The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1900-10-24
BRooKHArEN TO GuLFPoRT.

BROOKHATEN TO GULFPORT.
TIE LEADER doubts il any very con-
siderable number of the citizens of
this city have ever comprehended the
possible advantages to accrue to Brook
haven aud all its business interests, by
the railroad projected and now partly
completed by the Pearl River Lumber
Co. eastwardly from this city.
As is we'll known, the Pearl River
Lumber Co. is a private corporation,
aud the industries it has established
and will establish hereafter, will he of
immense advantage to every business
and property interest of Brookhaven,
even IL its railroad we're never run as
anything but private enterprise. In
fact, the benefits accruing to Brook
haven as a result of this company's en-
terprise have already manifested
themselves by a material increase of
our population, a substantial advance
in the price of real estate, and the i'm
pulse to trade that monthly cash
pay roll of from ten to twelve thous-
and dollars implies. We have the en-
terprising gentlemen who projected
the Pearl River Lumber Co. to thank
for these things, independent of any
thing else which may hereafter be
placed to their credit.
But, as estimated above, the posi-
bility of utilizing this company's line
as connecting link between the ], c.
and the Gulf & Ship Island Railroads.
for furthering the development and
commercial interests of Brookhaven
will, in time. become so self evident
and imperative, as to command the at
tention and favor of the most abtpse
and narrow visioned business man of
the community.
The distance from Brookhaven to
the Gulf 4 Ship Island Railroad along
the route the Pearl River Lumber Co.
will probably follow, is about Al miles
Is miles less than from Brookhaven
to Jackson, the nearest point at which
Brookhaven is now connected by rail
with the q. & s. l. From Jackson to
Edna, which will be the future county
site of Simpson county, and where the
Pearl River Lumber Cos. line would
most likely tap the q. & S. |. Railroad,
is 40 miles. Thus. by the Pearl River
Lumber Co route, Brookbayep would
be placed 60 miles nearer by rail to
Gulfport and intermediate points on
the G. 4 S. |. Railroad than now. If
the Pearl River Lumber Co. should
decide to run in the Direction of Will
liamsburg, after crossing the Pearl,
the distance would be still further
shortened.
The Gulf q Ship Island Railroad and
Gulfport were built on the hope of
Mississippi's securing an adequate and
permanent deep-water harbor at Gulf
port-a hope, we are glad to say, which
now has every prospect Of early reali-
cation. With the Pearl River Lum-
Der Co.'S line completed, Brookhaven
would have almost direct railroad com
munication with Gulfport, and thus
enjoy the benefit of short and quick
connection with two deep water ports
by competing lines of railroad, New
Orleans being the other. Then if the
1 usual laws of railroad competition did
not suffice to prevent unjust discrim-
ination in freight rates from both ports,
giving Brookhaven business men an ad
vantage over other cities on the |. G..
which do not have two shipping lines,
the rates from Gulfport could be cas-
lily regulated by State supervision, the
entire route lying within State lines.
This would result in the building of
new industries at Brookhaven, large
increase of population and growth in
the volume of her trade in all lines
hitherto unparalleled. However, the
realization of all these much desired
things depends upon the completion
of the Pearl River Lumber Co.'S line
to the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad,
and whether it will remain as private
road or become public carrier. 1t is
a timely subject, however, for every
citizen interested in the future growth
and prosperity of this city to become
interested in.