The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-06-01
WE ARE ALL "CRANKS" NOW.


Euitof Defnocfat-Staf.
When an old patriarch, in his de.
Ginning years, can see his many sons
following in the steps made by him In
the days gone by it is but Datural fol-
him to feel very grateful. If he Is
wise he looks back over the past and
regrets any mistakes made, and prays
that his SOM who are treadlng in his
former footsteps may avoid the quick.
sands and breakers, and tread only on
smooth and safe ground.
These reflections came over my
mind while witnessing the enthusiasts
tic meeting last Saturday, in the in
terest OF incorporating the city OF
Moss Point.
A little over thirty years ago | be-
came a citizen Of the territory now
covered by Moss Point, Scranton and
Pascagoula. 1t was us clear to my
mind then as it is now, that this ter
ritory could be made into a great com-
mcrcial city, and to accomplish this
we must first have deep water,n then
railroads. Oneof my first acts in that
long ago, was to take active part in
getting the State to buy the Brown
and NOyes canal at the mouth of the
%Pascagoula river. Soon after that
the New Orleans & Mobile Railroad
(n0w the l.. & NJ was surveyed, and
| became an enthusiastic friend to the
road, and when the railroad company
suggested that II our people would Of
fer them room enough near Scranton
on which to build their shops, l urged
our people to make the effort. Those
acts led to ne being selected as arbl-
on the part of the railroad. in
disputes about what little land they
obtained at Scranton, and was the
beginning Of my unpopularity among
some people. About that time | sue
in obtaining some pet names,
was known all over the State as the
deep Water Crank" I'D. w. Deesn
Rail Road Dces," and as / have been
to incorporate our town, l was
known as "Corporation Crank" In
those long, weary days, weeks. months
and years, ! was the ONLY Crank"
and assure you | felt lonely.
But for the last few years | have
seen that the climate, or some other
cause, has begun to affect the minds
Df some OF the rising young men, and
as those old, wise, conservative citi.
zens OF my former days died out, |
could see signs of "crankism" becloud.
ing the brains Of the rising genera
lion, and only Il few years ago l assist.
in sending to Washington, D. c.
| delegration of enthusiastic "cranks,"
by that chief Of "cranks,"F +.
Il. Lewis. W. have another chief
crank" at Moss Point, j. w. Stewart,
Who has got the idea into his head
hat a railroad can be built from here
|p through the State.
tell you what, Captain, l am no
1nger lonely, and If our good old wise
rlends who have crossed over the
great divide" could return to this
eld OF action, they would he the
'nely ones. and not this ''crank."
l am informed that on July 4th
here Is to he a gathering of all the
)eep Water Cranks, Railroad Cranks.
hell Road Cranks, Municipal Cranks,
! fact, all kinds of franks, from all
yer the State, to meet on the beauti.
shores OF Pascagonla, 10 full view
the dredge boats, now making deep
alter in our river, the railroads run.
ing in and near incorporate towns,
If my business will allow me the
reat pleasure of being one among the
lany thousands OF cranks who meet
1ere that day, l assure you l will not
lonely. Respectfully
ID. w." DEEs.