid-
cred official.
I. That all soundngS shall be under
the general supervision Of the llgisla-
tive committee.
5. That the members of the sound
ing committee, including the lead
man, shall be sworn to faithfully and
truly discharge the duties Of their
positions, whcreupon the following
sounding committee Was appointed:
For Biloxi-L. r. Bowen.
For ScrantOn-J. p. Fox.
For Gulfrort-W. w. Hungcrrord.
For Pass Christian-J. II. Lang. i
For Bay St. Louise. Arbo.
For the Committec-J. S. Hicks.
For Lcadman-Petcr Hanson, chief
quartcrmaster Of the revenue cutter
Seward.
The oath Of Office was then admin
istcred to said sounding committee by
the Hon. Ernest Dcsporte justice of
the peace from the city of Biloxi.
On the morning Ct February, 90,
1896, the committee proceeded from
Bilcxi to point on the gulf immcdi-
atcly opposite Gulfport, estimated to
be about one mile from the shore,
where the vessel was stopped and the
sounding committee was transferred
to Il skiff, which proceeded toward
GulfpOrt, taking soundings until a
depth OF 6 feet was reached, which
point was estimated to be from one
quarter to onc-half mile from the
shore at Gulfport. The said commit
tee then returned to the vessel, taking
sounding at short intervals until the
vessel was reached, where the depth
was found to be I feet. This point
was estimated to be from one to one
and Onc-Quarter mile from the shore
at Gulfport. The vessel then took a
course as follows: Southeast, half .
east, and at intervals of one-qnarter {
mile each the following soundings
were had:
Seven feet, feet inches, feet 6
inches, feet inches.
Southeast by east feet 0 inches, s
feet, feet, s feet. L
Southeast by East, One-quartcr
SOuth-S feet 6 inches, 5 feet 10 inches, {
5 feet II inches, 8 feet 6 inches, 0 feet
II inches, 10 feet, 10 feet, 10 feet
inch, II feet, Il feet inches, II feet
inches, II feet 10 inches, II feet, ~ |
feet inches, 10 feet inches, l3 feet
8 inches, Is feet, 16 feet, l6 feet, l6
feet, II feet, 10 feet, 10 feet, 10 feet, 10 !
feet, 90 feet, 20 feet, 20 feet, 20 feet, 20
feet inches, II feet, l6 feet 6 inches, |
Is feet 10 feet, 20 feet, q feet, % feet, {
y feet, % feet, 20 feet, "A feet.
The above soundings were taken at G
ow tide. /
Here the sounding in this direction 9
was ceased, and the committee pro- /
.eeded to a point about one mile from /
ship Island and commenced soundings |
through the pass leading into Ship Is I
and harbor. The soundings were
made ut short intervals as follows: i
Southeast by East, Onc-quarter |
'outll-23 feet, % feet 8 inches, 81 feet, +
o feet, 20 feet, 10 feet 6 inches, 20 II
Get, 81 feet, % feet, 25 feet, Is feet, % i
eet, 90 feet, 30 feet, 32 feet, 33 feet,
2 feet, 80 feet, 33 feet, % feet, 3S feet, p
2 feet, 80 feet, 80 feet, 20 feet, q feet, A
8 feet, 25 feet, 25 feet, 20 feet, 20 feet, c.
8 feet, % feet, q feet, 20 feet, 10 feet. II
The above soundlngs were taken ut c'
intervals OF thirty seconds each. tl
As the committee entered Ship Is II
and harbor we saw twenty-five large OF
ea-going vessels anchored there, all
)ading with lumber from Pearl river, fe