The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-08-10
PROSPECTS GOOD FOR
FAVORABLE REPORT
1t Is Confidently Believed That the
Engineers Will Recommend the
Dredging and Deepening of the Riv-
er From This Point to Pascagoula.

The engineers charged with making
an examination Of Leaf River to de-
termine if it is practical to improve it
for navigation, started down the river
at noon today. The engineer in
charge is Mr. ]. NJ. Pratt, assistant
to Major Jervey and Mr.. NJ. E. Tis-
dale his assistant. Accompanying
them was Mr.. D. B. Chenowith in
charge of the government work at
Pascagoula. 1t had been planned to
give them an elaborate entertainment
tonight, but Mr.. Pratt said that their
office was so filled with work that it
was impossible for them to spend any
time here. In fact he had planned to
leave early this morning but when he
learned that the members of the re-
ception committee would be very
much disappointed if they did not
have the opportunity to show them at
least part of Hattiesburg-the in
dustrial side-he decided to spend the
forenoon here. They were met at the
hotel this morning by Mayor Donald,
Mr. H. A. Camp. Mr.. R. c. Haunestein,
President T. s. Jackson of the Cim-
mercial Club, Mr.. R. L. Bennett Mr..
NJ. J. Epley, and Secretary Bixler of
the Commercial Club. After an infor-
NAL talk the visitors were given a
two hours carriage ride covering the
principal points Of interest and includ-
ing visit to the big Newman mill
which was running both sides and.
with full force presented a scene OF
industrial activity, which was very i'm
pressive. All the visitors expressed
surprise at the extent and imoport-
ance of the industrial side of Hatties-
burg. The ride gave a good oppor-
tunity to impress them with the great
opportunities for developing this sec
lion if this city could only have rea-
sonable freight rates and how much it
would mean if it were possible to ham
die cotton to a gulf port, by barge and
bring in coal from Alabama, for our
factories. This condition is a very
important factor in making up re-
port, if the engineers should decide
that il is feasible to deepen the river
and maintain o channel. IN fact it
seems to be the policy of the govern
ment TO dvedge and maintain water
ways where the railways maintain the
policy they have pursued with Hat
tiesburg. In fact Senator Burton for
mer chairman of the Aivers and Har-
bors Committee, is on record as fav-
oring the maintainance of a channel
in river where there were no boats,
because it made the railways give an
equitable rate This desire on The
part of the engineers to have facts
and figures showing the losses sus-
tanned by Hattiesburg and the deter
rant effect it is having on the devel-
opment of this country, gave the Conn
mercial Club reason to believe that a
very favorable showing can be made
which will have an important influ-
ence on the report. In fact Mr.. Pratt
and the other gentlemen seemed very
much impressed with the Importance
Of Hattiesburg and especially on the
progressive spirit manifested by the
citizens as evidenced by the expressed
desire to do everything possible TO Sc
cure this Improvement Mr. Pratt
said that in many instances localities
wanted such Improvements but were
not willing to put forth any efforts 20
assist the government in getting the
facts and figures necessary. He was
assured that Hattiesburg had deciGed
that this Improvement must be made
Continued on Page Five. 4