IN regard to Island 74, which is situated not far from the former Napoleon, a freak of the river here has sorely perplexed the laws of men and made them a vanity and a jest.

When the State of Arkansas was chartered, she controlled 'to the center of the river'-- a most unstable line.

The State of Mississippi claimed 'to the channel'-- another shifty and unstable line.No.74 belonged to Arkansas.

By and by a cut-off threw this big island out of Arkansas, and yet not within Mississippi.
'Middle of the river' on one side of it, 'channel' on the other.

That is as I understand the problem.