Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-29
ORR RIyEk FRONT.

The subject OF rendering our landing safe
from the encroachments OF the river, which
was discussed in the Cotton Exchange the
Memphis-ss important, indeed, that it can
not be neglected without loss Of very seri-
Gus nature. Twenty years ago the coming
danger showed itself, and there were persons
Of sufficient intelligence to point out to the
city council what was impending, and to
urge the members TO take effectual steps
while there was opportunity to do something
effeetnal. They were advised to trace out
the causes by which the current Of the river
was leaving the center and setting in to-
ward the Memphis shore. To investigate
causes and trace them o their results, and to
provide to-day against disaster that it
may take years 70 bring TO head,
requires intelligence. Ignorance can
not project into the future a knowl-
edge never possessed by narrow
and uncutivated intellect. Eyes opened by
the intelligence tibet only reading and study
can confer upon observation and experience,
are dim and cannot "see across the creek"
The efforts made TO arouse the city council
OF that day-when men used to get them
selves elected into it that they might have
chance to hire their horse and cart to the
corporation at 81 a day-were exactly as
successful as those OF Noah before the food
came, and Of Lot on the eve of the destruc-
ton of Sodom. With the warning IN their
ears and the details of what was coming laid
before their eyes. the city council proclaimed
how far they ware fitted to be advisers and
managers of great city by voting .ffty dollars
to stem the mighty current the Mississippi
was beginning to hurl upon the landing. So
it has gone on. Acres OF ground have been
swallowed up, a vast bar has formed, a
chute on this side OF the islands above the city
has been closed; we, have seen Napoleon
washed out of existence; we have seen
.Nicksburg-once situated as respects the river
Just as Memphis is situated to-day-cut off
from the channel of the river and left to Jade
and dwindle, all activity taken out OF its
river commerce-yet nothing effectual has
been done. We are now stared in the face
by the possibility of-the Mississippi making
it's resistless way into. Hatchie lake, into
which at this moment its surface waters are
flowing, and SO reaching Wolf river, where
It's floods would rush up the bayou channels,
sweep into the lower streets, and wash away
scres OF land now covered with houses and
stores. AT present we have two evils to pro-
vide against; one is the immediate protec-
ton Of our river front, where the invading
current is threatening the safety of the yet
unfinished elevator; the other is to prevent
final catastrophe more fatal than all. To be
left inland by the Mississippi making its way
through the woods and swamps OF Arkansas,
or to be washed out on our northern suburb by
the removal of the Mississippi carrent to the
beds Of the Hatchie and the Wolf are alterna-
lives that cannot be evaded by sitting
as stoiidly Indifferent to impending danger
as the city council of twenty years ago.
Root, hogs, or die is coarse expression,
bat it is one strictly applicable to Memphis.
The pressing danger to-day is the condition
.of the river front, and the jeopardy TO the
elevator and other property. 1t is proposed
TO appeal TO Congress for aid in this con-
tingency, but il we do 90 it must be no weak
cry, no complaining in despairing accents.
We must prepare ourselves to-day before
congressional committee statement, clear,
intelligent, and methodical, showing exactly
what causes are at work to our danger, how
they operate, and what, if unchecked, will
be their effect. We must show how we ex-
pect to evade the threatened Danger
and what grounds the proposed eff
forts have for anticipated success, and
what il viii be necessary to spend for mate
rial aud labor in accomplishing the work.
We mnst tell Congress what help We want,
and show well grounded estimates OF the
cost !; we must be in earnest and make the
common effort a common danger renders i'm
perative. What has to be done is no ridieu-
Ions city counciI $50 affair