The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-10-03
y u. Z BLAKEsLEE. Jachsen. hisa.

Completion of the Panama Canal
will within a short period OF time
show marked change in the rail-
road of our country. The great
commerce-carrying lines that now
parallel each other in a general
direction from west to east, seeking
an outlet to deep water at Allan
tic coast points, will necessarily be
compelled to build or acquire lines
giving port facilities at points d
long the Gulf coast of the South
ern States. These may be branches
of general system or through lines
of steel, makes no difference to the
people of the South which, but they
are bound to come and hearty well
come awaits them. The scenes OF
industrial and commercial activity
that have characterized Atlantic and
Pacific ports for generations, will
soon be duplicated at Gulf ports and
the attendant development and pros
perity that naturally follows press
ages much for the South and her
people. Great cities will spring up
as if by magic where only villages
and towns mark the map today
The lands will be made to produce
literally of the crops demanded by
the inhabitants of these centers Of
population as well as the millions
that will be brought into close trade
relations with our people. The un-
surpassed natural resources will be
developed. A section of our great
nation that has so long been summed
by capital as not worthy of explo-
itation and which the general govern
ment has stinted with none at all or
insufficient appropriations for years
and years, will be recognized at last
and come into its own. The Great
South, and more especially the Gulf
States, will become the paradise for
agricultural, industrials and CONNER
cial activity.
1t is gratifying to know that Mis-
sissippi will be one of the largest
benefactors Of this awaking, although
possessing comparatively only short
stretch of shore line. Nature has
been extremely liberal in providing
number of strutegical points for the
developing of great harbors where
this tremendous business can and will
be handled in an exceedingly econ
omical and absolutely safe manner
The past few years has witnessed
some slight interest in two OF these,
but it is safe, to assert that this has
been only prelude to the real work
that is about to be inaugurated
| Whe erthousands have been spent Oh
improvement in the past, millions
will be spent in the future. Twenty
feet of water paves the way for thirty
forty and even more as the Nation
al legislators begin to realize the i'm
portance of this work and its wo1-
derful possibilities. Mississippi is
| in the forefront as one of the largest
Pascagoula, which has splendid
| Of development that has been begun
under such favorable conditions.
1t was the writer's pleasure some
days since to visit the Port of Pas
| cagoula, and in company with G
close inspection Of what has already
been accomplished and the magnif-
cent possibilities of the future. From
conditions as seen from land lub-
bers standpoints and explained by
those in a position to know, the i'm
preston is readily made that Pas
| cagoula is destined to become one Of
the greatest ports of entry on the
coast line Of the United States. The
| person who has not had an opportun
ity of seeing for himself what this
port has to offer in the way Of natur
al advantages. and the comparative
ease with which it would be made
tHC IAfdl VI diluUSI dly III IuC WOIlu;
cannot appreciate from word pie
ture even small part Of its advant-
| ages as a deep water, absolutely land
locked and thoroughly available port
of entry for the worlds bottoms, seek
ing share Of the immense trade that
the canal will divert to this section
of the country.
Pascagoula harbor consists Of three
component parts. The entrance is
| through pass between Horn and Pet
it Bois Islands, the bar at this point
having received some attention from
the government but not what its i'm
portance justifies. Pascagoula Bay
lies between this pass and the mouth
of Pascagoula river, distance of sew
eral miles and containing large areas
Of water of sufficient depth to be
available without the aid ofa dredg-
ing. The harbor proper, however.
Pascagoula, whic h has splendid
depth for several miles with only
bar here and there requiring ass
istance of dredging for the use of