Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-13
BOLIVAR COUNTY, MISS.


wELL-CoSsTRUCTED LEVELS, THE VIGILANCE
OF THE ENGINEERS AND THE POLICY OF
THE CONTRACTORS SAVE WIDE EXTENT
OF COUNTRY.
special Correspondence of the Appeal
RosEDALE, March 10.-Kuowing the great
interest The APPEAL takes in all that con-
Germs the welfare and happiness of the peo-
pie in the Mississippi bottom, and particu-
larry the people Of Bolivar county, who
were the greatest sufferers by last years
overflow, aud among whom the APPEAL has
SO many sisunch and steadfast friends for
the ability and kindness it has always dis
played in advocating their interests, aud es-
pecially tor the fearless championship of
levee interests in this section, | thought
line from me would be welcome and might
interest some of your many readers who
have friends and relatives here, and also the
general reader who desires to keep posted on
matters of such magnitude and import auce
as the rise and fall OF the Mississippi river,
upon which depends the daily Subsistence of
thousands for themselves, their little ones
and all they hold most dea. on earth. This
day one year ago the little towu OF Rosedale,
from which l write, was
wild WASTE OF WATERS"
and its citizens were all "busy SIS bees" irving
10 save what they could from the relentless
flood that madly dashed in one vast and
terrific torrent, carrying destruction in its
path and sweeping away house,, fences,
stock, and in fact destroying the sccumula-
ton OF years of hard toll in few hour, and
reducing 10 poverty many who a few days
before were in ease and comfort, while the
poor and humble laborer, both white and
black, in hundreds OF instances, had no home
save the broad canopy Of heaven, perched on
the levee, surrounded by the ever-sursing
waters, himself and family no couch except
the "cold, cold ground" his little children
frightened to sleep by the lsshing waves and
roaring pillows that threatened every mo-
ment 10 engulph them. For four long and
Wesry months did
THIS HORRIBLE SIEGE OF WATERS
continue, until too late for this immediate
neighborhood TO raise either cotton or corn,
and how we mansged to e1ist with no crop,
no credit aad no money is puzzle TO our
selves. How different to-day is the prospect.
thanks to an ALL wise Providence first, and
next TO our own people for their good sense
and solid judgment in keeping up our levee
organization and not listening TO the silly
twaddle of that unmitigsted humbug and
engineering moustrosity, Capt. J ohm Cowdon.
The river at this point has Just about come
10 stsnd, and is eight inches below highest
water mark of last year. We think we could
stand at least a feet or eighteen inches more
water if "Lhe worst comes to the worsi." We
are dep .ndent on a long lIue of levee, in
cIudiug the new and large levee just finished
at RivertoD, before the rise, by those intelli-
gent and wiae-awake levee contractors,
Messrs George Arnold & Co., of your city,
who always perform their work with meat
ne.s, quick aces and dispatch, and in a work.
m anlIke manner "Pity there ain't moro
sich" Th&. large and costly "pile OF dirt"
the Riverton leve', ia in charge OF Capt. w.
r. Harvey, one Of our most Intelligent and
competent engineers, upon whose skill, en-
ergy aud wonderful bulldog tenacity in hold
ing all points, aud with whose watching and
UNCEAsING VIGILANCE,
az well as his well-knoWn scientific attain
ments, we all rely, and on which depends
the safety of our lives and hundreds Of thou.
sands dollars worth Of property. Capt.
Harvey has filed the confidence reposed in
him and is fully equal TO the emergency, and
go long as ne rem ans the utmost confidence
will prevail; and should he eave this great
work, assisted as he has been by this en,ire
commit unity, who are levee people on princi-
pie as we'll as from interest, he will place
himself singh up in the picters" and the
| community under obligations 10 him for his
faithful devotion to their interests and his
own duty ss an officer.
| The people remember with profound salts
faction that this most ompetent engineer had
charge during the food Of 1882 Of the rotten
est levees in the entire district, and that he
| II 4 ha A l., g, IL,
safely through the terrific ordeal, although
it broke on him in dangerous places several
times.
There is no exhaustion Of his energies
aud resources, and on "Riverion' he is pre-.
eminently the fright maj iu the right place.
This
LEvEE DISTRICT, NO. 2, Is IN GOOD CONDITION
to-day, aud little or no apprehension is fel
and the people are more than ever convinced
| that the levees are their salvation TX
prove this we only have 10 cast our eye
TO the Arkansas side and we see the "grand
old river cavorting and a raVing ant
pitchin'," while on our side ia heard tn
merry whistle OF the ploWboy," and we se
our women folks planting for garden sass,
etc, aud contentment and confidence agai
restored.
The latest river news has inspired ever
one with renewed hope Of speedy fall, an
unless We have a big rise on Top of tn
present water we feel certain of a crop, an
then if those two inveterate enemies of III
levee system, Capt. John Coydon and tb
craw6sh, will let US alone and stop boring
we will continue 10 live and hold up GU
heads and again place ourselves above wac
and continue to be a happy and thrivin
| people. "AlI is 10 hum" now and ar
i happy at our improved prospects to escape
r devastating food which threatened US, an
which would utterly impoVerish the Who'll
community. BOLIVAR.