Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-07
FALLING RAPIDLY
Is the Cheerful Report from Greenville
Concerning the River-The Situa-
lion in Washington County.
Conflicting Opinions as to this Years
CrOp-The Levee Board and the
Stock Law-PersOnal.
Special Correspondence Of The Appeal

stock LaW-PersOnal.
Special Correspondence Of the Appeal
GREENvILLE, Miss, April 3.-The decline
in the river has increased to nearly three
inches in twenty-four hours, and in the
country back of here even more.
MULES AND SUPPLIES
are being sent out this morning TO places
likely to be out of water within few days,
and plows are going afield wherever the
chance offers. So far as can be discovered
there is no Generalization of labor. The
issuance of government rations at this point
has been light, considering the great number
of negroes, but entirely sufficient TO meet all
requirements, and working forces are ready
as fast as they can be employed. The esti-
mate sent the APPEAL, based upon the opin-
ion of prominent planter, that the coming
crop of this Washington county would, with
favorable seasons, be equal to the average, is
thought by
GENERAL S. W. FERGUSON,
ex-president of the Levee Board, to be too
high, for the reasons that the mules from
lack of feed and annoyance by gnats are in
bad condition, and that lately overlooked
land is liable TO bake if anything like a dry
season follow. General Ferguson has been
over that portion of this county lying on the
river south of here to the Issaquena line
during the highest water, and says there was
greater proportion of that district over
flowed than is generally supposed.
OPINIONS ARE CONFLICTING
10 ha raSuIf ~ tb,s orr,1 bar bo,,t,
but, striking an average from information
from all sources, it is sale to say that three
fifths of the cultivated area of the county
was under water, and that with fair grow
ing season fOur-ffths of the usual annual
crop will be raised-of course, promising tn at
no subsequent overflow of the banks occur,
OF which only the most nervous seem at all
apprehensiye.
COLONEL 4. J. PAXTON,
a prominent planter for thirty-two years a
resident of the Central Deer Greek country,
ten miles east of here, thinks Washington
county in a far better condition than any of
her neighbors who have been similarly af-
ficted. He gives as his reasons: First-AIl
her levees on the river front are unbroken,
and the only expense 10 be provided for is
raising the work the additional hight shown
TO be necessary by the food which is now
disappearing. Second-All the plantations
on the river south of Greenville to the Isa-
4uona limo are not now NOS have they this
year been under water. Third-Deer Sreei,
lying almost parallel with the Mississippi
river and ten miles east of it, has kept its
banks for two. thirds of the distance through
which it travels in this county-that is, say
south from Leesburg TO the line-out OF
water, never having been overfiowed within
the memory of man. Bogue Phalia, a valu-
able adjunct 10 Bolivar county, is not of the
same value to Washington, for the reason
thta the lands contiguous TO the stream are
several feet lower than the banks of Deer
creek. Colonel Paxton is OF the decided
opinion that, apart from the damage done
private individuals and the physical suffer-
ing entailed upon man and beast, the present
flood will prove itself
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
as he is confident it will be the means OF the
organization of the Yazoo delta-embracing
fifteen counties and 900, 900 acres of land
into one levee district, with permanent and
com plete protection to all the vast agricul-
tural interests involved in this vast area.
IN EXPLANATION,
it NAV be said that the revenues to be de-
rived from district so composed would be
adequate to afford a more complete immun-
ity from floods than was ever before enjoyed
by the section named 1t would be meas
ure of Justice 100. As the case now stands,
the riparian counties have to bear the burden
alnHr; as it would be under the scheme pro-
posed, all beneiicisries would share ia the ex-
pense. y --.
1T Is DOUBrsGr
however, if the p an can at once be carried
ont. Gentlemen conyersant with the subject
say there are legal stumbling blocks in the
way. 1t will require the consent OF the
counties proposed TO be added to the present
districts, and this cannot be had without
legislative enactment, and this latter cannot
be secured in time without a sp .clal session
of the Legislature, against which the "heath-
ems of the hills" will kick vigorously. These
latter want no stain of "buckshot" mud on
their copperas pants, and Governor Lowry
knows from whence he derived the strength
which placed him on his perch too well to
lightly fout it. So, the golden dream OF
Colonel Paxton may yet remain uufulhlled.
THERE Is A STRONG FEELING
down here against the policy OF the Levee
Board regarding the work in the neighbor-
hood of Lake Bolivar. 1t is asserted that
100000 have been washed away and sunk in
the mud in the attempt to put levee across
the head of the lake, when half the sum or
less would have put good line OF protec-
ton east and south of there. That some
6OOO or 5000 acres Of tillable land on Catfish
Point would otherwise be thrown out is as
signed as the reason for the perslstency IN
attempting to levee the head OF the lake, and
it is claimed it would be cheaper to condemn
and purchase the land then to continue the
plan further.
AID WILL BE ASKED,
it is said, of the board in the construction oi
the Williams bayou levee. which, it is az
serted, will protect big portion of the east
end of this county. If the proposition comes
up, more on this subject will be given.
AT NOON TO-DAY
there was not quorum OF the board to be
found in the city, President Stokes and the
Issaquena county member not having arrived
They were expected yesterday, but no boat
has come up from Vicksburg, from which
point they are looked for, since early Sunday
morning.