southeastern hurricanes, under which conditions the water surface may rise as much as 10 feet above mean low water, covering a portion of the west end of Deer Island, which forms the only protection to this anchorage on the south. A channel 12 feet deep, connecting Mississippi Sound and the Back Bay of Biloxi, as covered in this preliminary examination, would enable boats to enter the Back Bay during stress of weather and obtain safe anchorage under all conditions, but the great expense for the improvement and maintenance of such a channel would not be justified for this sole purpose, as the Pascagoula Harbor, only 20 miles east, affords good protection to shipping during the most violent hurricanes. 9. Terminal facilities.-No publicly owned wharves or piers exist. and those privately owned are of light timber construction and are used by the fish and oyster industries. They are located along both the south and north fronts. None of the wharves have rail connection with any standard railway, and there are no wharfage charges. They are built to accommodate the needs of the owner and are adequate for the present commerce. The amount and nature of the existing commerce does not demand wharves for public use. Harbor space is ample for the present, and it is believed that any amount of space necessary to meet the demands of future commerce could be secured along Back Bay. No facilities exist, with the exception of some small derricks, for handling fish and oysters over the private wharves of the packers of sea foods. The capacity of these is very limited, and practically all freight is handled by hand. 10. Former reports.-The following project documents and annual reports cover previous reports of preliminary examinations and surveys of Biloxi Harbor: NOTE. In addition to the foregoing, a report of Maj William T. Rossell, dated Jan. 23, 1897, on "Survey of Ship Island Harbor in Mississippi Sound to determine the most practicable route for a deep-water channel leading to the mainland on coast of Missis sippi," contains data of interest. See Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1897. p. 1723. 11. Improvements.-The original project, adopted by the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, contemplated the formation of a channel 150 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water through the shoal water to the north of Deer Island and around the eastern end of the Biloxi peninsula, at an estimated cost of $35,000. This project was changed in 1884 by the adoption of the present project, which provides for a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water and 150 feet wide from the 8-foot contour in Mississippi Sound to the pocket of deep water forming the south water front of the city of Biloxi, Miss. All work at this locality has been done under this project. All work on the improvement has consisted of dredging, and the project was completed in 1893 at a cost of $14,382.27. Expenditures since its completion have been applied to its maintenance. The available depth on June 30, 1918, was 5.5 feet at mean low water. The total expenditures to June 30, 1918, are as follows: For new work For maintenance__ Total $44,382. 27 46, 334. 43 90, 716. 70 12. Industries.-The following is a tabulated list of the various industries which are located on the waterways which would be benefited by any improvements: Name of firm. Mississippi Shipbuilding Corporation........ Branders Box Factory & Shipyard... Charles Smith. William Skinner. Foster Fountaine Co.. R. B. Dacey Lumber Co. Martin Fountaine, Sr C. B. Foster & Co... Biloxi Canning Co. (Inc.). Biloxi Canning & Fish Co.. Barataria Canning Co.. Devitt-Clarke Packing Co. Henry Krohn. Ott Bros. & McCaleb. Desporte Fish & Oyster Co.. Latimer Lawrence Packing Co. Dunbar Dukate Co... Geo. Terry & Son.... Jackson Naval Stores Co. J. H: Johnson.. Ocean Springs Packing Co. Gulfport Creosoting Co.. Any improvement affecting the channel into the Back Bay of Biloxi, would be of benefit to that portion of the interests concerned in the above statistics which are located on the shores or tributaries of Back Bay, and which do an annual business amounting to $254,800, or more than 50 per cent of the total commerce in value. 13. Resources.-The inhabitants of the entire area that might be affected by the proposed improvement are engaged principally in the manufacture of lumber and timber, naval stores, catching fish, oysters, and shrimp; farming, cresoting lumber and timber, and shipbuilding. A large amount of timber has been cut from this territory, and enough remains standing to last for several years. A portion of the cut-over land is turned into farms and the soil yields well, when highly fertilized. The principal crops, as reported in 1910, are as follows: These products would probably not be shipped to any extent by water if the proposed improvement was made. The entire country tributary to Back Bay is thinly settled but is capable of considerable development. According to the 1910 census, the population of the counties, land area, and value are as follows: According to the same census the population of the cities and towns located on the Back Bay of Biloxi and its tributaries, which are included in the counties above, are as follows: The total population of the cities and towns represents the larger portion of the population that would be affected by the proposed improvement. Since the last census was taken there has been some increase in population, except in the case of the last three towns, where the industries which supported the population no longer exist, and the people have moved elsewhere. 