Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-10
PLUM POINT.
The Great work AT the Reaeh-How IL
Has Progressed and the Promise
or Success.
The Loss by High water Comparatively
snalI-Hhat the Farmers are
Doing.

Occasional Correspondence OF the Appeal
PLUM POM, LAupERDALE COUNTY, TENN,
June 9.-Ihinklng, perhaps, the many read
ers OF your paper would like to know come
thing OF the great national work at this reach
L will attempt TO give them few items con-
corning it. The feet employed by the Mis-
sissippi River Commission is composed of
four steam tugs and towboats, Two survey
boats, twenty-one steam pile-drivers, si1
derrick boats, four mattress bosts, fifty
barges, one large stea N shop and the Missis-
sippi River Commission construction boat
No. 2, as headquarters, and two powerful
hydraulic steam graders, with a capacity
each of 100000 gallons of water daily.
The whole work is superintended by Capt. J.
ID. G. Knight, a gentleman eminently quail
fed in every respect to carry on the work to
a speedy and successful completion. Lieut.
I. W. Symonds, who has been in
command here for the past six
months, left this place for Mexico
on the 9TH instant, where he has been ordered
10 resurvey the boundary lins between the
United States and Mexico. 1t is high
compliment well and worthily bestowed, and
his many sdmirer. here wish him abund ant
| success in his new field of operations. Sew
eral hundred men are employed on the works
at present, and when the waters reach a low
stsge we learn that the force will be largely
increased. The work done by the commits
sion at this reach has so far proven a success
in almost every particular. Last spring
during the flood, when the rushing waters
dashed agsinst the dykes and revetments
with fury which seemed born of despair,
many avowed friends of the work predicted
certain doom, and were heard to say that
an awful fate was inevitable; while the
wild howlings OF its enemies, as they shook
their hoary locks at the country at large, and
Missed and sputtered and laughed in a perfect
carnival of horrible expectant pleasure
at the outlook, was calculated to
make the bravest hearts and warm
eat advocates feel Respondent for awhile
But there is always a calm after a storm.
When the waters subsidized and soundiugs
were taken, it was asceftsined that The loss
was comparatively small, the channel h ad
been deepsned, and the banks b sd been pro-
tected Dy the reEetments aud formidable bars
which had been terror to steamboatmen
| removed. Messrs. Virgins and Rogers, con-
tractors for the brush and piling, report their
work progressing as favorably az could be
wished. Capt. W. s. Rogers, who has the
| management of the piles, is thorough
going business man, and says the work shall
not suffer for any lack of energy or enter
prise on his part. The civil and practical
eng inccIs, the master mdCnlulsls anu me-
chanics, the clerks and subordinate officers,
are clever, cultured gentlemen, and all seem
TO have the interest OF the great enterprise at
heart We are kept in regular commuuica-
ton with the outer world by the Anchor Line
and Ohio River Line of steamers, and tri-
weekly trips of the Dean Adams The
APPEAL is The favorite paper here,
and is read with interest aud
looked upon as the leading organ of the South.
| Oar mail fscilitie., under the efficient man.
| sgemsnt of HI. G. Tate, the colored mail
agent on the Dean Adam, are splendid at
| present. The cold snap of weather some
| time since caused the cotton to look droopy,
| but the warm weather and genial showers Of
The past ten days have revived it consider
| ably. Mr.. f. B. Friend, who has large
area in cotton, informs me that the outlook
for fair crop of the staple is favorable.
The corn crop is looking we'll. Fruits and
vegetables of all kinds growing finely
and promise an abundant yield. The farm
srs made pleaty corn last year, consequently
work stock are IN good condition, and thr
| crops will be better titled. . Business in the
mercantile line here ia good. As l have al
ready transgressed too long on your space
and patience, l will close. c.