Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-01
MAINE AND METE0nO-
LOGICAL.
Review Of the Heavy Business
Bone on the Rivsr During
the Past Year,
Together With a History of the
steamboat Lines Running
to This Port.
Interesting Items Kindly Fur
nished by the signal service
officer aud Gathered
from Other Sources.


The boom which has taken hold in
Memphis during the psst year has not
confined itsel. ordy TO the merchants and
business men, but the river fraternity
have also felt ia etiects. An improvement
is noticed in the past years business, not
only during the brisk winter season, but
the local packets that have run during the
summer months h Va been able at least to
keep their heads above water. Inc cotton
brought in by the local packets the past
season was over 1000 bales in excess Of
the year pfevious,and Of course shipments
OF MERCHANDISE increased accordingly At
present Memphis is supplied with a better
class " packets than at any time since she
became a commercial center, ano not
w~ithstanding that many miles Of railroad
have been built adjacent " the rivers
from which our packets derive their trade
they have all done we'll, and are in sgood
fix to meet the demands OF a brisk busi-
ness which now CLEANS brightly before
them. Roustabouts and levee laboras
have been plentiful during the past season
and fair wages have been paid, so that
boats have made their time with very
little trouble. Steamboatmen have no
cause 10 grumble about our levee or
wharf facilities which are undoubtedly
the best of any port on Western rivers,
and if the cotton crop, which at present
promises a good yield. will have no set
back, our marine friends can depend on
doing a good, lucrative business,
MEMPHIS AND ST FRANCIS
RIVER U. S. NAIL.
This line Is composed Of the steamers
Rene M,cready, Ida Lee and Advance.
and as long as there is a fair stage Of
water the Macready leaves Memphis
every Tuesday evening, the Ida Lee be-
ing kept for a low water packet, The
Macready ran regularly until a few
weeks ago, when on account OF low water
she dropped out of the trade to give
place TO the Ida Lee, a neat sternwheel
steamer aud very light draft. The latter
will continue to run until October, when
the Maeroady will resume her trips, with
Captain y. X. Joplin in command. The
Macready is now undergoing a thorough
overhauling and r%epainting, so that when
she comes out she viii be as good as new.
Since last year this line has been incor-
porated under a charter OF the State OF
Tennessee, and having secured the con.
tract TO carry the mails from Memphis Ia
the Sunk Lands for Che next three years
will be compelled TO make weekly trips
II the st Francis river gets very low the
Ida Lee will connect with the Mac,chdy
at the Cut of, and in turn connect with
the very light draft steamer Advance al
Mark Tree for the Sunk Lands, thu,
atiording good IA ilities for the shipment
OF freight during the entire year. With
the railroads in Arkansaw now under the
control and operated by st. Louis parties
working with the merchants of that city
for the trade Of Arkahsaw, this line Of
boats, at well as those of Arkansaw anC
White rivers, have strong opposition ant
are often compelled to reduce rates OF
freight very low in order to secure bust
ness for Memphis. In view Of this fac
the merchants of this city should eneour
age and assist the boats running in Arkan
saw streams in bringing the trade Of tina
State to this city,
MILT HARRY WHITE RIVEI
LINE.
The Josie Harry, one OF the finest stern
wheel steamers on any Of the Westeri
rivers, was built expressly for the Whit
river trade and has proven a grand sue
cess, always receiving a good share O
the public patronage and during tn
season just closed brought to this pert tn
largest cargo Of cotton, and in 1879, whel
making a few trips bel ween White rive
and 81 Louis took the largest cargo o
cotton ever taken to that port by one boat
With lhe exception of a few weeks durinI
the dull summer months the josie Harr,
ha S run regularly, leaving here ever.
saturday evening, and has been quit
fortunate in meeting with no accident
OF any kind, She is a well proportion
steamer, presents a beautiful appearance
is elegantly furnished and considered
sa Q and reliable boat. Lately she ha
added the electric light, enc of which is
reflector placed at the jacstaff, is said TO b
the finest End staunchest on the river. j
fact, everything that would add to th
safety, comfort or pleasure of patrons ca
be found OIL the Harry.
White river is the largest Of our tribu
tsries aud almost its entire trade CONES I
Memphis. In addition to a heavy cotto
freight, large quantities Of lumber an
other products are annually shipped /
our market. The finest fishing and hun
ing grounds adjacent to Memphis arc /
be found along the White river valley an
during the proper season large quantitit
Of game OF every description IS brougl
by the packets navigating that strean
The Josie Harry will continue to leay
here every Saturday, going through
Newport where she makes direct connel
ton with the light draft steamers Mi
Harry, Alberta and others for uput
White and Black rivers.
MEMPHIS AND ARKANsAW CIT
us. NAIL LINE.
At the opening of the past season II
steamer Dean Adams was running in III
trade, but retired upon the arrival Of ii
Kate Adams, which put in an appearanC
during the month of December. III
latter has been making semi-weekly tril
ever sinces she came out, and is doing
very lucrative business. She was built
p ttsburg at a cost of nearly $1,000
Major John ID Adams, her owner. givin
the builders full sway in regard TO @!
pense. with the understanding hat 81
should be the fastest, finest and be
equipped steamer that ever ran from b
port. How we'll they succeeded ever
one who has Travelled on this boat or "a,
her q casual inspection will testify !
point Of speed, comfort or safety she b
not a rival among the many boats tn
passes this port. In~regard 10 speed.
test was made in March last, when y
came through TO this port from Helena
five hours eighteen and q ha { minute
which is conceded to be the best {
record. The Kate Adams is suppl,
with all modern improvements, inciudir
the great electric light, the boat beir
Illuminated with the same throuRhou
Her staterooms are all large and airy, wi
carpets aud furniture Of elegant desig
and her tables are always supplied wi
the hest in the market, which of course
u big induoement to the travelling pub
Her officers are all well known and Q
perienced boatmen, under whose waite
full eyes she has run 50 successfully, me,
ing with no accidents Of any kind. 4
Adams will continue to make sen
weekly trips 10 Arkansaw City, leavil
here ever Monday and Thursday ey
nings
LEE UNITED STATES MAIL
LINE.
The boats comprising this line are