The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-22


from Mr.. Hines.
>Mr Bishop-Th point L want to
elaborate was as to whether this was
an Individual enterprise or whether
a large section of the country is in
terested
Mr.. Neville-It is not an individual
enterprise by any means; the whole
country is interested in the develop
ment and maintenance of that chan
mel and harbor. The mere fact, Mr..
Chairman, that this bill was introduced
in congress on the 26th day of April,
with some hope that in the fairness
and business of congress it would be
passed, and that the government would
take hold of 1t, thereby giving per-
manency to it, has increased and
stimulated all the enterprises in that
place and in that community. The.
amount expended in dredging the
channel and the anchorage basin up to
January "a, 1906, was one million, FIVE
hundred and eighty-eight thousand dill
Iare Isl ,5SS.000)
Mr.. Chairman--was that exclusive
or inclusive of the pier?
Mr.. Neville-Exclusiye of the pier.
Mr.. Candler-The Chairman asked if
that was exclusive of the pier. What
did the pier cost?
Mr.. Neville-The pier, of course, is
private property.
Mr. Neville says, further on, on
page 16 of this report, Zone thing fur
! Their, gentlemn, that you can rid the
minds of great portion of the public
Of that this is the project of one man.
Investors shy from a proposition of
that sort, Notwithstanding that
large investors have come to that
country and have made great invest
ments, yet they shy at the proposi-
tion that this is the project Of one
man. When the government accepts
the contract as complete, them, of
course, that is relieved, and in my
judgment the improvements at that
place and the benefits to commerce
that would come because of the one
act of congress taking this matter in
hand and relieving it of the idea of a
one man scheme would sound like n
fairy tale if we're to go into them
At about this point, the committee
took recess to reconvene on SAME
day at l o'clock p. m, at which time.
Mr.. Burton, the chairman of the COM
mittee, was present Mr.. Neville re,
sumed his statement to the committee,
in which he said:
"And in addition to that. cotton and
other products are already knocking
at the door, seeking an outlet through
Ohe channel, and would be coming
Though there now, but for the condi.
tions which prevail, and I am sure
that speedy action with reference 20
this matter will remove those difficul
ties, because the grain elevators which
are already contracted for. and other
enterprises, indicate that new conii
tions are opening and only awaiting
the taking charge of this project by this
government. In addition to that, there
are gentlemen who seriously contem
plate-not on paper, but seriously con
template the building of other rail
roads coming into Gulfport.- OF course
railroads will be constructed to the
harbor when 1t is once assured tina
the government has taken contol. of |
and intends to have control of it from
this time forward"
Mr.. Bishop think you are the at
torney for Mr.. Jones, are. you not?
Mr.. Neyille--I represent the Gul
and Ship Island Railroad. of which h
is president.
Mr. Bishop-This point occurs t
me: At present Mr.. Jones owns thu
harbor and the adjoining property
While Mr.. Jones lives | do not thin
there is any question but what tn
public would be allowed the free us