The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-10-05

been done has proven to be permanent.
The bottom is not SAND or silt, as is fire.
q%uently encountered in harbof dredging,
but a hard formation that in places re-
sembles shale. Although somewhat diff
fcult to take out, it stays out and does
not drift Jack to be- taken time and
again. The work done in past years is
as good today as when first executed.
The bay is protected from storms by
both Horn and Petis Bots Islands, with
an extra wind break in Round Island,
which lies between Horn Island and
the mouth of the river. An immense
government dredge is constantly at work
deepening the shallow places. and
Strengthening the channel. Between the
pass and mouth of river, a number of
areas with great depth are to be found,
and advantage has been taken of these
in constructing the channel. These
areas not only furnish anchorage for
vessels, but make the undertaking of
dredging a sufficient depth for all ves-
sells one of much less magnitude.
Another point exceedingly favorable
to Pascagoula is the close proximity of
no BOTTOM" or very deep water to the
mouth of the harbor. In going over the
bar between Horn and Petit Bots ISL
ands the lead line showed nineteen to
twenty-five feet, but Immediately the
edge of the bar was reached the throw
dropped to thirty feet and then mo bot
TOM" This advantage is possessed by
few places aspiring to Importance as
ports and is of i~ncalculable Importance.
The Pascagoula river for several miles
above the mouth has q depth of from
twenty-five to fifty feet, with a few
exceptions where tributaries have crossed
the current and deposited bars, which
necessitate dredging. The banks are
almost vertical in a majority of in
stances, allowing OF vessels drawing from
twenty to thirty feet to run alongside
without danger of grounding. Numerous
lakes abound in the vicinity of the river,
especially near Moss Point, covering
areas of from a few acHs uD TO hun
dreds and having depths of fifty feet or
more. All of these lakes are connected
with the river by a depth of water al
lowing vessels of ordinary draft to en-
ter. With a moderate amount of dredg-
ing this depth could be increased to any
figure desired. While at present they
are used by the fifteen or twenty inn
mense lumbering plants Of that vicinity
for log storage, they would all be avail
able for harbor room and wharfage
facilities. The whole of this immense
river front is protected from the bay
proper by three or four miles of high
land and heavily timbered, absolutely
guaranteeing immunity from serious
damage by storms.
At present the port of P~ascagoula
only has one through line of railway,
the L. & N, but others are being con-
structed, and in a short time promise is
made that sevral lines will converge
from there. The Denny log road has
been built to the northeast to within a
few miles of a connection with the Mo-
bile, jackson & Kansas City. This road
is used at present for logging purposes
only, but the excellent construction of
the line, the splendid steel bridge across
Dog river, the standard rails laid and
other Indications point that it is being
built for a thorough m carrying
line, and will shortly connect with some
of the large systems of the country. The
Mississippi Central, a part of the great
Gould system, is building to Pascagoula
and promises to reach there in a few
months. 1t is in operation from Hat
~tiesburg to Brookhaven, will soon have
trains running into Natchez and a por-
ton of the line to Pascagoula has al
ready been built. 1t is conceded that
as soon as the Natchez extension is in
operation the work of building to Pascal
goula will be pushed to completion. The
Frisco system also has surveys n plans
for reaching the port, and if it really
the Nj, j. & X. c., as reported,
will undoubtedly build the short line
necessary for a connection. With the
advent of one or more of these powerful
systems, which seems to be reasonably
certain, it is evident that the next few
months will witness an industrial and
commercial activity at ~Pascagoula rare
ly equaled anywhere.
The port of Pascagoula is composed
of four municipalities at present, with
a population. of something like twelve
thousand souls. All are situated within
a radius of three miles of Scranton, and
connected by an electric passenger and
freight line. A proposition to CONSOLE.
date under the common name of Pascal
goula was defeated some time since by 1
popular vote, but it is believed that in q
short time the union will be consum-
mated and Pascagoula will take the
place deserved among the larger cities
of Mississippi.
The most potent factor in this splen-
did work of development has been the
Pascagoula Commercial Club, with its
active and alert officers and truly loyal
and, enthusiastic members. This organi-
zation has worked without ceasing,y in
season and out, for the contamination
Of a dream that now bids fair of reali-
cation and to it is largely due the sue
cess attained. In its ranks can be found
the leading citizens of all four munich
palities, striving for a common cause,
the making of Pascagoula the greatest
XXX