The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-24
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

o. steamer, WIN. Noble, under date Of the
Sd inn.:--
"The al absorbing topic, Cholera, in New Or
leans has nearly died away. II is now however
very fatal among the negroes at some places
along the coasts.
"The water is at last subsding and Is now
within its banks above the Arkansas. Immense
damage has been done 10 the whole country be-
low Cairo, by the unusual and protracted high
water this season.
"on our last trip up, at some places above
Memphis the river was upwards Of 100 miles
wide, extending over bottoms aud swamps to the
highlands on either side.
"The Levee has been broken in great many
places on the coast resulting in great lossesto the
sugar planters, as their crop 10 thus destroyed
mostly for two years. Although il will in the
end be an advantage, as they will now feel the
necessity Of improving their levees which are
mostly insufficient to resist the pressure Of 20
great body Of water.
ssSome boats have been compelled TO carry
their freight for the coast 10 the city, SO insecure
have the planters Eel, that they would net allow
boats TO land on their Levee for fear Of breaking
ii.
"At one place we stopped on the coast to take
sugar, ii lay not SO feet from the boat. yet l2
feet below the level OF the river. The planters
whole crop, amounting 10 $4,000 or 10000
was prevented from inunda,ion and entire loss by
only slight false Levee built on top Of the old
one, consisting Of plank on edge supported by
stakes driven in to the ground, covered with a
little loose dirt 10 stop the cracks.
"Where crevasse takes place the water rush.
es through with the velocity Of mill race, car
rying all before il. II runs back TO the swamps
and mandates first the back part Of the planta-
tions. The roar OF The water at some Of the cre-
vases on still night can be heard for miles
Large sums have been expended in efforts 10 stop
some OF them. In some cases they have been
successful and in others their efforts have been
fruiiless, anil the water has been allowed 10 take
its course. One plantation on the coast has ex-
pended $40 900 in alew days on crevasse which
was still open on our way up.
"But the river is now on the decline and there
will probably be 10 more crevasses. The river
has been al its highest stage for four months.
call the lower country was settled and levced
fifty or hundred years too early. Had the lands
not been leveed and the river been allowed TO
flow over them every year, il would have left a
deposit which would have raised them to level
with the river and rendered levecs useless.
"Al,hough not 10 beautiful as when il is low
er, it is great and grand sight to see the noble
father Of waters-full Of grandeur at all times,
but now doubly so-swelling with is greatness,
struggling for its freedom; sometimes gaming il,
ut other times brimful, and tot,ling on lis edges
as IL the merest commotion would set il free.
"rhe weather this trip has been very cool,
much cooler than when we left Cincinnati. Fires
were comfortable in N. o. so are they now.
"Cholera, highwa,er, and depression Of prices
Of produce and cotton in Europe, all combined.
have rendered this the dullest season experienced
for long time. Steam boats are among the
principal sufferers. Most Of them are laying up.
Unless we find prospects better when we get up,
we shall also do So"
We tskc the following extract from a
letter addressed our co-publishcr, BY Mr..
G. Fory, who started from this place for
California. The letter is dated, Encnmp-
ment, 7 miles west Of ST. Joscphs, MAY 3D.
1--WE all hive had severe colds, but are getting
better. We think we have taken the best route
for st. JOS. We found plenty OF feed for cattle;
had 10 ray from 20 TO 40 cts. b"shel for corn,
and IS cts hundred for hay, which was scarce,
and 20 cts. per dozen Tor sheaf Oats. We passed
through several towns, such a. Paris, Clinton,
Huntsville, KeatsviIle. Kingston and 81. Josephs,
which Is about $50 miles from Hannibal. st.
10, bids fair to be great town; seven years ago
there was bit one trading house, in il, and now
il is about two.thirds the size Of Davenport, and
improving rapidly. think that never was in
q place oil its size, whore there was so much bu-
siness done a. here at present. Such a rush,
teams and encampments in every direction. !
made inquiry as 10 the number Of teams that had
crossed the Jerry, and was told about fifteen hum
bred, and no doubt there will be Is many more,
and they say il will not compare with Indepen-
dence which j. 60 miles below this, and Council
Bluffs, about 100 above. We don't have much
music yet, excepting among The mules, they keep
up . general concert. Our oxen are all well,
and IN good order for the journey. Grassis very
short yet; We shall soon have to depend on It.
We have not yet organized, but expect to one
hundred miles out. Oxen are preferable to mules,
they could readily be exchanged. We are now
encanped in thick, heavily timbered country"
FINE AsPARAGUs.--We received bunch
Of Asparagus the present week from the
garden Of Mr.. N. Macklot, Of this place,