Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-03-08
GOLFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.
What Is Being Done Toward Securing q
Deep-Water HarbOr on the Coast
OF MIssIsslppL

known, opened up vast amount OF
territory-land overgrown with virgin
long leaf pine, land waiting only for
the plow and human agency to make
it blossom with cotton and grain. The
whole line of road, some $50 miles,
teens with activity; is fringed with
saw and planning mills; with turpen-
tine and resin stills; with fertilizer
factories and cotton mills, and with
as fine a class of towns as can be
found on any Southern road; towns
progressive, substantial and perma'
nent. This has resulted in producing.
an immense volume OF business NOV
ing to the interior, but it has done
more than that. 1t has opened up
possibilities for export trade which
need only the opportunity in order to
become valuable and important. In
order to accomplish this latter fea-
ture, port was needed, which should
be of such size and SO complete that
it would afford every facility for in.
bound as well as export trade. The
coast of Mississippi and the islands
which lie some ten miles off shore
furnish a natural harbor. The own
ers of the G. & S. |. r. r., with char
aeteristic energy, and the expenditure
Of at least $2,O00000, present and in
contemplation, have mapped out and
more than half completed a magniii-
cent channel and an extensive wharf,
docks and anchorage basin. The chan
mel is today open to width of 100
feet and a depth of twenty feet. The
immense dock extends out into the
sound more than mile and is fur
nished with a loading crane, spur
tracks, lumber ramps and every pos
sible facility for the expeditions han,
ding of cargoes At this date ships
are loading and unloading without de-
lay and without difficulty. Vessels
drawing eighteen feet of water leave
Gulfport in tow of powerful tugs and
pass easily to the gulf. When com
pleted the channel will be 800 feet in
width, with depth Of not less than
twenty feet at any point and it is said
that experience in recent storms has
| fully demonstrated the fact that thr
channel will remain open notwith-
standing the hardest blows; that II
will not fill in with the action Of the
waves or of the tide. The work has
passed beyond the experimental stage
! ne l,tgiDFCr VI n oh will
be handled within the next two years
depends only on the speed with which
the present work is carried out. With
three powerful dredges at work night
and day, with their accompaniment OF
tugs, barges and lighters, and with a
large force busy on the pier and
shore improvements there is no rea
son to doubt the completion of the
entire work as planned.
Naturally at such port as this
there must be a town and people, ant
much business. Gulfport, which five
years ago was practically a wilderness
Is today thriving town Of some 2,00i
people; we'll provided with retail
stores covering every line of business
with churches public schools, electric
lights, good streets and all the eYi
dences of prosperity and civilization
It has an efficient Mayor and BoarC
of Aldermen to control It's municipa
affairs; a progressive Business League
to look after its business interests, anC
Is an orderly, well-conducted and pro
gressive place The general offices o
the G. G. S. |. r. R. are located there
and it is also on the main line OF tn
Louisville G. Nashville Railroad. Prop
erty is considered safe and desila
bic investment and Is being eagerl,
purchased. In fact the demand TO
houses far exceeds the visible or con
tracted supply. -,
In addition to the mercantil
houses, Gulfport is supplied with sey
sral manufacturing plants, and vii
naturally welcome more. The oppol
! tunities are splendid for sash an
blind factory foundries, carriage fat
tories. and others Of a kindred nature
There are at present in operation a
Ice factory, a well-equipped cannin
factory, saw and planning mills, raj
road shops. an electric light an
power house, with more to follow
Four hotels care for the transient pul
| lie. while two banks-the First M
lional and the Bank of Commerce
. take care of the financial needs OF tn
1 section.
Cities are not made in a day;
takes time, energy, money and tait
! 10 build them. But the citizens
, Tulfport and of large area in tn
South have watched and assisted !
: The development Of the G. & 5, !.
: r., of the channel to the sea, the dee
n water harbor, and of the town. Muc
;, is predicted for all Of these thing
and an inspection leads only to II
conviction that the hopes are bein
; realized daily. There is no boom; Il
= brag or buster; simply steady II
t provement, solid work, good none
being expended every minute, baekt
e by brains and energy, with results VI
G ible to the eye of whomsoeVer WI
4 visit the port to see. The Legislatu
= Of Mississippi recently visited Gul
- mort as a body, and came away Co
yinced that all which had been sal
!. was true. We have yet to hear of an
L me who has visited and eareful
;, looked over the town and the harD'
I who has failed to be impressed vii
. the possibilities Of the work, as We
rs with the actualities. 1t meal
j, much to a very large section. 1t
not purely a local enterprise, depen
Ie ing for its success on the produc
= of limited area, or upon the RAM
IS of n limited number Of people.
% means an outlet to the sea for @
II whole State OF Mississippi, for {
,e vast interior north of that State.
- means the operation of the only COZ
- modious and complete seaport on t
coast between Mobile and New
n leans. the port of entry for all CLINE
s. And as such its evolution and its 81
V seouent use will be matter of &C
d GRADUATION to many, and will RESI-
n in greatly increasing not only 7
= wealth of individuals, but the veal
y II the State of Mississippi as we'll
v. No Chance for Economy.
t. For a moment the father regard
IN The suitor thoughtfully.
g IF refuse my consent" he said
ID last. 81 suppose you will elope."
lie 1--WE have no such intention,
turned the suitor frankly.
RS "You haven't?" returned the faith
lie ,eemingly strangely disconnected.
n, "No, sir
ID "No likelihood of an elopement"
'e "None at all
r ain that ease" said the father, W
II sigh. ~ suppose / will have to sta
a, s'.'....,,, - 1. ,.fnddIpV 'rplsn II