The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-01-08
TIE EATCHIE RIVER TROUBLE.
The Memphis ard Louisville r. P.
says Practically that the Hatch
is River shall not be Navi-
gated.

at least six weeks ago it was an
that the Hatchie river was
open to navigation, under the Act Of
the Tennessee Legislature The only
obstruction to the navigation from
Memphis to Bolivar was the bridge Of
the Louisville and Nashville Road, at a
point SIX miles this side of Brownsville.
The road began the alteration Of their
bridge into a drawbridge, and it was
that with their wealth and
the facilities that money gives they
would be able to do the work in q short
time. Under this supposition, Capts.
John bearing and 2. &. Montgomery
agitated the question of Hatchie river
navigation, and represented its great
importance In such a manner that |
company, composed Of prominent
Memphis merchants, was formed here
called the Memphis and Hatchie River
navigation company, for the purpose
of bringing to Memphis the large and |
lucrative trade Of the Hatchie river
country, which, by discrimination in
freights against Memphis, had been,
for years carried to Louisville. Fully
persuaded that the Louisville and
Nashville road would do what the law
required, and within the time promis-
ed, Capts bearing and Montgomery,
on behalf of the H. Il. n. Co., went
to New Orleans and perchased the
steamer w. j. Poitevant, to ply be
tween Bolivar and Memphis.
THE WAY STOPPED,
On Tuesday morning last the Poite-
want entered the Hatchie river and
steamed upward toward Bolivar. The
people along the banks greeted her
with every manifestation of enthusiasm.
The passage of the river was not atten-
ded by the slightest difficulty. On
reaching the bridge the poitevant
found that the drawbridge was not yet
completed, and she could not go
through. She was therefore compelled
to lay up there for the sake of paltry
bridge, with fine trip of through
freight, and a good passenger list.
The situasion is thus exp planned by a
Brownsville correspondent of the Ava
lanche:
THE REASON WHY.
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn, Jan. 1, 1880.
EDITOR AvALANCH:-The following
correspondence by telegraph will ex-
plain itself. As you are aware a strong
stock company was organized some
time since in Memphis, by the Front
Row merchants and others, to put a
line of steamboats, on the Hatchie river
to Bolivar; that the Legislature at its
regular session, declared the stream
navigable to that point, and gave all
parties until the 1st Of November to re-
) move Obstacles On arriving here we
found that the work of building a
, draw-bridge by the Louisville road had
been stopped, there being no workmen
: at the bridge, and no present prospect
of its being completed. The object OF
? the road is very plain, the desire be-
ing to delay the completion until the
present large crop ofc cotton, cotton seed
r etc shall have been removed by the
2 road. This is great outrage on the
: people Of Memphis, to say nothing o
2 the damage to Capt. bearing, Mont
= gomery, and other owners of the Line
] Thousands ofpeople greeted the Polite
vent on her arrival at every landing
c and the whole country adjoining til,
6 river is happy over the prospects OF I
reliable outlet for their crops. New
J. stores and warehouses are being erectet
e at every landing, and the outlook is o
l. great promise to Memphis We lear
/ here that there is at this time owe
1000 bales Of cotton on the banks G
the river above this point waiting til
arrival of the Poitevent, all Of which
unless SHIPPED by this line, will go eithe
TO New Orleans or Louisville. Men
Y phis does not know the Importance {
lie this bridge being opened, and to b
is bulldozed by an unscrupulouS and sou
d less corporation in this sort of style
1t an outrage which should not, and
Is known, the sentiments of the people {
4 Bolivar and Hatchie river country wi
J. not be permitted. The plea interpose
a that the fever prevented the work,
10 simply lie, and one of the many dody
re es they have resOrted to in order I
A defraud Memphis out Of her legitimat
D. trade. The press should take hold
l. this matter and expose this great wron
re to the people. What Capt. Dearir
le and Montgomery will do l do II,
y. know, but suppose they will remain
to the bridge until the obstruction is +
Of moved, and of course sue for the dan
he ages growing out of their detention.
nj