The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1906-03-17
OYSTER CANNERIES WILL
REMAIN In MISSISSIPPI
so DECLARE THE OWNERS-AN
INTERVIEW WITH THE CAN
NERS AT PASS CHRISTIAN -
LOUISIANA WILL GAIN MOTH
ING BY THE DECISION.

Ine following Is IIOIl COudy L h0o
Christian Beacon:
In an interview with the officers Of the
Pass Packing Company they are OF the
opinion that it is the most inconsistent
proposition in figuring on moving the
oyster canneries out of this State to the
Louisiana marshes on account OF the
recent decision of the United States
Supreme court on the boundary ques-
ton. In the first place, Louisiana has
no available sites that are considered Of
value from packers point of view.
while on the other hand, to move to the
Louisiana marshes would only be NOV
ing that much further away from the
new oyster reefs, as we'll as Louisiana's
original territory this side Of the Mis-
sippi river. One of the most important
objections to such a move is the labor
question, as this in itself is becoming
one of the hardest propositions for the
Gamers to solve. We are advised that
some of the Gamers now operating in
Louisiana are experiencing all kind Of
troublein keeping their labor, for, unless
they can be given healthy location
to live in, it becomes almost next to
Shanghing to get them.
at appears to u.s." say the factory
people, "as unsound business logic on
the part of Louisiana to try to injure
the industries of this coast, when that
State, and the City of New Orleans in
particular, is deriving all of the benefits.
We of this coast, have always consid-
cred ourselves a suburban of that city
and the prosperity of this section is felt
by all the channels of trade there, as
most of our supplies are purchased in
New Orleans, and the greater part Of
the money needed to operate the can
neries secured from her banks, to say
nothing of the amount of cash that is
spent with her by the thousands of peo-
pie who find employment in and with
the canneries, and why Louisiana should
attempt to change all this is beyond
our comprehension.
''The reefs acquired by Louisiana in
the decision of the Supreme Court have
for several years been considered as
neutral, and they are almost entirely
depleted, as neither State spent dollar
to protect them. Some of the best reefs,
producing the finest oysters, have been
by use of power dredges completely de-
stroyed, and large sum of money will
be needed to get these reefs in shape
again,
"To some it looks as if Louisiana had
all the oyster territory, while Mississip
had all the factories, and that tn e two
must be brought together. If this was
true, it would be a much wiser and less
expensive business policy to bring the
oysters to the canneries than the can
neries to the oysters, and yet Louisiana
would obtain the same results.
"The impression that some wish to
impress on the public is that it is as
easy to move an oyster factory as it is
to hoist sail on a schooner. II one
would stop to consider the cost of mov-
ing a cannery the folly of such an idea
would be readily seen-it would be
cheaper to build new canneries If it was
possible to secure locations where we
could get labor to and hold them. Then
again, the Mississippi factories could
not afford to abandon their present de-
sirable sites. In fact, if the worst should
come to the worst, it would be cheaper
in the long run for the owners of the
Mississippi canneries to close down for
two years rather than attempt TO move
their plants.
"While Mississippi seems to have lost
great deal by the decision, we are
pleased to say that it has left some very
good reefs and ample planting grounds,
and above all our Oyster Commissioners
and State Legislature are alive to the
situation and we trust will leave nothing
undone to make the necessary apnropri-
alton for immediate use.
"If the present bill before them be
comes law, with its appropriation, with
in two years we will have in this State
all of the oysters the present factories
and additional ones can use. The most
sensible solution of the whole subject, in
our estimation, is that both States should
take off their fighting clothes, and get
together on the joint commission and
work in harmony to make this industry
one of the largest in the South. For af-
ter all the aim Of both States is to get
their revenue to make our country pros
porous and We can hardly bring ourselves
to believe that it is the desire to do this
to the detriment of our neighbors. At
any rate, it is up to Mississippi to get
busy, and Louisiana to get her factories
and we hope for the best for all concern
ed"
Writing to Governor Vardaman about
the louisiana Mississippi boundary
case, Gen. McClurg said: ga motion
will be made to reopen the case, in the