Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-17
,ATs LEAVING TO-DAY.
I. J. BRowS, Observer

Amount OF a
Rain fall in last "a hours (inches)........ O.0s
state OF CLOUDY
I. j. Brown. Observer.
RIVER, BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS.
| The river rose fourteen inches during the
twenty-four hours ending at noon day, and
is now eight feet ten inches below high water
mark of 1867. At Cairo yesterday the river
was stationary. At St. Louis it is falling six
inches per day, and declining at all points
above-the decline will, however. BIO checked
by the rise now coming down the Missouri.
The Ohio is falling rapidly at Louisville and
all points above. and is about stationary at
Evansville, tho heavy rise having passed the
last named point. White river is falling.
The Arkansas fell FIVE inches last night. and
is slowly declining to-day. The weather is
cloudy and close. and business dull.
The I. II. Allen is the regular mail steamer
for White river on Saturday.
| The Pat Cleburne goes out on Friday with
the United States mail for all points on the
Arkansas.
The swift and commodious Dexter will pass
down tomorrow evening for New Orleans and
the bends.
Billy Dill says If the Cincinnati papers
don't stop talking about that dog he sent Nc
Clelland he will express a letter to the river
editor Of each paper in the city.
The popular Sam J. Hale. Captain Miller in
command, will get away at five o'clock this
evening for Cairo. Louisville and Cincinnati.
Captain Miller. her able and agreeable mas
ter. is a popular and highly esteemed officer.
and Mr.. Spencer, clerk, is always on the
alert to make the trip agreeable to passengers.
The gay steamer Phil Allin. Capt. James
Lee. will depart at five pm. to-day for Hell
ena, Friar's Point and all way landings.
Stacker Lee is clerk.
The recent fire at the Vicksburg levee gave
the tug Of Bigley Brothers considerable work.
She pulled out in the river several aatboats
from the reach Of the flames and rendered
other assistance.
The papers Of country towns along the Ohio
are up in arms against the Wharfage taxes.
One of them published at a village called
Evansville has the following:
.Steamboatmen are beginning to growl again
| about the rate of wharfage collected at this
city. Before the late election it was promised
that If the city elected a Republican Council
a great reduction would be made, but they
1.-THE boatmenl. now complain that ne step to-
obtained for the Radical ticket by such prom
Uses, made by irresponsible parties, and nc
such reduction was ever intended. however
much the ends of justice might demand it.
An important decision was recently rem
dered by the United States Supreme Court. in
reference to the Jurisdiction which State can
exercise over rivers flowing through its limits.
The Court held that river is navigable
water of the United States. when by itself or
| in connection with other waters it forms a
continuous highway, over which commerce is
or may be carried on with other States, or
with foreign countries, in the customary
modes in which such commerce is conducted
by water. If river is not of itself a highway
by its connection with other waters, and is
only navigabIe between different places within
the State, then the court holds that it is not a
navigable river Of the United States. but only
a navigable water of the State. If the United
States Court decides that States cannot con-
troll the river highways, what right has a city
corporation to tax river commerce?
The Potomac passed up this morning with a
good trip for the Ohio.
The Arkansas passed up this morning on
her way to st. Louis.
On Monday night deck passenger named
Donnelly, fell overheard from the steamer
Arkansas between Ozark Island and Bolivar.
and drowned before assistance could reach
him. lie leaves wife and three children in
New Orleans. Is.
The Columbia leaves Little Rock to-day for
st. Louis.
Collision Between the Potomac
and st. Francis Last Night.-From
pilet James Pell. of the Potomac. we learn
that his steamer and the ST. Francis collided
last night at tho upper part Of Clark's tow
head. come fifty miles below here. but fortu-
nately no serious damage was sustained by
either. Tho Potomac was coming up, and
when within one hundred yards of the Ar
kansas shore blew her whistle twice, when
the st. Francis answered by blowing one
whistle once. and headed for the shore. cross
ing the bow of the Potomac, when the two
boats came together. the Potomac striking the
| st. Francis just forward Of her wheel, tearing
away portion Of her wheelhouso, but doing
no other damage other than losing her own
jackstaff. Captain Bowman. of the st. Fran
els, halIoed to the officers of the Potomac to
go ahead. as his boat was not seriously in
jured.
The M. j. Wicks has 300 bars Of railroad
iron and 1904 boxes Of sugar.
| An Evansville telegram Of the 18th says
1.-The stockholders of the Evansville and
| Cairo Packet Company to-day reelected the
old Board Of Directors. with the exception Of
Peter Semonin in place Of Captain Gus
Lemcke. The Directors elected John Gilbert
President, Mat Henning Secretary. Gus Fow-
Ter Superintendent. and Gus Lemcke Treas
urer."
The wharfage taxes at Louisville are TO be
reduced. and will perhaps be entirely abolish
ed. Thus. one by one, the different cities
along the water courses are doing their utmost
to increase river commerce, by making ex-
pense to steamboats, as light as possible.
Memphis, however, don't see il in that light.
Memphis wants the steambOatmen's money
to pave the street, TO help support the Fire
Department. to pay the salaries Of its officers.
and lastly. to vote for the construction Of rail
ways. Did Memphis ever vote dollar to aid
| in the construction Of steamboat? Take the
trade brought here by the Arkansas and White
River Packet Companies and our other local
packets away. and where would Memphis be9
Echo answers, where?
The Helena Clarion Of yesterday says;
The river at this point has risen some
! eighteen inches during the past forty-eight
hours, and. is now about thirteen feet ten
/ inches below high water mark, and is twenty
| eight feet above low water mark, and ten ieet
/ below the highest point this spring. and has
risen about ten feet since the last rise com
menced.
General Superintendent Livermore, Of the
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad, telegraphs
| the Memphis and ST. Louis Packet Company
| that everythingon their line Il working hnolyS
and that the freight which lett here BY ne
| steamer CITY OF VicksburE was delivered in
consirnee's stores in Little Rock yesterday
Monday morning. the same having reached