Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-15

Yazoo river packets. Superintendent
AID Storm will make arrangements
and receive freight for her at the
c%ompany's wharfboat, foot of Court
street.
The Rapid Transit, Captain VIM.
Ashford in command, is the regular
packet leaving this evening for Com
merce and the bends. She attends
promptly to all way business.
The Hattie Rowland will 60 out
this afternoon in place of the Qua
chita Belle, making one trip for her.
The Belle will leave on her regular
time Monday evening next. The cause
Of the 0uachita Belle laying over
and losing a trip was the
jumping of her crew.
We would inform Colonel Ricketts,
that we were looking upward when we
reported the 0sceola Belle as arrived.
We thought we saw her smoke in the
bend, but it seems we were mistaken.
1t was all B. o. Mitchell's fault, as he
assured us she would be in before the
LEDGER came out with the blue rib
bon. B. D. now says, as he got in
trouble, he will give us the new hat to
wear, with the blue ribbon pinned on.
Vicksburg Herald 1.-THE General
Meigs, the United States snagboat, in
going up Yazoo river ran afoul of a
snag neal the foot of Honey Island,
and knocked three holes in her hull
and came near sinking, and then, after
repairing the damage, went on up the
river without attempting to pull the
snag that came so near sinking her.
The Yazoo river boatmen say she is
doing no good whatever in that stream
aud might as we'll be out of there for
the service she performs. The truth
is that somebody directly interested in
the improvement of the rivers ought
to be on these snagboats, and not men
who are solely interested in using up
the appropriation" The Her aid
is right. Some one who is more in
terested in safe navigation than in
drawing their monthly distribution of
the river appropriations, should have
the supervision Of the work of re-
moving distractions from the channels
OF rivers. We argued this a long
time ago, but we were charged with
~log-rolling for some favorite. We
know of but one individual in the
world whose interests we would work
for in anything, and that individuals
name was pronounced on the day we
received the rites of baptism, and he
does not want to be superintendent Of
river improvements.
The New Orleans Picayune of Tues.
day, in referring to river matters, and
speaking of electric lights" says
Talking the matter over with &
prominent gentleman on the river. thi,
thought suggested ITSELF With good
well FURNISHED relectors, the 'Elsinc
oil used by the United States govern.
ment in its light service, would be O
sufficient power to cast its rays man,
yards in front and on the sides of thu
steamer, enabling boats to travel or
many a dark night where, as steam.
boats are nOwmanaged, the boat would
have to tie up to the bank. Thi,
might be arranged by a trio of re
Electors, one to throw the light imme
diately forward, and the other two t.
throw the light obliquely to either
bank, The left hand reflector would
throw its light upon the right bank
and the right hand reflector throw
the light upon the left bank. This
could be arranged upon the hurricane
roofimmediatelyin front oft belland
equi-distant from either side or, and
which would perhaps be better, placed
just outside the base of the iackstaf.
The light woGld be so arranged. in
either case, as to not shine in the
pilots eyes, but, on the contrary, he
himself would be in the dark, with
the advantage of the light before him.
These reflectors need net cost much.
They can be made of wood. three
pieces Joined into one, with a thin
sheet of some FURNISHED metal upon
the inner side. The lamp and the oil
would also be of small cost. Most
certainly, the saving of time to a
steamboat running between here and
a point seventy-afve miles distant
would, in one trip, pay for the entire
outfit.