New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-11
The Damage by the Flood.
From the St. Louis Republican

The present overflow in the Upper Mis-
sssppi and Its tributaries, entirely unparalleled in
the history OF the country In 1874, Is true, the
water was several feet higher than It has been this
season but If We remember correctly, II abaied at a
much earlier period then, than now. II has now
been more than month since the Mississippi over
flowed the contiguous bottoms and all the low lands
In It's vicinity For than three weeks the Levee
IN this city has been entirely submerged and all the
stores on trontst hlcd with water 10 the depth Of
several feet. During this period. business has been
almost entirely suspended a. boats could neither re-
celve discharge their cargOeS, AZ the usual land
lngs. but have been compelled TO go long distance
up the river 10 find spot al which they could ap-
proach the shore The bottoms above seing all IN
der water. has been difficult for the boats 10 obtain
irclchts except 1t few points
For these reasons, business has been IN great
measure suspended, to the serious detrment of the
mercantile and agricultural classes But the losses
10 these classes Will DC more seriously felt IN the
mense damage which has been done 10 the growing
crop. For hundreds Of miles along the Mississippi.
Missouri, and tnelr tributaries, the bottom lands
have been submerged for weeks the growing crop
on these lands has been entirely destroyed and that
too. late IN the preclude the poSsbll-
ly OF rcplanilng. Hundreds OF thousands OF acres
which few weeks ago gave promise OF an a5un-
dant yield. have thus been rendered barren and des
olaie for the season In addition 10 this, many houses
have been washed away fencing 10 an immense
amount has been destroyed. and a vast quantity of
live stock has persisted IN the food. We have also
heard serious apprehenSlOnS expressed That the long
continuance OF the water over the bottoms VIII
doaden and destroy the greater part Of the timber
the submerged lands This would indeed be a great
additional calamity
1t Is impossible TO tell with certainty what effect
the food has had upon the harbor Improvements op-
pOS,e tins city II 10 De hoped that the dyke from
Bloody Island to the Illinois shore remains firm, and
that Duncan's Island has been washed away but
until the water falls Il Will be impossible 10 ascertain
with any certainty the exact condition of affairs
The riYer yesterday was about at a stand, and we
trust the Tepued rise IN the upper rivers Will not ma
terally increase the volume OF water here. At
present the river is several miles wide opposite St
Louis and Ilhnolstown, which used 10 be on the
opposite side of the rlver, IS now something less than
midway of the " inland sea" and wears most desc
late look, with the water in the second stories OF
of the houses. AMI up to the caves IN others,
whilst few anchored IN The current. and bobong
up and down like fShermanS cork Take Il al!-ln-
an tins has been the most disastrous flood which has
occurred within the memory OF that respectable per-
SON. the oldest nhabltani' II is also greatly TO be
feared that It's disasters Will not terminate with the
loss Of properly but that when the water subsidies,
and leaves such immense surface of wet and
swampy land exposed 10 a mldSummerS Scn. we
shall suffer greatly from the diseases incident 10 the