The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1900-08-11
OPENED TO JACKSON.
Potentlallties OF the Gulf & Ship
Island Railroad.

Jackson, Miss, July 8.

jackson, Miss, July 8.
Thursday, July 5, marked an
epoch in the history of Greater
jackson, and that was whcr
quietly, and without ostentation
the first freight train on the Gull
and Ship Island Railroad pulled
into this city.
The train was loaded with pine
lumber, the chief product of the
great section of South east Mis-.
sissippi, which is now opened
clear to the sea, and is the pre-.
cursor OF many more. One train
II day both ways is now running
on this railroad, and AS soon as
the track is ballastcd up in pro-
per shape, which will be in about
two weeks, a regular passenger
schedule will be made.
The opening Of this railroad
means great deal to Mississippi.
1t will put on her tax rolls hun
drcds Of thousands of acres of
land which heretofore, on ac-
count of inaccessibiIity, have been
reckoncd comparatively valuelcss
IL has already caused lively. Wig
orous little towns to spiing VI
along its l25 miles of roadway
and thus more prosperity has
been caused. Mills to cut tho
lumber and planning establish
ments to finish it are all along the
line. Jackson has captured two
of them. In this way thousandi
OF men have secured employment
at good wages, and not alone il
Southeast Mississippi sharing The
benefits.
1t has been frequently predict
cd that as soon as the pine timber
IS used up the country will no
amount to anything, but n moro
serious error cannot be imagined
IL is ideal land for stock farming
being high, dry and we'll watered
and carpeted with the most sue
culent of native grasses. The sol
admits of diversified farming; il
} fact, it is against cotton, and en-
courages the planting of othel
crops. 1t is in a latitude where
truck-growcrs can come right into
the markets within two weeks O,
the Florida vegetables and fruits
and with the Gulf & Ship IsIant
road direct connection is made
with the Northern markets via II
linois Central at jackson, so tin,
question of quick transportation
} has been solved. The soil in tha
section is identical with the peacI
and pear-raising section of South
west Georgia. 1t lends itself cs
pecially to strawberries and small
fruits, and can be made to yielc
great returns
There is another question in
volved in the opening of the new
railroad, that Of a deep waite
harbor on the Mississippi coast
and the upbuilding Of a large cit
there. 1t has been the cherishe,
, dream of Mississippi since 184O
: and the State has made appropri
ations time and again to build
railroad which would give an out
let to deep water on our coast
but the project has until recent
failed. Now at Gulfport,. whicI
is thriving town of some 200
inhabitants, it looks rs if the long
. deferred hope of our people vii
: be realized. 1t is the southern
, terminus of the Gulf & Ship l.
land Railroad, and has excellen
5 harbor facilities. The govern
: mcnt only recently made larg
appropriation for dredging
e channel from the piers to Shi
!. Island harbor, and the work
| progressing in a manner most sal
: isfactory.
In addition to the opening o
4 the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad
g the welcome news comes that tn
e promoters of the Mobile, Jackso
: 4 Kansas City Railroad, a project
a ed trunk line, have secured th
e money to complete the road fror
a Merrill, about sixty miles north
q west of Mobile, in Mississippi, an
4 work has again actively commend
. ed upon it. The section whic
will be opened by this road is in eve