208 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. MAY, 1904
tricts.
cleliburg, District E'orPwstw.
The damage by frosts, if any, was small.-F. H. Bran-
SOUTH PACIFIC FORECAST DISTRICT.
The month was quite uneventful. Over the greater portion
of the State no rain fell. I n the estreme north and extreme
south there were a few light showers.--d. G. ilIcddir, Prc!fissor
nr i d Did r ict Forerastw.
NORTH PACIFIC: FORECAST DISTRICT.
The month mas unusually dry with nearly normal tempera-
tures. At Portland, Oreg., the river mas nbove the danger
line throughout the month, but as ample warning of the corn-
ing stages were issued several days in advance precautiunary
measures were taken to prevent avoidable losses.-E. A. Iltds,
Dishid Fvrwristr)r. ~-
~
RIVERS AND FLOODS.
The Mississippi River fell steadily after the high stapes of
the preceding month, remaining, however, above the danger
line a t New Orleans until the 33cl. The Missouri also fell
generally, but during the last few days of tlie month henvy
rains over the lower waterherl. including that of tlie Kansns
River, started a rapid rise, whicli by tlie end of tlie iiiontli had
become manifest in the RIissisbippi between dltoii, Ill., ancl
the mouth of the Ohio. I n tlie lower Iiansas J7alley the
waters of course did not reach by many feet the abn(~riiia1
heights of the prececling year. Nevertheless, consicleralile
damage was done between Topeka ancl Iiaiisas City, princi-
pally by the flooding of lowlands. I n the vicinity of Kansas
City the damage was much greater. Several temporary pile
bridges over the Iiansas River were swept away, ancl the Lot-
toms were covered with water. Many of the inhabitants mere
driven from their homes. Business was suspended in some
localities, and railroad service badly clemoralized.
During the first decade o f the month the high water in the
RIississippi River caused considerable clamage in tlie vicinity
of Cairo. On the Illinois side uf the river huiiclrecls of acres
of wheat were subinerged and destroyed, while on the Missouri
side the low to the St. Louis and Sail Francisco Railroad be-
tween St. Louis ancl Poplar Bluff, No., was about $lW,o~)o.
The fellowing i*eport 011 the spring flood in the Meinphis
district, where the highest proportionate stages were reached,
was prepared by h h . s. C:. Einery, Oficial in Charge of the
United States Weather Bureau ofice, Memphis, Tenii. This
report will be found to be very interesting. I t ;Lpparently
decides a much mooted question that arose during the close
of the flood of 1903, as to the ef-l'eet of the railrond em1,ank-
inents opposite in ponding the water above. It nom seems
that the embankments mere not heriously a t fault, the surplus
water having come through a lo-mile gap near the uliper end
of Reelfoot Lake district. This water left the main stream
in the vicinity of Hickmaii, Icy., ancl reentered it in the neigh-
borhood of Fnlton, Tenn. Mr. Emery also reiuarks tliat for
the first time the St. Francis levee successfully resisted a se-
vere flood.
Moclerately low river stages prevailed in the Memphis district through-
out the winter months, and until March 1 the water was consideralily
below normal. A s this was later than the uwal t h e for the formation
of floods, i t was generally thought that no serious rise wits likelj to ~iccur
this year, and fariuers and levee contractors hegan the season's wiirk.
During the first ten days in March two sharp swells staltecl in tlie n ~~p i ~r
Ohio, the crests of which soon merged into one and reached Cairo during
bfarch 17, with R stage of 36.2 feet. On March 11, twelve dags previous
to the arrival of the crest of the rise at Memphis, a n n ~~n c e n i r n t was
issued from the Memphisoffice that the maximum stages in that district
would be as follows: New Madrid, 29 feet; Memyhiq, '35 feet. 011 XIarch
16 the estimate for Memphis was increased to '36.5 feet, and a stage of
between 35 and 36 feet predicted P(ir Helena, Ark. The rqieated i~sser-
tion that the water would not exceed the estimates given was gruerally
accepted, and work along the river continued without interruption. The
greatest variation from the predicted stages and those that actually oc-
curred was 0.3 of a foot, while the average time given was eight days.
