Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-01
THE RIVER.
Freaks of the FIOod-PFedietiO as and
Theories Advice 40 Farmers
Along the afssissIDpI and
Tributaries.

Big Muddy and the freaks of the tides
are subjects of most concern, and con-
tinually occupy the minds Of the deni-
zens OF the Mississippi valley, especially
those localities subject to overflow be-
fore the great inland sea has reached its
highest ebb. And 10 Memphis it is Of
more concern just now than to any other
commercial mart along the entire Length
OF the Mississippi or its tributaries. The
APPEAL has given daily a f4ithful
chronicle Of the doings Of the rivers
above here, and as near rs could be as
ceTtainet, with the means at hand, its
results in the rise and fall Of the tide;
and we have held firmly to the belief
that there would occur no very disas-
trSUs overflow at this season of the year,
but at the same time we have cautioned
the planters to be on their guard; leave
nothing undOne that would serve to
avert as much as possible such q catas'
trophe. Although there are many who
claim the wisdom and intelligence to
f0re-know and fore-tell what the Missis-
sippi will do, we have yet to find sim
gle instance where the predictions and
opinions Of such people have been
been realized. We may base an
opinion upon what has occurred dur
ing previous rises, and find the result
just opposite to what transpired st that
time. Just so with the three or more
feet fall which has been chrOnicled at
Cairo during the past week: We find
that here We have not yet noted a
decline of a single inch, though for sew
eTal days the water was stationary, and
Friday rose one inch-it is i'm possible
to tell what result will accrue from GER
tain causes based upon previous actions
under apparently similar circumstances.
Everybody has a theory OF his own
concerning the present unprecedented
rise, and taken together, are as dissimi-
lar as it is possible for opinions on the
same subject to be. In such case it is
impossible to give q correct idea. The
signal service observers are keeping a
close watch upon the storm.clOuds,
measuring accurately the amount OF
rainfall at each station, the movements
of the winds and course of the storms,
and upon their reports we rely for infor-
nation upon which we can form an idea
of what is in store for US. From these
reports the conclusion is arrived at that
the rises at the headwaters have been,
with sufficient intervals intervening be-
tween each as to allow one in man.
ner to exhaust itself before the next one
comes on I'VE aIlude to its influence
on the Mississippi), so that they APP
pear as huge waves going out with
the current, one following the other,
and by the time the force Of the first
is come and gone, the next follows, and
so on-keeping the tide within certain
limits, not raising the water-line above
the altitude already reached, and check
ing whatever decline that may occur in
the intervals. The weather observer
says we are to have more rain-mOre of
the same weather that has prevailed the
past six or eight weeks, so that these
waves may continue to hold the Missis.
sippi at its present stage for some time
to come, and the planters and their mer-
chants will be held in a correspond
ing degree Of suspense; but we
believe we are safe in say
ing that the river viii not rise more
Than four Or five inches higher than it is
at present, which will do but very little
more damage than has already occurred,
which we are glad to state will be COM
paTatively small in the aggregate. We
have nothing later from below here than
what We gave yesterday morning,
Cleaned from the officers of the Phil Al
lin; nor have We anything reliable from
above, but conclude that no further en-
cTO@chments by the river have occurred.
We say again that the wise farmer will
use every eXertiOn and adopt every
means calculated to protect his farm
from high water, because, as we started
out in this article, nobOdy's theory will
do to depend on, and opinions as to
what the river will do are mere guess
work, based upon fear OF disaster and
hope that Providence will avert the I'M |
pending ruin to the planting and COM |
meTciRl interests OF the valley, Throw |
up leveeg where they will do any good, |
and open all channels and cutOffs that |
VIII let the water run out more freely.
Since writing the above the latest dis |
patches from the upper streams have |
been received, from most OF which We
TO- t1oTo 20 70 f9ntiEm US in our opinion
but the following from St. Louis, received |
at twelve O'clock last night, at first blush |
presents a somewhat gloomy aspect, but |
a careful perusal develops the authors |
forebOdiDgs based upon "if |
the rains continue" etc
Inc IdlbSN'tLlS VI TIE past IOuE uayS
still continue in this and almos5 every |
section OF the State. Great quantities Of |
rain have also fallen in ali the adjoining
States, and aside from the damage done
TO the railroads, crops Of all kinds have
sustained great injury, and nearly all
the streams are so swollen that con-
siderable apprehension is felt here of
freshet in the Missouri and Mississippi
rivers. After rising nearly three feet
the river here is falling tonight, but no
doubt il will be swelling again tO-mor-
row, and should the rain continue day
or two longer, there must, of necessity, |
be pretty high water"