The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1903-04-04

from the center and commenced to ex-
plore other parts within the limits. In
pursuance Of this determination, they
set out on the morning of the 14th and
viewed other parts of the river between
Edward Turner's place and e-Fleur'si
Bluff. In this route they examined a
Bluff, near which they found tolerable
good springs. This discovery induced
them to look for an elevated spot suit
able for the location of town, but none
could be found near enough to landing
place, or the springs. They then pro-
ceeded downward to LIE Feur's Bluff, ,ral-
ready mentioned of which they had ta-
ken slight view separately before they
first met at the Agency House. This
view had given them favorable impress
sions, and having found an exclusive
prediction for in all those with whom
they conversed, the commissioners con-
cluded to examine with particular at
tention, with reference TO suitable site
for State house and town. The result
Is decided and unqualified preference
in favor Of this spot.
"LeFleur's Bluff is situated about ten
miles south of the Choctaw Agency
House on the west, side OF Peal river,
washed about four hundred yards by the
river and elevated according to informa-
ton about twenty or twenty-five feet
above the highest floods. About eight
hundred yards obliquely from the river
is presented beautiful eminence con-
dnuous with the bluff agreeably undulat-
ing and of ample extent. On the east
side 1t falls off by easy slope into an ex-l
tensiye fat OF dry fertile land whilst on
the west it maintains nearly an equal
height with the adjacent hills. This
eminence is in fact continuation and
the bluff the termination OF ridge ex-
tending from the highlands, in regular
gradual and almost impreceptible de-
cent"
This then is the site of Jackson as the
commissioners viewed it on the 10Th OF
November 1921, and concluded to adopt
1t as the site for the State capitol. The
above paragraphs indicate that feeling
has been prevalent for some while that
LeFleur's Bluff should be selected and
tradition has 1t that the examination OF
other sites during the exploring tour was
very perfunctory proceedings as Le-
Fleur's Bluff had been practically de-
cided upon before they started out.
The report continues with a narrative
OF the advantages Of the site, descrip-
tion of the surroundings setting forth the
elevated position, water air, soil, timber,
navigation, road, and other causes that
led them to make the choice. At that
time Pearl river had hardly been explor-
ed although keel boat had made several
trips up as far as LeFleur's Bluff but
the upper river was never disturbed by
water craft save only the canoes of the
Choctaws and Chicleasaws or the row
boat of some adventurous trader traffick-
ing with the Indians.
The land selected for the State capital
proper as the east halves of sections
two and eleven, township five, range one
east, embracing | ,280 acres. Only very
small part OF the original acreage is now
owned by the State. The Legislature
adopted the suggestion OF the commits
sion to lay the town off on the checker
board plan, which had been recommend,
ed by Thomas Jefferson about seventeen
years before, and the survey was carried
out on this plan on what is now the older
portion OF the city, the blocks being large
and the streets wide, but the same style
OF plating has not been followed in sub
sequent additions.
The Legislature was held at Columbia,
and towards its close bill was introduc-
ed to have the next session held at Mon
ticello, in Lawrence county and it pass
ed the lower house by a majority Of one,
and would have passed in the Senate,
but the rule for reading bills on the three
separate days could not be dispensed
with, and the Legislature adjourned
without passing the measure, rather than
remain in session another day. There
fore the June session in 1929 was held at
Columbia, and the gathering the follow
ing year was held in Jackson, the town
in the meantime having beer given this
name by the legislature in honor of Gen.
| Andrew Jackson.
FREDERICK SULLENS.