The Van Buren press., 1866-02-24
RIVER NEWS.

The River rose in the first part of the week
some three feet, and is now slowly receding
with sufficient water on the bar for all boats
drawing three feet. Weather cloudy and in
dicating rain or snow.
The Argos. arrived from Little Rock on Sat-
urday last and returned on Sunday evening.
Several of our citizens left on her for Mem
phis, New Orleans and the East.
The splendid low water steamer. j. s. Hall
arrived on Monday morning and left for Lit
tie Rock the same evening.
The Allena Mayleft for points below on Sun
day evening last.
The american arrived Wednesday, from
Little Rock. and departed for Fort Gibson
on Thursday. The American has had her
boilers replaced. and is in first rate condition.
Capt. Lot BROwN has charge in her office.
We find the following description of Messrs.
Mepham's new Arkansas River boat. which
left st. Louis, for Van Buren, aryi Fort Smith,
on the 9th inst, in the St. Louis Press of the
4th:
The LAST CHANCE-THE GAYEsT STEAMER
AFLOAT.-I esterday afternoon we paid visit
to the above named steamer, and previous to
seeing her had indulged in expectations of
some magnitude relative to her appearance,
but confess that upon going aboard, our pre-
viously entertained ideas vanished like mist,
and gave wav to undivided admiration. In
undertaking to pen description of her, we
confess to feeling lack of ability, and want
to have all who read this visit the boat for
themselves and gain perceptions of her beau
ty and worth such as can only be received by
close personal examination.
1t may be well here to say that the MeSsrs.
Mepham, Immediately upon the opening of
the rivers In Arkansas. after the war, under
took to establish business connections with
Arkansas $50 long br0kcn) by the introduc-
ton of their boats in the White and Arkansas
rivers: and any one at all cogniZant with the
success their steamers have enjoyed can well
see how great need of praise is due them
for their efforts in this direction. We venture
to assert that they have exceeded all others in
the amount of labor they have expended to
dcvelope and bring to st. Louis the valuable
trade of Arkansas.
On going aboard we first examined the hull
and found it to be built in the very best style
and showing, at glance a superior Workman
ship. 1t was built by Mr.. Alfred Culling. al
Metropolitan. Illinois, and is marvel O
strength and lightness. The dimensions are
as follows: Length, l42 feet; breadth of bean
30 feet inches; depth, 3 feet inches.
The engines are l3 inches in diameter, fee
stroke furnishing above decks power to carry
her along at good rate of speed. The boil
ers are two in number. 20 feet long and 30 in
ches in diameter, with five tlues each. and ar'
set up in good shape with a tidy appearance
\ first class nigger engine for the capstan
and good apparatus for sparring. if such
thing should become necessary. The whee
is well made IA feet inches in diameter ant
brackets 10 feet long and IL inches WIDE
The cabin contains twenty-eight good sizeC
rooms, well-titted up, with good bedding ant
conveniences, and upon the panel ofeach doc
is Il painting hard to describe, hut sufficient,
well understood when seen. These painting
are feature, and cannot fail to please all be
holders.
Capt. Barney Begley, and Mr.. John BirC
with his good-looking countenance. attractiv
manners and intelligent mode of doing busi
ness generally, will wait on you in the of
flee.
The Last Chance is now ready for business
has already engaged every state-room i'm tn
cabin, and full load of freight, and will leav
for her future trade about the middle of tn
week. We only regret that she is not to pa
us occasional visits. But we are trusting t
NJ. 5. Mepham q Bros enterprise to furnis
more of the same kind hereafter From Lit
| tie Rock to Van Buren and Fort Smith, wit
occasional trips to Fort Gibson, will be the run
ming ground of this fine boat.