Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-27

The Robert Mltcnelli Oaplaln ePPoAi
is due down this evening en- route to
New Orleans.
The James D. Parker, Captain Bob
Wise, will arrive in port tomorrow
morning from Cincinnati and leave on
Saturday with return trip.
The Ella, Captain Milt Harry, will
arrive in port tomorrow from White
river and leave on Saturday with re-
turn trip for all points on White river.
Captain Nowland of the Fort Gibson,
is endeavoring to charter the little
steamer Benwood, which is of very light
draught, to tow the new lighter recently
built for him, in order to transport the
Memphis freight for Arkansas river
Captain Rowland wants to keep up the
Memphis trade in Arkansas river, and
we trust our merchants will aid him IN
his laudable enterprise If he is sue
cessful in chartering the Benwood he
will run her from the mouth OF the river
to New Gascony, in order to transfer the
local freights from Memphis, until there
is sufficient water in the river for the
Fort Gibson to make her regular trips
The pilots held preliminary meeting
last evening at Ed Cobb h Co.'S office
for the purpose of forming branch as
ISOLATION of the Pilots Association, now
fully organized at st. Louis. A letter
from Commodore Ed Montgomery, Sec
rotary of the St. Louis Association,
which was received by Captain VIM.
Hardwick, was read, inviting the Mem
phis pilots to organize branch asSocia'
ton. The meeting was called to order
Captain narman was selected as Chair
man, and Captain Cummings Secretary.
After much discussion the meeting adj
journed until fuller representation OF
pilots could be had.
Phil Howard, the celebrated steam
boat meat store dealer Of Cairo at pres
ent, but formerly of Memphis, is in the
city on visit to his friends. Phil is
we'll and savorably known in river cir
Giles. He is a jolly, good fellow, and
we wish him well and pleasant sojourn
while in the city.
The channel at Osceola bar is cutting
out and improving.
The city had better improve the wharf,
as movement is on foot with the steam
boatmen to employ good counsel and
enjoin the city from collecting wharfage
tax. The steamboatmen can prevent
the city from collecting the above tax
for several years, and at the same time
demand and prosecute the city for the
amount of money paid by them and used
for other purposes.
Captain Reese Pritchard of the Clarks-
vile, and Billy HARE of the Ella Hughes,
arrived in the city this morning from
Little Rock.
John Claycombe, Esq, of Little Rock,
and formerly of this city, has purchased
one-half Of the Ella Hughes from Capt.
DriDkwater. She will enter the Little
Rock and Pine Bluff trade, and leaves
Little Rock tomorrow with one hundred
tons of Pine Bluff freight which was
shipped from St. Louis by rail- Mem
phis merchants will have to be up and
doing or st. Louis and New Orleans
will get the entire Arkansas river trade
from them.
The City of Vicksburg is due en- route
to st. Louis.
The Landing Committee of our city
dads should take birds eye view of
the delapidated wharf before the meet
ing of the Board Saturday morning, and
legislate for the improvement of the
landing.
A Washington press dispatch, in not
ing the removal of the late Supervising
Inspector General of Steamboats,, says:
The Government has been unable to
fill the position with person thoroughly
competent to perform the duties. Mr..
Smith is the third failure since the office
was created" This statement affords
an instructive comment on the 'inspec-
ton system" The truth is, that Gov
eminent inspection is not only ohjec-
tionable but needless. Last year the
engineers association showed how it
could be used for Matchmaking, to which
should be added that inspectors COM
monty get their places, not from fitness,
but from success at intrigue. Opposing
lines of steamboats, are pretty certain
as matter concerning their own inter-
ests, to detect and expose each other
shortcomings, and the danger OF expo
sure is reasonably SIRE to prevent care
lessness. The press, too, can expose
any shortcomings on the part OF steam
boat owners, and would do so but for the
false confidence engendered by et1clal
certificates. Without official inspection
there would be another inspection, con,
slant instead of periodical, watchiul
instead of automatic; for personal
interests would create and maintain 1t.
STEAMBOATS,.