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

Mr.. Lester-What was that for. the
land?
MIR. Hines-Timber land. That in it.
self is not the important question The
timbefland is simply foundation OF
necessarily having railroad extend
ing from Gulfport as our shipping
point for the world, and also going
northwest and crossing three or four
systems. We are confronted with tire
question that this harbor is now un-
der the control Of private corpora
ton. The government so far has not
taken possession of the harbor, and
we have got. no guaranty as yet of
what the government is going to do.
We want to go on with our investment
and put-a railroad in there and get to
operating as fast as we can. The mar
ket is broadening out, and we want to
realize on our timber investment We
| feel that the matter can be put in
shape as Mr.. Bishop and Mr.. Alexan-
der have suggested. Now, If that can
be contaminated, we are here to urge
upon you members the importance of
passing this bill at the earliest day
possible. In the first place, we do not
feel safe to go ahead and invest sew
eral million dollars north from Gulf
port until this matter is settled. In
the second place, it would probably be
difficult to place bonds on a railroad
until the government has taken hold of
the harbor. We find that we can ship
through Gulfport at an advantage of SO
thousand feet of humber over the
rate on shipments from New Orleans.
That is very large amount of differ
ence.
Mr.. Bishop-How does that come
about?
Mr.. Hines-In the first place, the
vessels are able to enter Gulfport very
much quicker than they can enter New
Orleans, and the charges are less at
Gulfport, and in the third place, they
get greater dispatch, and the contract
with ocean boats is so many nay days,
and you can decrease the cost Of lying
there that is less than at New Or
leans, and they will take the freight
from Gulfport for less and load it to-
day for less than they will from New
Orleans. | was talking with Mr.. Scan
Ion short time ago, Of the main line
of the Illinois Central and he said
that he figured he could ship his lam
Der for over So a thousand cheaper
through Gulfport than what he could
ship it for through New Orleans, and
he was very anxious to open negotia-
lions with us If we could build our
road down to Gulfport
Mr.. Bishop-Are you the sole or only
owners of timber lands in this country
which will be covered by the railroad?
Mr.. Hines-No, sir; our lumber hold
ing are between three and half and
four billions of timber. There are
others who own as much more. The
Newman interests own as much, and
there are a dozen interests that own
very large bodies of timber. AS the
developments go on you will go farther
and farther from the water. Ship
ping to New York, you could take tim
Der from 300 miles north down to
Gulfport; then you could embark 1t on
boat and take it to New York or to
Montreal considerably cheaper than
you could take it by rail from SOC
miles north of Gulfport to New York.
Mr.. Bishop-Have you had any con
ference with Mr.. Jones regarding the
way terminals and facilities?
Mr.. Hiles-Yes; our board of di
rectors was at Gulfport three weeks
ago, on Sunday 1t was the first OPP
/. portunity that they had had of going
over this. We met Mr. Jones there
and discussed the facilities. He said
=, Anything of a reasonable character
), | want to be very broad in the state
!, ment that l make. Alone, we Owl
pretty nearly 100000 acres of timber
n Land ourselves.
S Mr.. Bishop-You have not any defin
p lite figures, then, regarding railroad
@ terminals or their COST or the facili
d ties afforded you?
Mr.. Hines-No, sir We took up thi
q very thing with Mr.. Jones in consulta
ton. We told him that we Gould no
ID afford to go there before this question
was settled of the government takin
IS hold of the harbor, and our director
,e were practically unanimous from tina
IN standpoint.
in Mr.. Bishop-Would you advise tina
i'd any provision be made before the pas
I'd sage of this bill for securing railroa
lie facilities and terminals?