Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-05-14

THURSDAY, May Is.

/ ANiI ' AIS.
CANADA, Ward, ST. Paul.
FIRE CANOE Martin, "
TlsHoMlae", Reach, Montrose.
! ESyor, Rowe, ST. Paul.
/ W. H. DESNY, Alfred. st. Louis.
| FANNY HAIRS, Webb, Calena
BKS CAMrBEiL Myers, Montrose.
+, DEPARTURES.
KATE CassEL, Grey, Dubuque.
! FIRE CANOE. Martin, St. Paul.
| TuHoMNGo, Reach, Montrose.
The river is rapidly receding at this point
with good stage Of water on the rapids
above and below.
The arrivals Of yesterday all came in
quite light, finding no freight above.
The Zen Campbell is the packet up for
Montrose this morning. Capt Meyers is one
Of our best. and most popular masters and
will be sure to give satisfaction to all who
take passage with him.
The Fanny Harris is the Galena packet
She will leave at o'clock precisely. Capt.
Webb is in command, which is sufficient
guarantee that the trip will be pleasant.
The terrific gale yesterday afternoon,
caught the W. II. Denny at the ways and
came very near sinking her Her cabin was
moved several inches to one side.
The Ferry boat was blown down below
the point into the marsh.
From the New Orleans Picsyune, 9Th
THE MIsslssIrrI The river has now reach
e1 height which is equal to. if it does not
exceed any recorded rise. Yesterday, the
waters still rose, and there is prospect that
several days will pass before the highest
pointsoi the season shall have been attained.
1t i. little singular. adopting the theory
that outlets are protection to the lower
delta ofthe Mississippi, that notwithstand
ing the immense amount OF water poured
out of its bed by the numerous crevasses
which are inundating the country in many
places between THIS city and Memphis, that
we still received steady increase Of height
in the river at this point fully equal to the
ratio that has usually been maintained un-
der other circumstances, between the rise
here and ut the former place. Difficult al
so Is it to reconcile the fact of the river
overrunnng its banks two hundred and ff
ty yards below the Bell crevasse. when that
outlet should have dim inishod its height
below that point; or. that We have seen
over the Levee in front of this city and OF
Jefferson, at more than twenty different
places. True, the wind and tide, on Mon
day, combined to swell the height Of water
here, and aided in producing a condition of
THINGS that called for hundreds of laborers
at exposed points, even within the city linn
its. until near the midnight hour. 1t is well
to note these difficulties now, though they
do not have sufficient weight to influence
opinion, for true theory of the laws
of the river can only he obtained by a
careful record of every known fact,
Yesterday the appearance Of the river
along the city front was not so threatening
as it was the previous evening, though in
reality the water was higher than any
point it had before reached unaided by
forces which retarded the regular flow Of
the current.
The authorities, watchful rs it became
them to be when disaster might possibly
occur from negligence, despatched force
under the Surveyor to examine the entire
line of the levee between this city and Car
rollton, prepared to work wherever aid was
needed Just above that place the levee
was thought to he in danger The immense
pressure of the accumulated waters and the
dashing of the waves upon this important
point had weakened the barrier erected for
our protection, and labor has been particu
larly directed to this point The weak
spots have been strengthened SO as to add
to our security, and the whole line of levee
is now under close surveillance. The prompt
action of the authorities, even if actual dan
ger had not been anticipated, was praise
worthy.
On the river front q steady current six
inches higher than now exists can be dis
charged without damage by overflow nor
do we anticipate that any danger really ex-
lists, with the vigilance and promptness
which mark the officers Of the city. There
was no discharge Of water yesterday over
the levee, except near Felicity Road, and We
can again enjoy the subimity of the scene
without apprehension.
From the Memphis Eagle, eth.
The river, by accurate measurement at
three different places, shows total decline
Of IA inches. The decline up to Wednesday
evening at o'clock was six inches, and
from that time to 6 o'clock yesterday the
decline was inches, making IA inches alto
gether.