The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-09-20
A BRIEF RETROSPECT.


manent one We have had repeated aud
most convincing demonstrations OF this
fact. The past history Of our little city IS
one of ups and downs-a chills and fever
history, so to speak-one week hot with the
excitement of an impending "boom,"
the next chilled to state OF rigi-
dity by rushing floods
We have time and again watch
ed how public confidence came
feebly forth from its watery grave, grad
ually warmed into life and activity the inert
enterprise Of our people; have seen business
revive, in all its branches, our mechanics
and laboreIs engaged in various improve
ments, our empty houses gradually filled
with desirable citizens; we have seen our
capitalists, proverbially the most timid Of
all chases, encouraged by the general in
creasing signs Of prosperity, plan for in
vestments of their surplus cash in magnlii-
cent or substantial Improvements Of vacant
real estate; plans were perfected and steps
we're taken to execute them
everybody confident Of security, everybody
cheerful and hopeful of future prosperity
"a "boom" was upon US and threatened to
burst over us like sunshine through rift
in the clouded canopy This was when our
mighty entertainments loomed up grandly
over the rivers CLASSY surface-when, for a
series of years, the tops OF our levees were
not licked by the rushing torrents dissolv-
ing tongue.-But just as often have we seen
this happy state Of things and these bright
prospects lost in the gloom of expected de-
struction The Illinois, Missouri, Missis-
sippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and
Wabash rivers would roll their waves down
upon us and seek to Overwhelm us; slowly
! the distance between the tops of our levees
and the waters edge would grow less;
within foot Of the top and still rising,
half foot and still rising, an iuch and
still rising half an inch and still slowly
rising; from two and half feet by the
government gauge up to ttty'one
feet-and still rising; the gauge
disappears, the waves dash against
the railroad track on the top of the levee,
and still rising; citizens meetings are held,
an organization is effected, the levees are
patrolled day and night, trains and an
army Of men are engaged, and the city IS
enclosed by bulkheading and the rivers
are still rising until they stand, in some
places, foot above the levees, and the
wind beats huge waves into foam against
the wooden bulkhead. Business
is at stand.still the usual
occupations are IN great measure forsaken
men crowd to the levees and watch eagerly
for "a stand" or "a decline" on their
"private marks" on the telegraph poles
Others are moving their personal effects to
places of safety; wild rumors Of impending
danger abetted by our brave contempt
rary are pedjIed about the streets, fnd their
way into comparatively peaceful homes,
and alarm the dear ones there and interrupt
them in their work Of preparing rstions for
the watchers on the leyees ;--evorybody 10
fearful and preparing for the worst"
| This is the time that tries mems souls in
Cairo and makes towards of many who at
other times boast Of their bravery. For
the business men it Is the period
OF empty stores and heavy losses; for the
the mechanic it is the period Of dleness
for the poor aborerS it is the period of sui
fering, of enforced chatte mortgages at
outrageous interest; for the property hold
ers It Is the period Of depreciation and of
fear for the security Of their worldly pos
sessions; for the lew craven hearted il is
the time for idle croakings and snickering
fear for the brave citizens, irrespective of
class or station, it is the period of watching
and working with shovel and wheelbarrow
for few wealthy and public spirited citi-
zens it Is the period of activity, great re-
sponsbIitos and extraordinary risks; for
the city at large 1t is the period, not so
much of danger, as of depression in values
and of anticipation warrants, Of general
hoyclessness and stagnation, of the sudden
dissolution OF all the imaginary creations
that have accumulated in the dir for years,
Of the sudden collapse of the citys i'm
pending "boom."
But the rivers 60 down, and as they go,
people and things begin to settle back into
the same old ruts they were in just after
the previous food had struck them and
laid them out. The usual avocations are
gradually resumed the horrors Of the food