The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-03
gaitp Argus,
Curious facts About the River
Memphis Being Undermined.
From the Memphis Appeal


The caying in of all the bluffs ON the
eastern side OF the Mississippi from Cairo to
New Orleans has led TO curious conclusions.
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 abrasion of the eastern shore of the
river. Fort Pillow has wholly disappeared.
There is mos vestige of the earthvor
erected by Gen. Pillow, and others, at Ran
dolph. The river has cut eavernous depths
for its strong currents beneath the everlsst-
ing hills, and these have slowly crumbled
and fallen, grain of sand at time, into
the abysses OF the mighty deep. Now and
then hill sides 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 ct
VIcksburg, Columbus, Fort Pillow and Ran
dolph, the resistless, fathomless river,
whose course none may anticipate find
none can resist, pursues its Sp
pointed tasks with force and per-
tinacity which has lessened property values
between Wolf river and Fort Pickering
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 what detection of the
wilful current may relieve the snxieties of
those owning property along the river shore
between the navy yard and Fort Pickering.
The city once imagined that in the navy
ward il had a basis Of credit to be used in
the perfection Of its railway system. The
Little Rock road OF one time was siren 9Th
eued in it's resources by g mortgage on the
navy yard The mortgage subsists, but the
property has been disposed of by power
against which chsncery may issue its thun-
ders in vain. Plainly enough, while the
river holds its present course, there is no
assignsble limitation TO. it's destruotiveuess.
II 10 also generally conceded that the direc--
ton of the current cannot be changed or its
force restrained by any local distractions.
Several miles above the city, where the cur
rent turns wesswsrdly, it should be directed
into its old channel within the confines OF
Tennessee. But who shall essay the task
No one individual property holder, directly
interested, will attempt it, and it seems i'm
possible to effect any combination among
riparian propTietors. Those interested lsz-
lily look to the city for relief, and the city
answers that there is space enough for sew
srsl cities between the river and German
town, and that it Ia none of the business o.
those unaffected by the food to pay for OF
smeliorste the misfortunes Of those who
speculsted on those very chances when they
sought lots fronting on the river. If THU
were not true, the whole of Mississippi
should be taxed to replace the losses o.
those whose river plantations have recently
disappeared beneath the food of the grea
river. Wo1ld it not be we'll for those SLOWLY
ruined by the sbrasions of the bluff, and o
the eastern shore to hold a meeting. A
small sum levied on each owner of property
fronting the river would probably save mil
lions of money. The plan proposed is very
simple and costs little, and consists only il
diverting the current BY devices long useG
by British engineers in India and Europe
Shall We have such g meeting? or are those
sluggish people contentto sit quietly by ant
zee the last vestige of their wealth, from tbs
navy yard to Fort Pickering, swept into tht
Mexican gulf2