Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-10-05

Jackson, Miss, Sept. 30, 10O7.-Com
petlon of the Panama canal will within
a short period of time show marked
change in The railroads of our country
The great commerce carrying lines that
now parallel each other in general
direction from west to east, seeking an
outlet to deep water at Atlantic coast
points, will necessarily be compelled to
build or acquire lines giving port facili
ties at points along the gulf coast OF
the Southern 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 arc
bound to come, and hearty welcome
awaits them. The scenes OF industrial
and commercial activity that have char.
acterized Atlantic and Pacific ports for
generations will soon be duplicated at
ment and prosperity that naturally fol.
lows presages 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 rs
the millions that will be brought into
close trade relations with our people.
The unsurpassed natural resources will
be developed. A section of our great
nation that has so long been Stunned
by capital as not worthy of exploitation
md which the general government 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 espe-
cially the Gulf States, will become the
paradise for agricultural industrial and
commercial activity.
1t is gratifying to know that Missis'
sippi will be one of the largest bene-
factors of this awakening, although pos
sessing comparatively only short
stretch of shore line. Nature has been
extremely liberal in providing a number
of strategical points for the developing
of great harbors where tins tremendous
business can and will be handled in an
exceedingly economical and absolutely
safe manner The past few years has
witnessed some slight interest in two OF
these, but it = safe to assert that this
has been only prelude to the real work
that is about to be inaugurated. Where
thousands have been spent on improve
ment 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 national legislators
begin to realize the Importance OF this
work and its wonderful possibilities.
Mississippi is in the forefront as one
of the largest benefactOrs from this
splendid work of development that has
been begun under such favorable condi-
tions.
1t was the writer's pleasure some days
since to visit the port of Pascagoula,
and in company with a number OF the
enterprising and enthusiastic citizens OF
that place, make close inspection OF
what has already been accomplished and
the magnificent possibilities of the tu'
ture. From conditions as seen from
land lubber's standpoint and explained
by those in a position to know, the
impression is readily made Chat Pasca'
poula 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 opportunity OF see
ing for himself what this port has to
offer in the way of natural advantages,
and the comparative ease with which 1t
could be made the rival of almost any
in the world, cannot appreciate from a
word picture even a small part OF its
advantages as a deep water, absolutely
land.locked and thoroughly availble port
of entry for the worlds bottoms, seek
ing a share of the immense trade thai
tho canal will divert TO this section OF
the country.
Pascagoula harbor consists OF three
component parts The entrance is
through a pass between Horn and Petit
Bois Islands, the bar at this point hav-
ing received some attention from the
government, but not what its import
ance iustifes. Pascagoula bay lies be-
tween this pass and the mouth of Pas
cagoula river, distance OF several miles
and containing large areas of water OF
sufficient depth to be availble without
the aid of dredging. The harbor proper
however, as Pascagoula river, which has
a splendid depth for several miles, with
only bar here and there requiring the
assistance OF dredging for the use OF
the largest vessels, Moss Point, one OF
the municipalities composing Pascagoula,
lies five miles from the mouth OF the
river, and the water necessary Tor large
vessels extends sevral miles above 1T.
Taken as a whole, the capacity OF tins
port, after the expenditure OF reason
able sum for improvement, would be al
most beyond the conception OF man. a
gentleman high in authority, whose
name the writer is not privileged to use
at this time, said on visit to Pasca'
poula some time since that the money
expended upon a port in another State,
something like million and a half dol
lars, would have given Pascagoula
uniform depth of thirty.six feet and
dockage capacity many times that OF
the one in comparison
The nature Of the bottom to be
dredged is an unanswerable argument IN
favor of Pascagolua improvement Ter
manency is the primary item for con
sderation by the government whcn
planning improvement This is one oi
the strongest points in favor oil iurther
work at Pascagoula. What has already
been done has proven to be permanent
The bottom Is not sand or silt, asis ire
quently encountered in harbor dredging,
but hard formation that in places re-
sembles shale. Although somewhat dii'
ficult to take out, 1t stays out ana noes
not drift back to be taken time ana
again. The work done in past years IS
as Good today as when first executed.