The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-03-11
ON MISSISSIPPI SOUND.


New Orleans Lumber Trade Journal.
The Journal has consistently con-
tended that Mississippi Sound, with
the great Commonwealth OF Missls-
sippi behind it, 10 justice to the peo-
pie of that State, as well as from the
logical and commercial possibilities
presented, ought To have a deep water
outlet, and that the general govern
ment ought to spend an adequate
amount there to provide a suitable
harb0r for the commerce OF the State.
AS presenting the views of the people
OF Mississippi we note the concurrent
resolution adopted In the Legislature
a, jackson. 1t recites that one Of the
largest aud best yellow pine forests 10
the world lies In South Mississippi,
between the Illinois Central Railroad
ON the west and Mobile and Ohio on
the east, embracing a territory OF 100
miles vide by 200 miles long, in which
are now operated saw mills with q
daily output Of over 100000 feet OF
lumber, all of which, IL exported, must
pass through the harbOr OF Ship Is.
land and Horn Island into the Gulf OF
Mexico. Owing to the fact that ships
in which this vast amount Of lumber
is exported draw, when loaded, from
twenty to twenty-three feet OF water,
they not come into the rivers or 10
any railroad wharf on the coast; must
transfer or lighter their cargoes out
six to twelve miles from the mainland
at a cost of Sl.25 per 1000 feet. Owing
to this expense about One-half the
Output of these mills is now shipped
by rail to interior markets at much
less price than could be obtained by
export. From thirty to fifty vessels
are constantly loading in the above
harbors OF Ship and Horn Islands,
and IL q channel OF sufficient depth
was secured into the mainland and an
inland harbor of sufficient depth and
size for loading fifty vessels at a time
was made or reached by such a ship
channel in which such vessels could
lie at wharf and unload their incOm-
ing and load their outgoing carg0es,
very soon all this vast output OF
1000, 900 feet Of lumber per day would
seek export markets, and in lighter
aye alone the people OF the State
would save over half a million dollars
per year, and the export trade would
rapidly increase and an import trade
be built up; as we'll as the compile.
ton OF the Gulf and Ship Island Rail.
road, up through the State, insured
at an early day. Very soon, also, other
roads would build to Mississippfs
deep water harbOr.
In view of the facts thus recited the
two Houses Of the Mississippi Legis-
lature cOncurrently asked the Nation
al Congress to request General Will
son, chief of the United States engi-
neers, to furnish to Congress the Opin-
ion of himself and assistant engineers,
based on a thorough examination of
the several localities, as to the most
economical, feasible and practical
point or place on the Gulf Coast of
Mississippi for the improvement OF a
ship channel into an inland harbOr or
place where not less than fifty ships
at one time may lie along side OF
wharves and take on their export and
unload their import carg0es; and
further, that upon such information
Congress be urged to act practically In
the establishment of such a port.
This recommendation is a wise and
Opportune one. One of the reasons
why more has not be done in the way
of improving the Mississippi coast is
10 the local jealouSies Of the various
possible ports. No united effort fUl
the benefit Of the State at large has
yet been made. On the contrary,
whenever any one point seemed to be
favored, the Others were either indif'
ferent or exactly opposed Its improve
ment. The Journal has always main
taincd that the broad view Is the best.
Not until some one port Is improved
adequately will the Others get what
they need. II, however, the possibil-
tiles of creating commerce along the
gulf are shown by the actual improve.
ment Of a port and its consequent
growth, it will not be long until every
outlet will receive the attention and
expenditure which Is due 1t. What.
ever point the engineers decide upon
should receive the undivided and con.
sistent support Of every citizen OF the
State. Only thus will the long desir-
ed wish for a deep water on MisSis.
sippi's coast be realized.