Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-18

lncnes anu tne river is gradually ascend
ing the banks at the rate Of 5 inches per
day, the water being now ls feet inches
above the lowest mark of the season.
Reports from the upper Ohio are hatter-
ing, and indicate good stage of water,
while the upper Mississippi is without
change. The Missouri is rising slowly
and considerable rise is reported in
some of its tributaries. The following
are the changes reported; At Cairo the
river rose inches, Cincinnati 5 inches,
Leavenworth inches, Omaha inches,
Pittsburg 9 inches, Vicksburg 2 inches.
The decline at Louisville was 3 inches,
at st. Louis 3 inches, Nashville inches
and at New Orleans, st. Paul, Shreve-
port and Keokuk the water is reported
stationary. There are no immediate
prospects Of a food from above, but
planters along the river below will do
well by providing for it in time, as when
it does come it is expected that the water
will be higher than for twenty years.
The weather to-day is cool and clear.
PORT NEWS.
The departing steamers on Saturday
evening had good trips. Yesterday
business at the landing was active, with
twelve arrivals and seven departures
.........The Shannon eand Merrill did
nothing here, passing up with moderate
rrips......,..The Great Republic and
Shreve went down loaded deep, followed
by the Kate Kinney and City of Vieks-
burg, also heavily laden. .......The r.
C. Gray came in from the Arkansas with
32l bales of cotton for this point and
3OOfor above. She also got 200 bales
here, and left late at night The Ran
kin brought cargo Of produce from the
Ohio and the John 0verton, from New
Madrid, was well laden........The Bis
m2fck passed down late without land
ing. 1.-THE A. j. White brought in
to-day, l44 bales Of cotton and 299 sacks
Of seed .........The Legal Tender came in
with l5l bales of cotton, and sundries to
order........The Potomac passed up
early this morning, after putting off here
Is barrels Of molasses.........The Bis
marck and City of Alton passed down
without landing Belle Mem.
phis, from ST. Louis, came in with
good trip Of grain and produce.........The
John 0verton, from above, arrived with
a large cargo of cotton and grain.........
The Rankin left at noon with a moderate
cargo.
MISCELLANEOUS.
We devote much of our space to-day
to the speech of Hon. Ed. Gray, of Mis-
souri,, before the Legislature Of that
State, advocating the abolition of the
tax upon steamboats,. 1t is an
able effort, and reflects great credit upon
Mr.. Gray, whose endeavors in behalf of
The Western marine are untiring. We
publish the speech in order that the
river fraternity and our city authorities
may see what is being done at other
points, and fully indorse the ideas of
Mr.. Gray. Our readers will remember
that the LEDGER was the first journal in
his city that advocated the reduction of
he wharfage tax, and succeeded ulti-
nately, with the assistance Of the other
papers, in getting it reduced. Now we
ask that it be abolished altogether, and
will from time to time give our reasons
Tor so doing. The speech will be found
On our first page.
We are very sorry to learn that our
Did friend, Marsh Miller, pilot of the A.
J. White, is lying very i'll at his resid-
snce on Washington street, and hope he
may soon recover.
The Illinois is open to Peoria. A boat
from that point reached St. Louis last
night.
A four-foot rise is reported at Evans
vile.
The Emma Elliott passed Louisville,
yesterday, for this city.
The Legal Tender goes out tomorrow
for White river.
A miniature war between from 200 to
300 negroes on one side, and one poor
iarky on the other, took place at Presi-
dents Island, below the city, yesterday.
The latter barricaded himself, and be-
fore surrendering, killed one aud
four Of his assailants.
The Tom Reese and barges passed
down yesterday.
The rudders Of the ferryboat Excelsior
we're smashed and the ferry dock injured
yesterday by the Great Republic, which
swung against them heavily in making
The landing.
Hon. Ed. Gray, whose speech We pub
fish in full to-day, was formerly pilot
on the City of Chester and other
steamers, and is we'll known here.
Hereafter the days Of the departure OF