The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-27

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to be said for it, but certainly it
seems to me 1t ought to be either a |
general policy of the whole country, |
and apply to all ports or not to be ap |
piled to one. 1t smacks a little bit
of state socialism but we are getting |
about to the period when l think We
have got to have a little state social
ism and these people seem to think SO.
The chief immediate good to be
done is this: At present the stabif
ity of business of Gulfport is depend
ing upon the life tenure of one man.
AS far as this harbor work is con-
cerned, and as far as its connection
with the prosperity of the port and the
prosperity of the upper country that
feeds the port is concerned, that is
true, and that is very unhealthy con-
dition, not alone for Gulfport, but for
all the little towns and places along
the line of the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad.
If the people could feel that the
depth of water was to be there all
the time 1t would give confidence to
every enterprise that is thinking of
going to Gulfport, or thinking of To-
!, eating saw mills on the rivers above,
which would be dependent upon Gulf
port for their profitable carrying on,
and while you surrender this charge
of maintaining his channel for few
years yet to come which will not
| amount to over $4,000 a year-at the
utmost to $40.000-you get $1,500,O00
worth of work for $150,000, and that
: advantage to the treasury, and with
the advantage to the commerce of the
country of twenty fold as much given
; in the shape of the confidence that is
lent to people in the stability of the
enterprise that is already established
) and the work already done, confidence
in the future that is to be maintained.
, 1t seems to me that $150,000 is an aw-
fully small price to pay, and although
Mississippi never asks favors, or ought
: not to, at any rate-I hope she never
$ will ask any special favors for herself
. she ought to ask equality with other
b. states as far as possible, and Missis-
4 sippi has no sea port of her own, and
it has been a matter of great pride
with with the people of Mississippi to
o build up one.
he
@ ord that Mr. Williams agreed with Mr.
n Alexander Mr.. Hines and with me-
d and indeed with everyone else present
IS except perhaps Mr.. Bishop that the
d provision with respect to Tampa Bay
+ was all that should be required, and
r that to deal with this harbor differ
# emily from the others in the country
was an injustice and improperly to
which the representatives from Mis-
l. sissippi should not submit?
d l decline to be diverted from the
work my people and the legislature sci
IS me to do into a chase after rainbows
A or the pursuit of the impossible. The
real task set me to do was to get the
e. harbor out of the uncertain condition
1t of the contract and into the safe and
sure attitude of government enter
t, prise taken over by the government
a with it's future maintenance also as
al sured by it, and that i did. My con
D. Guiding remarks show the real situa
lie ton.
e. But to my mind the most potent con
sideration is one entirely apart ant
d. outside this, and that rests upon thu
ne rights of the public in the premises
he AS Mr.. Hines has stated to you, in
OF vestors are holding back in their de
tic velopment until the government shall
IT. take hold of this enterprise. If tina
ng contract were completed TECHNICAL
wise this committee that they wer
be ready to accept it, and it was accep
err ed and the money was paid, the COZ
10 siderations that tie their hands in tn
ne building of railroads and the cond
X tons that stagnate further develol
lip ment there would still obtain, becaus
5ht until the government undertakes il
DO maintenance these people will say, an
lie you can readily understand why the
er- will say it, that they are not SUI
as of the perpetuity and the continuant
ru- of the enterprise; and it is in ord,
sne that those forces that bind may /
apt loosed-and I speak for the public
the and that this vast development whiC
l. is only awaiting an opportunity to e
es- pand itself NAV be given a chanc
60 that we ask that this maintenance CO
'no tract be abrogated and the goyernmel
be take charge. | thank you very much
my The Chairman-Just one or two co