Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-07-17
III. Dana.e ur !. sy IN. .he r,s.a. d.

49, The Damage by the Rieed.
/ The present overflow in the Up
lPer Mississippi and its tributaries, 1
entirely unparalleled in the history
of this country. In 1874, il is, true
the wafer was several feet higher
than it has been, this season; but !
we remember, correctly, it abated a
! a much earlier period then, thar
now. II has now been more than a
month since the. Mississippi over.
flowed the contiguous bottoms and
all the low lands in the vicinity. For
more than three weeks the leyee in
this city has been completely sub.
merged, and all the stores on Front
street filled with water TO the depth
Of several feet. During this period.
business has been almost entirely sus-
pended, as boats could neither re-
ceiYe nor discharge their cargoes, al
the usual landings, hut have been
compelled to go long distance up
the river 10 find spot at which they
could approach the shore. The bot
toms above being all under water, it
has been difficult for boats 10 obtain
freights except at few points.
For these reasons. business has
been in great measure suspended,
to the serious detriment Of the mer-
cantiie and agricultural classes
But the losses to these classes will
be more seriously felt in the immense
damage which has been done TO the
growing crop. For hundreds OF
miles along the Mississippi, Missouri,
and their tributaries, the bottom
lands have been submerged for
weeks; the growing crop of these
grounds has been entirely destroyed,
and that too so laie in the season, as
10 preclude the possibility of re-plan
ting. Hundreds OF thousands OF
acres, which a few weeks ago gave
promise Of an abundant yield, have
thus been rendered barren and DESC
late for the season. In addition to
this many houses have been washed
away; fencing, TO an imm ems
amount has been destroyed, and
vast quantity of live stock has per-
ished in the flood. We have also
h ard serious apprehensions ex-
pressed, that the long continuance OF
the water over the bottoms will
deaden and destroy the greater part
of the timber -on&-the submerged
lands. This would indeed be
great additional calamity.
II is impossible to tell with certain.
ty what effect the flood has had upon
the harbor Improvements opposite
this city. II is to be hoped that the
dyke from Bloody Island 10 the
Illinois shore remains firm, and that
Duncan's Island has been washed
away; but until the water falls il
will be impossible TO ascertain with
any degree of certainty the exact
condition OF affairs. The river yes
terday was about at a stand, and we
trust the reputed rise in the upper
rivers will not materially increase
the volume Of water here. At pre-
sent the river is several miles wide
ST. Louis; and lllinoistown,
which used to be on the opposite
side OF the river, is now something
less than midway Of the "Inland sea-"
and wears a most desolate look,
with the wafer in the second stories
Of some Of the houses, and up to the
caves in others, whilst a few are
in the current, and bobbing
up and down like a fisherman's cork.
Take it all.in-all, this has been The
most disastrous flood which has oc-
Cured within the memory Of that
person, the "oldestinhabi-
tant." 1t is also greatly to be feared
that its disasters viii not terminate
with the loss of property; but when
The waters subside, and leaves such
an immense surface Of wet and
swampy land, exposed TO a midsum-
mer's sun, we shall suffer greatly
from the diseases incident 10 the sea-
son. 4. -1t r--.f -..-...tr
81. Louis Iptelligencer, 4th inst.