The maximum stages on t h i s rise were as follows: New Madrid, 29.1;
Memphis, 26.8; and Helena, 35.1 feet. After the passing of this wave,
the river fell slowly for a few dags, the total fall being only two feet,
when the decline was arrested by a second swell, which was first felt a t
Cairo on March 25. This rise was caused by general and heavy rains
throughout Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, smelling the Ohio
a t a rapid rate, and many of its tributaries to unprecedented stages.
The Mlqsissippi above Cairo also rose rapidly for several days, so that by
March 30 i t was apparent that a flood of considerable niagnitude was on
i t s way to this section.
On March 30 warning buI$tins were mailed to every post office in the
district and to all interests likely to beaffectecl to prepare for a stage es-
ceelliug 36 feet on the 3lemphis gage. On the following day a becond
warning was issiied to the effect that the stage would exceed 37 feet a t
hleinphis, and reach at least 47 feet a t Helena. The predirtion was also
made that New Mmli id would have a stage of a t least 38 feet. The peo-
111e were warned that the stages indicated would severely t a x the levees
in tlie St. Francis district. and to be prepared for pos-ible lweaks. On
April 6 the river at New Madrid, after rising 4owly duiing thr four pre-
ceding days, came to a staud a t a stageof 38.1; feet. From the fact that
the crest hail passed New Madrid and the iise a t Mempliis from April
1 to 6 was i)nly moderate and slo\vly (lecreasing, doubts aere freely
expressed regarlliug the probability of the Meniphis stage reachiug the
3$-foot mark a5 predicted. On the latter date, however, the rise sud-
llenly aut1 unexpectedly increahed to one foot or more per day, aud con-
tinued at that rate for three days, carrying the water about one and one
half feet aIio\ e the highvst estimate heretofore matlr. This unloolted
for rise is now knciwn to ha\ e I ~e n caused liy the ponding of water in
the Reelfoot country, which lieb ini~uediately south of Hickman, Ky.
This water entered that basin through a 10-mile gap near the upper
enll of the Rerlfvot Lalie district, and, after making its way slowly
tlirougii the wooilrd lowlands, whero it increaseil in \ olunie, again en-
terra1 the main stream near Fulton an4 Fort Pillow, Tenii. In that way the mater pa'secl ari)und New Madrid an11 caused the deceptive changes
recorlled by that ancl other gages as far wuth as Osceolit, Ark. This
it~*cuniulated water then poured out upon the top o f the flood, and raised
the stageat Fultnn ahout :3 feet in as many days. The.ponding of water
in the Rrrlfiiot hasin isdue i n a great meaquic to tlie changed conditions
ought alioot through tlie extension of the Ie\ee
ibeil the floc111 level to a
in of tlie water into new I -
01,tainrrl during the Rood
reacheil the highest btsge a t New Madrid. tlw Fultuu gag^ iuilic;ttrd the
h c i l i i ~ sutlilen incrraw niited tliis year, null f i i i about four (lays the ri\ er
~o s e o ~e r 1 font ailay. Tlii~iiiforiiiatioiiis iinpoitant, a s i t clearly inilicates
that the iettiarka1)le ristl that wcurierl a t Meniphis during the thire days
uext ~ire~wliiig tlir a i i i \a l o f tlir crest iit that 1ilac1~ in 110th 191J3 aurl 191~4
\vas ~irotiitlily due to thi) outIiouriug o f watri from tlie Beelfoot Iiahin,
and not, as \\as fornii~rly su1ipi)sed. LO itn ~iiqvrg:r~iieut produced 197 the
ritilroail enilInnhiiiriits in front of ~I e i n l ~h i ~ on Hopefiilld Poiut. Thehe
enibitnknients may linve had soinr effei.t on the stage at RIenlphi~. I )u t
the niniii cause m u s t lie attiibutei ection o f the ~a t e r i n t o tlirTeu-
ucssee tinsin, nhiclr Iias the sai t as t i i t . St. Francis basin for-
merly had on the Hclen,~ gage \\ h ater \\\ah perniittrd to oveiBo~
that wction.
