The Springfield herald., 1912-05-03


east and north. stopping by the
way at Pass Christian and Bi-
Iox', resorts on the gulf littoral.
popular with the New Orleans people
and not unknown to northern tourists.
as well. who find the temperate cii-
m-ce more bracing and enjoyable than
that Of the resorts farther south.
Pass Christian is nearest New Or
leans, and 81 miles distant. says cor
respondent of the New York Evening
Post. 1t is very old town. OF which
both France and Spain had the found
ing. and has resident population to-
day OF French, Spanish and English
origin. 1t was named-the legend runs
from the old Spanish explorer who
first discovered the deep pass" or
channel in front of the main shore.
Its admirers call 1t the Newport Of the
south. with this advantage over its
northern namesake, that 1t is equally
beautiful and desirable In both winter
nud summer. The drive OF IA miles
over its firm. smooth shell roads. with
the blue waters of the gulf on one
side, and stately and beautiful resi-
dences on the other. is one long to be
remembered.
From Pass Christian the railroad
skirts 'he gulf shore. at times Cross
ing wide bays or bayous on trestie
work. then dashing into pine forests.
through whose leafy vistas one catches
the distant CLEAN of the gulf. Biloxi.
% miles farther east, set up the claim
that 1t is the Oldest city on the coast.
and, indeed, in Louisiana territory.
Probably Iberville and Blenville did
erect there the first fort. but Mobile
contends that two full days before
they had landed at Dog river, in Mo-
bile bay. and had planted their lily
nag on the site of the first permanent
fort, which they called Louis de la Mo-
bile.
However this may be, Biloxi Is a pic
turesque old town. reminding one OF
the French quarter Of rev Orleans.
and with its handsome residences and
shell road along the ten mile beach
I5ell repays visit. Between the two
lies Beauvoir, and a short distance
from its station is the fine old country
seat in ample grounds. to which JEFF
ferson Davis retired after his aborttve
confederacy went to ruin. and in
which he lived and died. After his
death the Daughters OF the Confed-
eracy asked Mrs. Davis to sell 1t to
them for an old veterans home, to
which she consented. taking up her
abode in New York. and the old home
now shelters a number OF those who
fought for tn, lost cause" OF 1S61-5.
our hours from New Orleans We
reach Mobile, at the head OF the bay
of the same name, and thirty miles
from the gulf. A bright, alert. pro-
gressive and pleasing city 1t is. OF 52.-
900 Inhabitants, city which. like
most of the gulf ports. sees in the
opening OF the Panama canal an op-
portunity for almost boundess COM
mercial expansion. and is pulling her.
self together to take advantage OF 1t.
Famous Shell Road.
The city recently has been newly
paved and severed She has an ample
water supply OF the best quality,
Bienville water being SO pure that 1t
is used in chemical emulsions and in
photography direct from the hydrant.
The city is lighted by electricity, has
q n excellent electric street railway
system. good schools. good hotels and
Government street, f1anked on either
side with fine residences in ample
grounds, will compare favorably with
the residence section OF any city in
the Union.
Mobile lies low on the bay. SO low.
in fact, that a strong southwest gale
sometimes backs up the gulf into the
bay and overfiows the contiguous
streets, but the land rises rapidly in
the rear until in the suburbs one finds
high pine lands. with fine country
seats of merchants, green vegetable
gardens and fruitful farms Spring
Hill, several miles westward and
reached by trolley. has several fine old
country mansions and estates OF the
old regime-,wo, at least. owned by
titled foreigners-where the hospital
ity of the antebellum days is dis
pensed. Here in wide. we'll kept
grounds, is the Jesuit college. founded
rs years ago.
The traveller will find many excur-
sions by water of interest. Boats ply
to Fort Morgan and little towns along
the eastern shore" OF the bay, and to
waters Mobiles famous shell road.
along the curves OF the bay. was par
TALLY wrecked in the great hurricane
of September 1905 but has been re-
paired and is now again in commits.
sion. There is good hard country
road that leads to the bluffs, where
the shell road in Its original beauty
may be entered. Four miles below. at
South end, 1t becomes a wild. roman
tic forest road. leading down to Dog
river. where the French took posses
sion of the country. and where Mo-
bile's famous Fish and Hunt club has
an elegant clubhouse. where the Wis
itor with the proper credentials Will
tnd as good sport and as free-handed
hospitality as can be desired.
It is. however. OF Mobiles coming
commercial greatness that we wish
chiefly to speak In this article.