Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-14

evening, making all principal way
landings. She will take all Mardi-
Gras excurtionists to New Orleans and
return at an exceedingly low rate.
She is n of the best passenger steam
ers on the river. Captain w. N.
Gaines, 3 sociable gentleman, presides
at the desk.
OBSERVERS FFIcE SIGNAL CORPS,
UNITED STATES ARMY-To the River
Editor LEDGER: Please state in the
river column of your paper, that on
and after the 10th inst, the new river
gauge, constructed by the United
States Engineer corps, at Shreveport,
La, will be used for taking the signal
service river observations at that
place. The e of this gauge is
placed at low water of 1873, which is
one foot higher than the datum-line
previously used. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
GEORGE II. RoHE,
Sergeant Signal Corps, u. s. A.
Memphis, Tenn, Feb. 49, 1879.
The +" red tiger" packet Coahoma,
the pride of the lower coast, came in
this morning with 105 bales cotton,
l78 SKIS seed, 1876 bbls oil and u pkgs
sundries, and had also a big list of
people as usual. She returns this
evening to Friar's Point, carrying the
mail and paying strict attention to all
way and plantation business. She
makes all landings on schedule time,
thus saving delay. Captain Henry
Cooper commands, with the veteran
Captain Jas. Lee, ST., as commodore,
while the office is presided over by
Billy Smither, one of the most popu-
lar clerks on the river, and is assisted
in his official duties by Messrs. Frank
Ellison and Platt Rhodes.
The new and elegant White river
mail packet Josie Harry, Captain Milt
Harry, came in last night from White
river with Alb bales cotton, 1882 feet
lumber, 66 pkgs sundries, and a good
list of people, and reshipped at the
mouth l75 bales of cotton and done a
heavy way business on the round trip.
She is receiving at the foot of Court
street for a return trip to White river,
and leaves tomorrow evening, going
through to Jacksonport and making
direct connection with light-draught
steamers for the upper White and
Black rivers. Captain Joe Moore, one
of the best fellowsi in the world, is her
chief clerk, seconded by Ham Will
liams.
The elegant sidewheel passenger
steamer Red Wing, of the Adams
Mail Line, Captain George Malone,
leaves this evening for Vicksburg and
the bends, carrying the mail and Civ
ing prompt attention to all way and
plantation business, ticketing passen-
gers and signing through for freight
to New Orleans and all points or the
Yazoo river, making direct connection
with the packets. The Red Wing is
a safe carrier, and has palatial passen-
ger accommodations. Captain Ed
Thomas, q gentleman with whom it is
a pleasure to travel and do business,
controls the Office, and has associated
with him two clever gentlemen and
accommodating clerks, Thomas Huse
and Jimmy Thompson.
Letters from Rio Janeiro state that
Colonel Roberts, an American, has
been appointed by the emperor as
surveyor, to study the river systemr
of the country with a view to theii
practical navigation. The request wal
proffered to Mr.. Eads to undertak,
the task, but that gentleman, beiny
engaged at the mouth of the Missis
sippi, declined the tender and sug
gusted Colonel Roberts instead as
|, proper person to perform the impOr
tant service. The salary will b,
100000 per annum The surveys
which will begin at once, are exceed
ingly labOrious and difficult, and in /;
country possessing such a river system
as Brazil, will be scarcely less hazard.
GUS than SANKEY'S task of ~traversinl
the Dark Continent Colonel Rob
cts will examine the courses, currents
depth of channels, eligible location
for ports, natural difficulties to thei
navigation and methods of removal o
same, of all the ~navigable rivers of tn,
country, of which he is to furnish
accurate maps and such details o
scientific and general information a
his extensive studies may furnish
The scientific results will be large AM
positive, while commercially they vii
be practically incalculable.