The wn\e crest reaclieil Memphis d ~i r i l 11 with a +tact-' of 39 feet, and
Helena on thv 15th, the stage a t that 1ilat.t. lieing 47.7 fret. Warningz
f ~i r tlir a l ~o r r stages were given two ilitys in d \a u c r a t Mlrmphis ancl
. The water reoiained above the danger line in this New 1I:tdricl 211, me nip hi^ 19, and Hrlena 34 clays.
eceiling and the on* follom in:: tlie ami\ a1 of the creht,
a l l of the levee* fronting the St. Franiais tmsin mere iii a very critical
condition, ant1 had a l l the water they c-oulcl hold. By priinipt action on
the part of the e~~gineers and the en~ploynient I)f several liundre~l nirn
the meak 111ace5 weie repaired- and a tnlqiiug o f sand bags placeil
wheie~ er the height alipearril insufit4rnt. Notwitlibtanding the es-
trenie height of the water, the continued rains, an11 other unfarnral~le
wrtrther conditions, the lei ees wrre helil intacht throughout the entire
system, and marked the f i r 4 sjucces~ful resi5tance to tlie enrroachment
of tlie w&er ou thz St. Fraucib basin.
Coniparf4 to the floc~cl of 1:)@3, the stage a t Cniio mas 1.5feet lower, New
Mailrid 11.3 of n foot lower, hIenipliis 1.1 feet lower, and Helena 2.3 feet
lower. All of the islanil plantations and the lo\vIanrls in Arkanbas that
lie outside the levee \\ere entirely ciiverrcl, ancl the extreme southern
1'01 tiou a>f the St. Francis Iiasin in the wurities of Lee ant1 Pliillips, where
no lrvee exists, w a 5 alba flooded its usual. On the Tennessee side a
large territory \vas inundateil, caubing considerable tlamage and great
incon\ enience tn the dwellers in that sevtiou. I n and alinut Memphis
the flooil was aliout its severe a s in 1!)0:3, but ah the people weie better
preparibil, tlw damage wa' slight.
Duiing the progre5s (if the flood tlir Weather Buieau office was hourly
lJt?Sk@ by anxious iniluirers fri~tu far a n r l near, while the trleplioiie
calls were iiiore frequent than e\er before known. The daily stages a t
all important points, and the daily forecasts were sent by telephone and
telegraph to R large numlier of place5 for distribution to the adjacent
MAY, 1904. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 209
country. Maps and river bulletins were furnished a11 outgoing steamers
ror distribution along the river, and every possible means was employed
to obtain and distribute information. In this way the people throughout
the threatened district were at all times in close touch with this Bureau,
whose work in this connection has been highly commended by many of
those beneflted thereby. It. is worthy of note t h a t the usual evcitenieut
attendant upon severe floods was noticeably absentthis year. This was
largely due to the conservative tone of the reports issued, and to the
fact that newspapers. as a rule, refrained from publishing alarming aud
exaggerated accounts of the flood. This was very beneficial and pre-
vented many people from incurring the unnecessary expense of moving
property and families, and enabled planters to ret.ain their neyro work-
men, who would have otherwise fled.
The third important rise of t.he season began about May 1. reaching
its maximum at Madrid ou the 7th, Memphis on the 9th, and Heleua on
the 11th. A t Helena, only, did the wat.er reach the danger line, Menipliis
being 0.8 of a foot, and New hIarlricl 0.5 of a fic,ot below that mark. The
crest stages on this rise were accurately predicted from six to eight days
in advance. the stages forecast in no case showiug a variation of over
0.3 of a foot. The following are the ruasimum st.ages recorded ditriug
the May rise: New Madritl, 33.5: Memphis. 3'2.2: and Heletla. 4'2.0 feet.
Owing to the lateuess of the season and the darnaging eft'ect that an
overflow would have at. this time, especially upon growing crops, those
having farming interests at stake \\-ere very anxious as t o the outconif?
of the rise. However, as forei4ast., it. did not caiise t,he river t,o overflvw
its banks to any great extent, and nu material damage resulted.
There was also II flood in the Coloraclo River of Texas dur-
ing tlie early days of the month, due to heavy general rains.
Warnings were issued on the 4th for danger-line stages below
h s h , ancl they were fully verified. I n the Brazos River the
stages, while quite high, did not reach dangerous pro1)or-
tions.
