The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-04-01
Of the Jeflersonian Democrat.
The Overflow.
STEAMER KATE FRIsBlE,

and absorbing interest was felt in tho great
inuudatons of the Mississippi and its trbu.
taries last year. Tho overflow of SO is
among tho chronccd events which had
much to do with tho financial interests of
large portion of country. Hundreds OF
plantations of unrivalied fertility, and sur
rounded with every improvement calculated
to facilitate their extensive cultivation, we're
ayod in waste by the raging flood, and as
its waters rolled back to their natural chan
mel a choerless waste covered with the wrecks
of demolished improvements, and the car
casses of animals once valuable, was all that
remained to mark the place so recently
adorned with every advantage and embe-
lishment of highly perfected system of ag-
ricuture. And unfortunate and disastrous
as tho consequences may bo this samo por.
ton of the very garden of our Republic, is
threatened and indeed already experiencing
a repetition of this great calamity
At Memphis the river has nearly reached
the highest mark upon record, but it is not
expected to go much bighor. At Napoleon,
Ark. tho water lacks but fifteen inches OF
its highest stage las. year. And but for a
loveo which entirely oncirclos the town it
would be overfowod to tho depth of three
feet. Tho town stands upon a low pcnnsu-
la Of land at the confluence of the Missis-
sippi and Arkansas Rivers, neither of which
is at present securely levoed. A cross
Inya b.,t a., s IL.
town being thoir only hope in the present
contingency. The overflow seoms not yot
to have become SO general as it was last
year, but that, or oven worse seems ineyita-
bic. Much has been done during last fall
and winter in rebuilding and eElargng
lovees, and some localities will doubtless be
protected, while in others tho nowly formed
ombankmonts are readily dissolved by the
ashIng waves Of this mighty river.
In coming down tho Arkansas upon a
steamboat yesterday, | could SEQ from tho
upper deck, farms that were entirely ovur.
flowed, with che stock belonging to them
standing upon scatfolds two or three feet
from tho ground, the fowls perched upon
the fences and stumps, while the families il
about tho premises at all had bctakon them.
solves to the" upper story" or to Il fiat boat
which they had moOrod near by. 1t ia hoped
that tho water will recude in time for cot
ton crop which should be planted during
tho last half Of the month of April But
the corn crop is now mostly panted.and
should bo up and considerable worked be-
| fore tho land can become dry again. Macy
of the planters have become deeply nvolv.
cd by tho losses of last year, having all their
supplies to buy which upon largo cotton
farm is matter of surprising magnitude
If prevented this year from making crop"
lands and negroes must DO largely sacrificed
to meet the demands of their creditors. And
it is not alone with this class that the loss is
felt. Its effects are as general and more
serious than those of q drouth in a stock
or grain raising country. Large numbers
of manufacturing establishments of the
northern cities situated upon any important
stream leading to tho Mississippi, are in the
habit of sending out every winter trading
bats laden with their "goods and waros,' -
which coast along down, until they sell out
and dispose of thor craft, and if they have
made it pay, return in the spring in fine
spirits. An extensive glass boat from the
manu.actury of Messrs. Pulkett g. Co., OF
Pittsburgh, with others laden with produce,
salt, lime, and agricultural implements, arc
now laying at Napoleon; but all complain
of dull times and but little trade The in.
| genulty and energy with which the subjects
of ovorAowing country grapple with its
difficulties is often amusing.
Walking down the levee at Napoleon this
morningl SAW negro loading into D." dug.
out, which is an institution" formed by
few rude mechanical efforts upon half OF
! large log, aud which whom completed might
in some Instances be recognized as belong.
| ing to the canoe species--a variety of the
conveniences belonging 10 domestic econo-
my, who raised his brimless hat at my ap.
proach,and IN answer to my inquiry, what
part are you loading for, Captain :" he said,
" Going to massa's plantation upon Cypress
! Creek ! which learned would be reached
by going down the river twenty-five miles
and up tho creek fifteen and that his mis-
tress and another lady were to be passen.
gers during tho voyage. BY the death OF
one incumbent and resignation of another,
vacancies have occurred in two of the coun-
ty Offices of Dosha county, Ark, aud spir-
tied electoneering canvass was going on
which we wero led to suppose must be great
iy impeded, if not entirely abandoned on
account of the overflow, but are informed
that each of the enterprsing asprants are
preparing themselves with A." dug. out" in
which to visit the "dear people" for tho
generous purpose of making them acquaint-
cd with the solicitudo they feel for their
we'll being and especial benefit.
Fortunate indeed may the "itineranl"
consider himself whose business duties 30 not
call him far from the steamboat landings,
for beyond this agreeable facility, travelling
in this country is now very difficult and
disuDrpeuhla