The Tupelo journal., 1907-10-04

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 yes.
sells one of much less magnitude.
Another point exceedingly favorable
to P%ascagoula is the close proximity OF
mo 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 tle
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 incalculable Importance.
The Pascagoula river for several miles
above the mouth has a 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 acres up 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 i'm
mense numbering 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
| SoaA IMMUNITY AtoHh oSilouS
damage by storms.
At present the port of Pascagoula
only has one through line of railway,
the l.. & n, but Others are being con-
structed, and i'll 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 commerce carrying
line, and will shortly connect with some
of the large systems of the country. The
Mississippi Central, n 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 and plans
for reaching the port, and if it really
owns 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
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 Pasca-
goula was defeated some time since by i
popular vote, but it is believed that in Il
short time the union will be consum-
mated and P~ascagoula 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-
cation has worked without c~easing, 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
deep water, fully protected harbor ON
the gulf coast. There is glory enough in
the realization of this dream for all.
from the president to the humblest mem
Der, who cheerfully contributed his half
dollar each month as his mite to further
the cause.
1t is certain that Mississippi will have
two or more great ports for the hand
ling of maritime business, distributing
points for the great volume of COM
merce THAI will be DETECTED to this
point of the compass by the building If
the canal, and with them large c;t;ac