The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-08-16
Losses by the Overflow, and Southern
Energy.


A planter in Phillips county, Ark. OF
which Helena is county-seat, who had been
compelled to remove during the flood, writ
ing to the Paducah Heratd, says:
About thirty plantations in that county
have been partially or totally inundated by
the Mississippi waters, and the loss is as
founding, whea accurately estimated.--
The lowest, possible estimate makes The
actual loss in cotton twelve thousand bales,
which, at the moderately low price (for the
season) of $50 per bale, sums up total OF
100000, or an average of $4,000 to each
planter This, however, is far above the
actual loss of most of thenl, as although
there are many who have lost Que and
eight hundred bales, the general loss is from
two To five hundred bales, or from 81 200
to $4,000. Add TO this the loss of corn,
stock, &c, and the fact that over $50, 600
will be required to build up the levee again,
and you will have grand total of nearly
$1,000, 600 as the loss of a portion of one
of the counties of Arkansas, comprising in
the ovcrflowcd district less than two hun
dred square miles To Northern people,
who are accustomed TO snecr at the want of
energy in the South, this loss would certain
" appear crushing and ruinouS, but nothing
will SO thoroughly indicate the recuperativ C
powers of our people as the certainty and
speed with which they will recover from
this disaster and place themselye es in securi-
ty as far Us human power can against a sim
liar visitation. Instead of depression and 4
feeling of ruin pervading the people, upon
my arrival ! was surprised to witness the
spirit of energy and hopeful struggle against
adversely which was everywhere exhibited.
| found the fields, SO lately washed by the
floods, already taStling with newly planted
corn, a general picking up aud repairing of
the damages, rebuilding OF fences repairing
of roads, and on all sides cheerfulness in
stead of gloom. Already has system been
adopted for rebuilding, upon a stupendous
scale, the twenty-five miles of levee which
shall protect this fair region. 1t will be
four feet above the present food marks and
will have breadth enough upon its top for
the county road, riyaling, in its greatness,
the celebrated Chinese wall, and calling to
mind the fabulous dimensions of that of
Babylon. BY the lst of September there
will be at work upon it, with spade and
bdIIoN. lNO luOuStlu llsilitlS- anu htiNdltti
we shall be exempt from similar disasters
/ had expected, as | say, to hear Of persons
ruined and detected, and of property de-
pressed in value but on the contrary every
body is hard at work, in good spirits, and
the price of land has experienced no decline.
The great tide of emigration from the worn
out hill-lands Of the Carolinas, Georgia, Al
ALBANIA, Mississippi and Tennessee which,
directed from Texas by the uncertainty OF
planting there, has been pouring into Ar
kansas, promises to be greater than ever,
and the advanced guard is already here of
fering $50 and $40 per acre for land, with
well defined water marks several feet upon
the trees. The disaster viii cause persons
to exercise rigid economy in their personal
expenses, and although the planter viii be
at the expense Of feeding and clothing his
negroes, as formerly, at dead expense this
year, he will cut down his superfiuous cx-
penditures, and cultivate system of thrifty
economy which viii have a lasting benefit
and influence upon the country. In this
view, what was at first To be regarded as
ruin may prove blessing to the overflow
cd districts.