Near the mouth of the river several islands were
missing--washed away. Cairo was still there--easily visible across
the long, flat point upon whose further verge it stands; but we had to
steam a long way around to get to it. Night fell as we were going
out of the "upper river" and meeting the floods of the Ohio. We dashed
along without anxiety; for the hidden rock which used to lie right in the
way has moved upstream a long distance out of the channel; or rather, about
one county has gone into the river from the Missouri point, and the Cairo
point has "made down" and added to its long tongue of territory correspondingly.
The Mississippi is a just and equitable river; it never tumbles one man's
famr overboard without building a new farm just like it for that man's
neighbor. This keeps down hard feelings.
Going into Cairo, we came near killing a steamboat
which paid no attention to our whistle and then tried to cross our bows.
By doing some strong backing, we saved him; which was a great loss, for
he would have made good literature.
Cairo is a brisk town now; and is substantially
built, and has a city look about it which is in noticeable contrast to
its former estate, as per Mr. Dickens's portrait of it. However,
it was already building with bricks when I had seen it last--which was
when Colonel (now General) Grant was drilling his first command there.
Uncle Mumford says the libraries and Sunday schools have done a good work
in Cairo, as well as the brick masons. Cairo has a heavy railroad
and river trade, and her situation at the junction of the two great rivers
is so advantageous that she cannot well help prospering.
from Life on the Mississippi, 1883