The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1944-08-11
Letters To The
Editor

The Editor,
Chronicle Star and Advertiser,
Dear Sir:
Last week | promised to tell
about our Port and Harbor ia
cilities or rather, possibilities.
Well, here they are. But before
| begin on these, | wish it to be
clearly understood hat there is
nothing in this article that is
meant to reflect, in any way.
upon any other coastal city.
Neither is it suggested that we
take from any other city that
which they now have. or prevent
further developments. Anything
| say will be for the purpose of
arousing the business men of
Pascagoula to a realization of the
Importance of what God has
placed at their disposal. And as
He placed il at their disposal
He made them trustees of this
most valuable asset and expected
that they should develop it.
: The Facts
Paseagoula is forty miles near
er deep water at the mouth of the
Mississippi river than is New
Orleans, seven miles nearer than
Gulfport, nine miles nearer than
Biloxi and twenty three miles
nearer than Mobile. These mile
age differentials mean quite a
lot. But there are still other adj
vantages that are of greater val
ue. New Orleans has one hundred
and one miles of treacherous,
winding river channel to navi-
gate. So treacherous are these
currents that none but bar and
river pilots can carry ships up
the river. The same thing is
practically true of Mobile. New
Orleans has realized her handi-
cap because of these things and
is nov taking steps to remedy it
by building a tide water canal.
New Orleans, Gulfport, Biloxi,
and Mobile have dangerous cross
and counter currents that causes
filling in of dredged channels.
This calls for quite a lot of main
tenance work. Some of these
channels require constant dredg-
ing to KEEP them open for navi-
cation.
Then there is another advan-
tage, and no mean advantage.
Pascagoula is protected by a
shield of islands that break the
force of tropical storms. Then
Pascagoula has one of the finest
inner harbors to be found on the
whole Gulf Coast. 1t is large
enough to take care of a large
fleet. It is deep enough to take
care of large ships. Our channel
has a current sufficiently strong
to keep any channel that might
be dredged here open with a
minimum of maintenance. Pas
cagoula Is only twelve miles off
water deep enough to safely
carry the largest vessel afloat.
There is a bar at the Horn Island
pass that could be easily and
quickly dredged out that would
greatly increase the sweeping
power of the natural current.
We have ample room for five
of double docks. We have
room Off at least two dry docks.
And, as there is to be much re-
pair and conversion work after
the wal is ended, it behooves Pas
cagoula to at least determine to
have one good dry dock suffi
GENTLY large to take care of any
job that might come this way.
| would prefer two. One large.
and n not quite so large. l.
would suggest hat we work for a
forty foot channel. ! have read
about the thirty-tWo foot channel.
would be a big help. But to
set your docks on that basis would
not be good business. However.
f foundation for docks were set
On a forty foot channel basis, the
actual dredging from thirty-two
10 forty could be done later.
Pascagoula has a literal gold
nine here in channel. harbor and
port facilitis. Let us wake up to
what we have and set machinery
n motion for their full develop
nent and utilization. If the bus
ness men are not fully awake to
what they have, how can they
the business world to
Snow anything about it. A few
5ears ago some wide awake BUSH
ness men took a notion to sell
to the outside world. They
lid. Florida did not have much
more than we have here. You may
instructors and instruction their