Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-26
THE RIVERS.


n EAOOO VI NANcES Al AAAO NCHSs
At noon to-day the water level in
the river opposite this city was "a feet
II inches above extreme low water
mark, and 2 feet Z inches under tie
highest water ever known. The wa
ter is creeping over the banks in many
places on the opposite side and en-
~croaching on the railway, but as yet
there is no impeachment to the move
ment Of the trains.
Toe riverat Cairo has receeded 10
inches since Wednesday last, when the
decline set in. Its downward move
ment will doubtless be checked in a
day or two from the effects of the food
of water pouring down past st. Louis.
Its effect down this way however, is
yet a matter of doubt, as former floods
from that quarter by the time they
spread out below Cairo have not
proven %disasterous. There is no
indications Of big water to come out
Of the Ohio or tributaries.
The rain Of the past few days over
the watershed drained by the Ohio
and afiuents has been light and not
sufficient to cause a swell in any
stream entering the Ohio.
This mornings telegrams, however,
from Washington City report that the
Mississippi will continue to rise and
will probably reach the danger line'at
st. Louis. The same auth ority says
the Missouri will also rise.
A special bulletin, issued yesterday
by the chief signal officer of the
United States signal service, General
Hazen, says:
THE foods will increase in the Mis-
sissippi below Cairo and become dan
gerous in the vicinity of Memphis,
Vicksburg and Helena from IT, LIST to
the 10Th Of May; the river is now five
feet four inches above the danger line;
1.-THE levee should be strengthened
and property removed to places of
safety, well above the danger line.
Mote Newspapers please publish
and telegraph operators transmit as
news to all interested parties"
This news is not encouraging to the
people of the valley, and under its in
structions it would be we'll for every
planter to prepare for the worst. 1t is
to be hoped the waters will not rise
to the height predicted by General
Hazen, and also that the duration of
the food will not extend to the time
announced, as it will prove very dis
astrous to the planting interests if it
does. The Washington oficn Is are
in a position to be better informed as
to the future probabilities Of the
food, and their statements are there
fore entitled to credit and con slider.
alton.
During the four months ending
with the frs. of April the rainfall
over the Ohio valley measured 49, |
inches, and a little less than last
year during the same period. The
rainfall in the Missouri valley was
from four to seven inches, and was
over an inch less than last year at the
same time. The upper Mississippi
valley had nearly eight and a half
inches in the four months named, and
was slightly less than last year. The
rains this month have, however, been
very heavy throughout the western
country north of St. Louis, and it is
this thatis bringing the foods now
moving down from that direction. The
rains over the Ohio valley districts
have been light since the first Of April,
aud az before remarked, no heavy vol
ume Of water approaches from that d.
%rection. The Tennessee has bur eight
and a half feet at Chattanooga, and
the Cumberland barely twelve feet at
Nashville, while the Ohio at Pitisburg
is less than ten feet deep, and at Ev-
a%nsville twenty six and a half feet
deep. 1t was up to thirty-four feet at
the latter point two weeks ago. Let
heavy rains set 10 over the Ohio valley
water shed, and We will have a food
upon us that will soak the entire
lower country subject to inundaticn.
w oodWorkers AZ Memnhis