Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-07


creased by the heavy rains which pre-,
vailed yesterday. 1t is anticipated
that there will be at least 10 feet more
rise, which will be 5 feet above the
danger line. The people in the low
lands are already preparing to move
out Of their homes. Some of the
people in the lower parts of the city,
have already been compelled to aban-
don their dwellings.
Vicksburg, Miss, was visited yes
terdsy BY the heaviest rain for years.
From II am. until 4pm. there fell
At inches. During the storm the
steamer Ed Richardson parted her
stem line, and swinging around jammed
the steamer Sunfower and barge
against large brick building at the
waters edge, domOhshing consid-
cradle portion of it. Many bridges in
the vicinity were washed away, and
the National and City Cemetery roads
are badly damaged, also the grounds
of many private residences.
The Josie Harry, in command of
Captain bIilt R. Harry, arrived yester-
day with fine trip of freight and
good list Of people. She is receiving
attbe foot OF Court street, and leaves
promptly at 6 pm. for Devall's Bluff,
Augusta, Newport, and intermediate
landings, including the principal way
Landings on the Mississippi. She car
rieG the mail, will give close attention
to business, and makes close connec-
ton at her destination with light draft
steamers for upper White and Black
rivers. Ansel Banksmith presides in
the Office assisted by Hugh Smith.
A Cairo special to the St. Louis
Globe Democrat says: "Freights Of
all kinds are brought from Cincinnati
to all points on the Ohio to Cairo at
10 cents per 100, the cut being made
by the Ariadne against the Wise Ohio
River line. The freight is reshipped
at Evansville at 5 cents per 100, and
Cairo and Metropolis freights are
again reshipped at Paducah, the
Fowler receiving as her proportion
one third Of 5 cents per 100, the
Evansville packet receiving the bal
ance. There is prospect that the
Cincinnati and Memphis Packet
Company will. within the next ten
days, make rate on freights to all
Ohio river points from Cincinnati
sufficiently low as to please the most
fastidious."
The increase in the number of pas.
sengers travelling on Western rivers,
and a corresponding increase in the
size Of vessels is likely to cause a de-
mand for a modification of the rule
governing the equipment of steamers
with liteboats. This rule provides
that in addition to one good substan>
tial boat each passenger steamer shall
carry lifeboat for every sixty pas.
sengeis allowed, including the crew.
A vessel at Pittsburg, recently
constructed, was required by
this rule to carry five boats, and this
took up so much room that the carry
ing capacity of the boat was dimin-
ished. A proposition was made to
Supervising Inspector Fehrenbatch
that only two liieboats should be car
ried, and a large metallic boat of the
capacity of the other three be ordered.
As Supervising Inspectors can exempt
a vessel from carrying metallic boat
it was suggested that Mr.. Fehrenbatch
could exempt this extra large one, and
thus get around the rules, leaving but
two hieboats to lumber the vessels,
The ingenious plan was referred to
the Supervising Inspector General,
but that officer could not give it his
approval, and the Pittsburg steamer
will have to carry the required nun
Der Of lifebOati until the rules are
changed to correspond with those in
force on Eastern rivers and the lakes,
where the number OF boats is est
mattd in proportion to the tonnage.