There is nothing further of special interest to be mentioned,
except the somewhat remarkable fact that ice in considerable
quantities, the last remnants of the great gorge of the winter
of 19034, was observed along the Susqnehanna River between
Harrisburg ancl Tork Haven, Pa., after the micldle of the
month.
The highest and lowest water, mean stage, and monthly
range a t 18s river stations are given in Table VII. Hydro-
graphs for typical points on seven principal rivers are shown
on Chart V. The stations selected for chartsing are Iieokuk,
St. Louis, Memphis, Vickshrg, and New Orleans, on the Mis-
sihsippi; Cincinnati and Cairo, 011 the Ohio; Nashville, on t,he
Chmberlancl; Johnsonville, on the Tennessee; Kansas City, on
the Missouri; Little Rock, on the Arkansas; and Shreveport,
on the Red.-H. 6'. F t ~n t ~k e t ~~t ~l t l , Dirtrir-t Fort~rwster.
aLIMATE AND CROP SERVICE.
By Mr. JAMES BERRT, Chief of CIiluate and Crop Service Diviaon.
The following summaries relating to the general weather and
crop conditions during May are furnished by the directors
of the respective sections of the Climate and Crop Service
of the Weather Bureau; they are based upon voluntary reports
from meteorological observers and crop correspondents, of
whom there are about 3000 and 14,000, respectively :
AZuba~nn.-Geuerally too dry ani1 cool for growth: warm weather ani1
fairly general rains during the last week beneficial, though drought cuti-
tinnell in southeastern conntirs. Cottou stands genrrallj- inferii)r; plaiits
small, but improving at clwe of month, when the crop was mostly
cliopped. Corn did fairly well; some up1;Lutl corn laid by, some in tassel
during last week, nheu oats and wlirat were beiiig rut: oats light ~i e l d :
wheat fair t o good; minor crops fair.- F. P. Chuffee.
The precip-
itation was above norinal, most nf i t orcurring nu the 10th antl 11th.
Crops in the lower Coloratlo Valley macle fine growth. Locd showrrs
early iu the month revived vegctatinn elsewhere, 1)ut the dry wentlter
which followed largely overcame the beneficial effect of those showers
and cropswere agaiu in poor contlitiou. The ranges, which11 were imliroved
by the rain. again deteriorated. Stock generally suffered greatly.-
M. E. Blyetone.
drkuneas.-C'ool, with less than the usual amount of rain. C'otton
planting completed; early planted fair stand; late planted fair to good;
plant small but healthy; cholipiug well ad\ anced. C'I,IU planting ciiiu-
pleted; stand fair to good; cnlti\atiou general; beiug laid 11s in southern
portion at close of month; stalk sinall but healthy. Oat5 and nlivat
promking; heading in southern irtton at close of inonth. An averepi,
crop of apples and peaches of 'clleut quality inilicatril.--EtZtrci,.tE B.
Richrrrcb. CaZiJorntn.-Dry northerly w itill.: during the iiionth c.aoseil ronsidetalile
damage to grain and vegetables, and high winds on the 24th and 25th
seriously injured clierrirs and other ilecirlnous frnit5 in sonie he(.tionz.
The grain and fruit crop' promise t o fall below early estiniates iu nearly
all parts o f the State. The
hay crop is large and of excellent qutrlity. Deciduous fruits are ripening
and citrus fruits are in good condition.-G. H. WLllso)i.
Planting of corn and early Imtatoeq ~n s
finished. Potatoes were a gooil stand, but the weather wab too cool and
wet for corn. Pall grain. alfalfa, aud range grass improved .;tentlily.
Gardens were good awl the prosliect for fruit was fine, only blight tlaui-
age resultiug from frost. Beet thiuning, melon plantiiiy, aiid t4Jlliatn
setting were under way. Floods cauqed conderahle claniagp in t t i i :
Poudre Valley during night of 20th-F. H. Brc~nrlenbiirg.
FZori&i.-The month was dry ani1 mostly cool, conrlitious fa\ Cir,tblP
for farm work, but uot couduci\e to the gerinination of seed aurl the
growth of plants. Early planted cotton atlvanced very well and a t the
close of the month was fruiting fie4y: late plantiug w
poor stands mere general. Corn *uffererl for rain and the
early planting will be short. Citrus fruits dropped freely as result uf
drought. Pineapples were cut off very much. Peaches were plentiful,
but rrnal1.-A. J. Xitchell.
