The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1904-04-02
The seate's Big Lawsul..

| The terms OF the agreement between
lGovernor Vardaman and Hon. Monroe
pMc Clurg, former attorney general, and
Hon. Hannis L. Taylor, former United
States minister to Spain, wherein these
two attorneys are retained to assist At
torney General Williams in the boundary
dispute of Mississippi VS.. Louisiana, have
notyet been made public, ,butit is under
stood that the total fees to be received
by Messrs. McClurg and Taylor, in case
of termination Of the litigation in favor
Of Mississippi win be about $4,000.
Preparations have been actively com.
menced for the taking Of testimony, and
this feature Of the proceedings, while Of
routine nature, promises to be OF un-
usual interest for both States are playing
for large stake in the shape Of terrific
ry variously estimated TO be worth from
$1,000, 600 to $i0,0O0,OO0. This territory
consists chiefly OF oyster beds which are
said to be the largest and most valu-
able in the world.
Louisiana seems 10 basel or chief claim
to the territory in dispute on the ground
that she was admitted TO the Union five
years ahead OF Mississippi and as the
coast lines of the two States as defined
in the congressional acts overlay each
other, the prior claim must be the only
valid one.
The act OF Congress admitting Louis
lana as State gave her all islands with
in three leagues of the coast. MISSISSIPPI
pi was given all islands within six lea
gues of the coast when she was admitted
to the union. The issue is very similar
in its nature to the Alaskan Canadian
boundary dispute, with the exception
that in the latter case the territory was
estimated backward OF the coast, and In
the mississippi Louisiana dispute 1t is
estimated seaward from the coast.
The old maps, charts, official records
and documents dating back century
ago win be brought into the controversy
when the taking OF testimony Is COM.
menced at New Orleans on the 4th Of
April, at which time the attorneys re-
presenting the two States will be pres
eht, and as the testimony as collected is
will be forwarded to Washington where
the final hearing will take place before
the United States supreme court in Oc-
tober or November.
Louisiana claims that in 1912 st. Ber-
hard parish was solid marsh stretching
out TO point opposite tho Mississippi
coast, and was then and Is now, part OF
Louisiana mainland; that 1t has been cut
off from the mainland by storms and
floods, and with each season there have
been changes in the aspect of the land,
islands have been swallowed up, new is
lands built, etc. Mississippi claims that
this territory has always been islands,
and that the sister State is making hog
9f herself by trying TO gobble up ter
titory for which she has never had va
lid claim.
The facts in the controversy win be
hard to prove because the territory in
dispute has never been in habited, and
no authorized surveys or plats have ever
been made. Much will therefore depend
upon the traditions Of the locality, the
testimony Of those who have been fami-
liar for many years with the oyster reefs
and fishing grounds, and the record to
be transmitted to the United States su-
,preme court promise to be quite volu-
\minous. jackson Clarion-L Ledger.
| Bav st. Louis now has an automobile