The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-10-05
BY 81. E. BLAKESLEE. JACKSON.

cnanSe IN the TaliTOduS VI our CouhVis'
The great carrying lines that
now parallel each other III n 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 a general system or through
| lines of steel makes no difference to the
| people of the South which, but they are
| bound to come, and n hearty welcome
| awaits them. The scenes of industrial
and commercial activity that have char
acterized Atlantic ard Pacific ports for
| generations will soon be duplicated at
gulf ports, and the attendant develop
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 as
| the millions that will be brought into
| close trade relations with our people.
The unsurpassed natural VIII
be developed. A section of our great
nation that has so long been Stunned
by capital as not worthy of exploitation
and which the general government has
stinted with none at all or insufficient
appropriations for years and years, VIII
be recognized at last and come into Its
own. The great South, and more espe-
| ciallv the Gulf States, will become the
paradise for agricultural, industrial and
commercial activity.
1t is gratifying to know that Mlssis-
sippi will be one of the largest bene-
factors of this awakening, although pos
sessing comparatively only a short
| stretch of shore line. Nature has been
extremely liberal in providing a number
| of strategical points for the developing
| of great harbors where this 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 is safe to assert that this
has been only a 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 it's 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 P~ascagoula,
and in company with a number of the
enterprising and enthusiastic citizens OF
that place, make a close inspection of
what has already been accomplished and
the magnificent possibilities of the flu
ture. From conditions as seen from q
land lubber's standpoint and explained
by those in a position to know, the
impression is readily made that Pasca-
goula is destined to become one eff 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 it
could be made the rival of almost any
in the world, cannot appreciate from o
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 that
the 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
Bots Islands, the bar at this point hav-
ing received some attention from the
government, but not what its import
ance jussifies. Pascagoula bay lies be-
tween this pass and the mouth of Pas
cagoula river, a,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, is Pascagoula river, which has
a splendid depth for several miles, with
only a 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 for large
vessels extends sevral miles above it.
Taken as a whole, the capacity of this
port, after the expenditure of a 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 a visit to Pasca-
goula some time since that the money
expended upon a port in another State,
something like a million and a half dol
lore uorld . have civou Do coo nor1o a