Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-12
Rr.opExrNe TIL GREAT HIGHWAY.

GRANT.
REOPEEING TIL GREAT HIGHWAY.
There are few who do not remember,
when the Mississippi was the great high
vsy of ths West and Southwest, how
many pleasant reunions were enjoyed in
the saloons of our ~palatisl stesmers-hoW
bridal parties made their first essays In
the voyage Of life-how they giided over
the tut bid waves, not permitting them
selves TO dream of the peril that T
rounded them, in the t~rescherous waters,
the explosive steam, the combustiOle
cargo and the recklessnsss OF pilots a
engineers. Those were halcyon days
before the routes of railroad travel
were established. The traveller (barring
~accidents) could take passage upon any
Of the magnificent steamers that piled
between Memphis and New Orleans, and
quietly enjoy all the comforts aud luxu'
ries Of a first class hotel, at little more
cost than his hotel fare during the time
that he was making the trip. he lost
no sleep, suffered no discomforts or ex-
posure, and wss scarcely conscious Of the
hours that had elapsed between his de-
psrture from the Bluff City and his ar
rival in the Crescent. For various res
sons, these reslly magnificent arrange
ments of travel, which we're incompars-
bly, superior 10 anything which modern
steam has supplied, If the journey could
be performed with the same speed and
safety, have gradually been abandoned.
Our river steamers sTe no longer crowded
with festive parties, with youth and
beauty, Plucking pleasure from the bril-
liant and enlivening incidents Of the
voyage, and listening to the fond whis-
pers Of future happiness which seemed
to swell with the wave, grow brighter
with its silvery sparkle asd catch inspi-
ration from the orange blossom which
greeted the eye and spread its fragrance
on the air, for tbs gay jewellers on the
decks Of the floating palaces. The speed
Of these packets was distaDced by the
railroad car. And the conviction has
fastened upon the public mind that death
or m~utIlstion were much more prObable
on the river, thar on the land. But
would it not be q blessed contamination
to restore these comforts OF travel snd
TO reopen this almost disussd highway,
which crowned our then youthful city,
as the queen Of the upper section Of the
lower Mississippi? II we could insure
both speed and safety to this mode Of
travel and again witness the social re-
unions, the brilliant sssemblages and the
splendid accommodations which once
rendered life in the saloons OF cur first
class packets +" sjoy forever" would net
our city again resume its onward march,
its important position and its iourishing
river trade?
1t is to bring about this desirable re-
sult that Can't. d. DEHAvEN is nOW Civ
ing his ~unquenchable energies to further
ing his well mstured plans for construct
ing a line Of river steamers, with low
pressure engines-hulls constructed 30
as to combine the strength Of the Howe
truss bridge with the compact compsrt-
ments Of the Great Eastern, and a series OF
cabin ssloons which shall blend oriental
magni6eence with the comfort and quiet
OF q well ordered home. The loW-press-
ure engine will unite speed with safety,
carrying one-hah the weight of steam,
and increasing the power so SIS to halve
the distance betEesn distant points. It
is the fate Of all great enterprises, pro-
jectea for the progress OF mankind, to
struggle through opposition and neglect.
Steam locomotio1, the most potent mo-
tor Of modern times, had more than a
century Of struggle and opposition. The
electric telegraph, the wonder Of our
century, wsvered through many a co.,
test and vicissitude before it was permit
ted to fash intelligence around the
world, in advance of time. There is no
enterprise or invention which hiss blessed
mankind, that has not had its bAttIes,
its defeats and it's victories The benef-
cent one Of DRHAvEN is no exception.
This h~igh-hearted, clear-headed and gall
liant gentleman has ~persevered, amid re-
Bluffs and diseouragements, until lac he's
almost reached the goal OF his hopes and
aspirations. But q little more material
aid Is required, and his books are We,
open in u city for subscription TO this
truly great and noble enterprise. They
are In the hands OF Col. F. Y. RocKRrT
who is pushing his part Of the scheme
with the energy and pluck Of a pegs-
paper man. He proposes to receive sub
scriptions in land from those who have
more than they can work and nav ths
taxes on. This feature in the plsns NJ
the Mississippi Navigation COMPANY
will work TO the mutual advantage Of
landowners and the Company. They
can obtain loans upon the land, while
.Ae landowner will receive stock which
We truly believe will be q paying invest
ment. In addition to this, the Company
contemplate, when they get their line
into operation, inducing emigrants to
settle up these lands. II is obviops that
they will have an advantage over ordi.
nary land companies, In that thew will
possess the means Of safely and econom-
icsliy transporting e~migrsnts to their
newly-purehased homes. The scbsn,a
shows practical sense, wisdom and iadg.
ment, and Is conducted by men who
4" know no such word as fall" in their
vocabulary.
We hope to see the gallant and genial
DEHAvEE, who has p~Fojected and ma.