Georgia.-The first half of the month was moderately cool, the latter
part abnormally warm. This wan the eighth consecuti\ e month with
precipitation below average. Crop conditions were seiious, drvuglit
Ari--cmn.-Morlerate temlieratures prevail+~d during May.
Barley hartest and Iiayin:: are progrcs+ing.
CoZorctdo.-Month favorable.
prevailed autil the very last of the month, when beneficial showere oc-
curred ;m l relieved it situat.ion that wiiq virwrtl with grave apprahen-
siou. C!l.jtton niaile sliiw growt.11. Sliriug oats were ttlnitist a failure.
Corn was abnornially small. Fruit prospects were l~rigtit.-~J. B. Mur-
burg.
liZaho.-The driest M i ~y on record; irrigitteil crops made satisfactory
progress, as t i rule, but sotile unirrigatell hay ani1 grain and late sown
s u g ~' beets sufferell friuni drought. There was some Ilaniagr to fruit by
frost. liut. not siilfirient to offet:t tlie geiieral yield materiirlly. Range grass ni:iile a.scellent growth a n gains. Streitttts re-
niaiueil high from melt,ing snow
1lli)tois. -The tnonth opened witti utiseasonable weather, but quite
fitvorittde conclitiiins follciwetl, hginniug duriug the first decade and con-
t,inuing for the niost liart duritiy the reniaiuiler of the m0nt.h. Cluusider-
able ailrancr was iiintle iu P (J ~I I plarit,ing: about ow-half the crop was
in the groiincl by the 15t,h, an~l by the end o f tlie month corn its niustlg
a11 plnnteil in tlie northern portion. null th+r work was well advanced in
the southt:rit. Oats. wheat, ancl grasses were generally promising.- Wtn.
G. Burits.
Iti.dictncr.-Fariuiny operations continued I?ehind througligniit the month.
i l u account of poor crop prospects much wheat wits plowed up; the re-
nininder promised light crop. Sowing oats was finished rluriug flrst
May 10, antl was unfinishecl at eud o f IllI~Jnth; much replantiug necessary
on account of cutwurnis. 01i1 clover t.liin aiid weedy, other hay crops
proiiiising. Peaches proniiecd light cr(.ip: ot,tier fruits fair to rx~:ellent
Ioic~c.-IvIay was about nornial as to temperature and raittlitll, with
generally favornble conditions for plauting, germination o f seed, and
cuIt,iration. Delay in planting was causeil in liriiitecl itreas by excess of
rainfall ou previously saturiitrd soil. As a whole t.he month was favor-
f4.w tiel11 operat,ions, gerniinatiou o f seed. and nornial growth of
es, cereals, pobntoes, and garden truck. Fruits were more promis-
iait in recent years.-John R. S q e . A-n)wccn.-Wlieat contini~eil in good conilitinn, hail heeded in the south-
ern counties, ani1 was Iteatling iii tlie central. Spring wheat made good
growth. The wet weather retarded ct.irn plauting and the cool niglite
ret,ariled i t s growth, yet l y the end of tlie mouth the corn was coining
iii) in the iiort,hrrn counties and was being cultivated in the southern.
dlfitlh was ready to cut
decade, prospects fitvora1Jle for good crop. Corn planting begtill about
1lri.ispects.- W. T. Blythe.
)tlerat,c warmth during the first. \vas followed by
\-t%nce(l well duriiig tlic last t,eu days. The nionth closed wit,h tnbaCc0
set.ting in progress. Crops generally in giiotl cnut1itinn.-H. B. Hw8ey.
LotciHiuncc.-~~,(ltt,on planting was completed under favorable c!onditions;
prerailiug low t,eniperatures causetl poor stanila in some localities and
retarded growth. hilt warnier weather at close of month proved more
favorable; the plant was small but hettltliy. Corn grew slowly; the crop
was well crilt.ivated. Chne grew slowly I:iut weas generally promising.
Irrigated rice dill well; the rainfall was not suffi&nt for Providence rice.
Truck gardens gave gooil yields.-I. X. Cline.
MuryZci~id rind DeZaic~cire.-Temperature and sunshine were above nor-