The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-05-04
A CURIOUS PHENOMENON.
rdE CAvING IN OF THE MISSISSIPPI BANKS
AND WHY IT Is ALL ON ONE SIDE
IFrom the Memphis Appeal

From the Memphis Appeal
The caving in. of all the bluffs on the
eastern side Of the Mississippi, from Cairo
to New Orleans, has led to curious con-
clusions. II is said that the motion of
the earth on its axis, or some result of
some general law of nature, must have
begotten this uniform and constant abra-
sion of the eastern shore of the river.
Fort Pillow has wholly disappeared.
There is not vistage of the earthworks
erected by Gen. Pillow and others at
Randolph. The river has cut cavernous
depths for its strong currents beneath the
everlasting hills, and these have slowly
crumbled and fallen, grain of sand at a
time, into the abyss of the mighty deep.
Now and then hillsides have disappeared
in single night, and curiously enough,
this work of desolation goes on mainly
upon the eastern side of the river. Here
at Memphis, as at Vicksburg, Columbus
Fort Pillow and Randolph, the resistless
fathomless river, whose course none may
anticipate and none can resist, pursues
its appointed tasks with force and per-
tinacity which has lessened property val
ues between Wolf river and Fort Picker
ing many millions of dollars. Great as is
the damage already done by the mighty
river, the calamity begotten is steadily
progressive, and none can tell when de-
Election of the willful current may relieve
the anxieties of those owning property
along the river shore between the navy
yard and Fort Pickering The city once
imagined that in the navy yard it had
basis of credit to be used in the per-
fection of its railway system. The Little
Rock railrord at one time was strength
ened in its resources by mortgage on
the navy yard. This mortgage subsists,
but the property has been disposed of by
a power against which chancery may is
sue its thunders in vain. Plainly enough
while the river holds its present course,
there is no assignable limitation to its
destructiveness 1t is generally conceed-
ed that the direction of the current can
not be changed or its forces restrained
by any local obstructions. Several miles
above the city, where the current turns
westwardly, it shall be directed into its
old channel within the confines of Ten
nessee. But who shall essay the tasks
No individual property-holder, directed
will attempt it. and it seems
to effect any combination
among riparian proprietors Those inter
ested, lazily look to the city for relief, and
the city answers that there is space enough
for several cities between the river and
Germantown, and that it is none of the
business of those unaffected by the food
to pay for or ameliorate the misfortunes
Of those who speculated on these very
chances when they sought lots fronting
on the river. If this were true, the whole
Of the Mississippi should be taxed to re-
place the losses Of those whose river plan
tatiens have recently disappeared beneath
The food Of the great river. Would it
not be well for those slowly ruined by |
The abrasions of the bluff, and of the |
eastern shore to hold meeting? Amall |
sum levied on each owner of property
fronting the river would probably save
millions of money. The plan proposed
Is very simple and costs little, and con-
sists only in diverting the current by
divices long used by British engineers in |
India and Europe. Shall we have such
, meeting? or are these sluggish people |
content to sit quietly by and see the last
Vistage Of their wealth, from the navy
yard to Fort Pickering, swept into the |
Mexican Gulf? |