Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-07

than any one since l863-'64. In fact,
from all accounts, the SHOWS which fell
during November and December Of 1874
and January and February Of the pres
ent year, seem to have been not only
heavier than those Of 1864, but more
general. And, in addition to all the
snow which fell and accumulated in the
valleys which lie between the huge
mountains that rise up around and about
the sources of the Missouri, Mississippi
and Arkansas rivers and their tributaries
duling the months named, we were told
by telegraph that snow has fallen at sew
eral points during the past fifteen or
twenty days. In addition to the vast
amount of snow which falls from the
clouds and accumulates in these valleys
during the winter months, snow-slips
occur frequently, heaping the SHOWS in
the valleys to an almost incredible
depth. The dispatches Informed us a
few days ago that a destructive snow
slip" occurred from one of the noun
tons near Salt Lake City. This event
has very little to do with my sug-
g%estions. l only call it to mind to
prove that if the snow in the vicin-
ity of Salt Lake has not yet been
dissolved by the suns rays, the snow
in the valleys, several degrees north aud
northeast Of that point, must yet be lying
therein, and will not be dissolved until
the warm spring rains descend. The
sun never sheds its rays into q great
many of the valleys which lie around
the sources OF the Missouri and Arkan-
sas rivers and tributaries; the mighty
mountains that rear their lofty SUBMITS
far above them prevent the sun from
smiling upon those beautiful valleys.
Therefore, the snow in those valleys
must be dissolved by the spring rains.
Sometimes that snow is not dissolved
before the latter part Of April; some
seasons not before the middle or last of
May. There is a vast quantity of ice
and snow about Itasca Lake, the sup
posed source of the Mississippi, which
will have to be dissolved by the same
process as that which lies in the valleys
about the head waters Of the Missouri,
Arkansas and their tributaries. When
l say tributaries | refer only to those
which have their %originin the great sRow-
belt of the Northwest. Then, too, there
is the Allegheny, also the Monongshela,
each one Of which has its f~ountainhead
in the mountains Of Pennsylvania. II
the telegraphic reports from points east
and south Of those mountains, in the
same State, are to be believed, then we
may conclude, with a fair amount of GER
tainty, that there is much ice and snow
about the sources of those streams
which must also be dissolved by the
warm rains which generally fall during
April and May. When all the snow and
ice now lying about the sources Of the
rivers mentioned is dissolved by the
April and May rains, and each river
pours its immense torrent Of water into
the Father Of Waters, all to meet and
mingle at Cairo and from thence rush
down upon the lower part Of the Missis-
sippi, which will be more than half.
bank" il not quite full, | can see no
escape from a disastrous overflow.
While the spring showers are ~dissolving
the ice and snow about the head-waters
Of the above named streams it must be
borne in mind hat the Southern tribu.
taries are kept up by the heavy rains
which fall during the months of April
and May. | do not wish to be considered
an alarmist, but / have the temerity to
say that | shall not be surprised if the
Mississippi river should be several
inches higher about the middle of May
or first Of June, of the present year, than
it was at any time during the spring of
1867.
1t behooves every planter above and
below us, on the Mississippi, to strengthen
the salient points along bis levee. The
old adage, lin times of peace prepare for
war" may prove a very valuable one to
the planters if they will but profit by the
lesson it teaches. There is n thing
certain-it will not cost the one.tenth
part OF the money to strengthen their
levees that they will lose if the Missis-
sippi should break through and steal'
their crops. No doubt a great many
persons can call to mind periods in their
lives when, if the old familiar adage
quoted above had been strictly adhered
to, not only much valuable property but
many valuable lives might have been
saved. R1pAR1Av