14. Commerce.-The following is the annual water-borne commerce for the calendar year 1917 for Biloxi Harbor, Miss., as furnished by shippers: The portion of the above commerce having its origin or destination on Back Bay amounts to 12,801 tons, valued at $254,800. 15. Boats engaged in commerce.-Statistics gathered for the calendar year 1917 show a total of 186 small vessels engaged in commerce at Biloxi. These vessels, with their tonnage, may be summarized as follows: The draft, loaded, of 135 of the above vessels for which data could be obtained is as follows: The majority of the vessels engaged in commerce can use the present channels with ordinary tides. The deeper-draft vessels, which handle cargo on barges, anchor in the deeper water and the barges are towed in by gasoline boats of lighter draft. By careful navigation and by waiting for high tide, most of the vessels could pass alongside the wharves or enter the deeper water in Back Bay without improvement. 16. Water power.-The development of water power would not enter into the improvement as the locality under consideration is tidal. 17. Land reclamation. This question is not worthy of much consideration, as the possibility of land reclamation is limited to the deposit of dredged material along the shore lines and on the marshy banks adjacent to the proposed improvement, which in most cases are owned by private parties. The cost of such a plan of land reclamation could only be accomplished at excessive cost, entirely out of proportion to the benefit to be obtained. 18. Local cooperation.-The city of Biloxi, Miss., has recently passed an ordinance for submission to voters of a bond issue of $30,000 for the purpose of dredging a channel through the Mud Flats of sufficient dimensions to enable large vessels to be built at shipyards along Back Bay and brought out to deep water. The opinion of interested parties is divided as to the location of that portion of the proposed improvement through the Mud Flats in Mississippi Sound, but parties doing the bulk of the business prefer an extension to the east of Deer Island of the present natural channel in Biloxi Bay, while others prefer a channel to the north of Deer Island connecting with the deep water along the south water front of the city of Biloxi. This latter channel would be more difficult to maintain. There would also be opposition to either route by the owners of oyster beds that would be damaged by dredging operations. Such owners would expect to be reimbursed for their losses and would have to be assured by the city that their claims for any damage incurred would be paid. Doubtless there are many voters engaged in industries not to be directly benefited by such an improvement who would be opposed to the bond issue. For these reasons it is very doubtful if the bond issue will be approved by the voters, and, if approved, that it would be judiciously expended. Judging from prevailing sentiment and general apathy that exists, it is believed that local cooperation need not be expected. 19. Improvement desired.-Parties who are connected with the commercial interests have been consulted concerning the proposed improvement, and, as stated above, a portion desire the improvement along the eastern end of Deer Island, while some prefer an extension of the present improvement west of Deer Island. Others desired some improvement, but showed no preference as to location. There is no agreement as to the width of the proposed channel, the opinions varying from 50 to 300 feet, with those showing a preference for a width of 200 feet predominating. There appears to be a lack of interest on the part of those who were consulted, and the spirit of the community generally was one of apathy. The resulting benefits from the improvement, according to claims of interested parties, are as follows: (a) The additional depth would give sufficient water to bring out ships now being built on Back Bay, without pulling them over the shoals of Mud Flats, and would also stimulate the shipbuilding industry and thereby give employment to a larger number of people. (b) It would permit the utilization of the natural advantages of Bayou Bernard by giving it a deep channel outlet to tidewater. This would act as a stimulus, and start new enterprises. |