Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-13


the channel at Cincinnati, and 20 inches
In the chute over the falls 1t Louisville
Quite q number Of boats are aground
between Cairo and st. Louis.
The Dexter Is undergoing 3 complete
ovsrhauling ct st. Louis.
Business was very quiet on the levee
yesterday, and the rapid decline OF all
the rivers render the prospect anything
but hopeful for some time to come.
Owing to very low water in the Arkan-
saa river, the Mary Boyd has been with
drown. and the steamer Fort Smith leaves
Zm., positively.
The steamer Clarksville was st Cairo
asst night, and will reach Memphis Thurs
day.
The st. Louis RepESEieGn says: "We
have some facts connected with the pres
emit condition Of the Mississippi river
from here out to Cairo which may prove
of considerable interest to stesmboatmen.
Captain Ben johnson, who hss Just re-
turned, gives information that the snag-
boat Alert, pilot NeWhouse at the wheel,
has been doing an excellent work on Tur-
key Island, and has succeeded in removing
q series Of very dangerous snags. The
water at many points Is very shallow: the
bar at Greenleafs Is the worst. The water
Is no more than five feet at last report, and
the channel Is crooked and not very well
defined. Green6eld's is another very bad
locality for steamboatmen. There's enough
water at this point, but the channel is tor
tuous, the current very swift, and snsgs
are thick. The Alert has gone down to
operate for a while at this point. Lib
erty Island Is 8 far-famed locality, but
as yet this place has not been so bad
this season as it was last year; still,
caution is necessary to avoid accident.
At Able's Towhead, though there is
enough water, the current Is very rapid
and the channel crooked; great eau
ton is necessary to avoid trouble here.
At Powers Island there are some bad
breaks, hidden logs, and pilots have to
keep a good lookout in order to avoid
danger. The water is also quite thin at
this point. At Wizards Landing caution
is necessary. Quite g number Of ugly
distractions present themselves at his
place. There has also been a recent
change of channel at Twin Hollows.
DEVILS Island, though bearing g bad
name, is IN reality not so ugly a spot as
Greenield's, which, though p~oeticaI
enough as q word, is yet tar from being a
paradise for river pilots. There are some
bad places below Cairo, particulars of
which localities we will give at another
time. Major Chas. J. Allen, in charge of
Western river improvements in this dis
trict, which includes the Missouri from
Omaha to its outlet into the Mississippi,
and the last named river from Keokuk to
the mouth of the Arkansas, the White,
Arkansas and Ouschita rivers, furnished
Us some information yesterday concern
ing b present whereabouts and EMPLOY
ment of boats used in his district. The
b. Long was at Eureka bend a few
days ago on her way down, pulling up
snags and removing distractions Wher-
ever encountered. Her commander
has been instructed to make their
way into the Mississippi as soon
as practicable. The De Russey,
at latest advices, was near Kansas City,
removing some legs and other obstruct-
tons. Her officers are also under orders
to work their way down as soon as may
be, and enter the Mississippi. The Thsy-
or, az latest intelligence, was at Nebraska
City, working her way up toward Omaha,
pulling snsgs and removing distinctions,
and Will also come down IS sOon as she
has accomplished her mission in that
direction. The Octavia has been exclu-
siyely engaged in scraping the bars be-
tween Keokuk and Cairo. She has se-
complished good results, according to the
testimony Of steambOatmen, on the upper
Mississippi river. She went below this
port isst week, q is now at work on the
bars between here and Cairo. Capt. Wolf,
with b J. ]. Albert, has recently been
engaged In removing dangerous obstruc-
lions at Turkey Island. Steamboatmen
speak In b highest terms Of the efficient
manner In which the boat is operated.
The Albert viii proceed on her way to
Cairo, demolishing the most dangerous
distractions as she proceeds"