The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-13
THE MISSISSIPPI LEyEEs.

UTeuC htSe M Ue WGterS OF Ute IHtS
sissippi.
The levecs all along the Mississippi
are breaking. A dozen crevasses have
been made and every available man is
engaged stopping the leaks. The new
levee upon which Louisiana has recent
ly expended a half million has broken
in several places. 1t requires men day
and night to watch for the first indica-
tions Of break. The devastation is
alarming. The calamity is thus com
4nented on by the New Orleans Times :
The intelligence of an uncomfortable
crevasse in Grand Levee created serious
alarm in this city yesterday. That Gre
vase must carry with 1T fearful lliad
of desolation. For three years in sue
cession the hopes of the planters have
been destroyed over broad stretches of
fertile lands by floods which broke
through the insufficient artificial barriers
raised against them, and the present
overflow threatens to be not less de
structive than either of those which
preceded it. 1t is sad indeed to con-
template these repeated disasters, COM
ing, as they have done, on the heels of
others scarcely less serious in their char
acter. What was left by the ravages
of war the waters have swept away, and
thousands upon thousands of our people,
both white and colored, must be releiv,
cd by charity or starve. The levee
which has ust broken was but recently
completed, at cost to the State of near
ly half million dollars. On it our
people had staked their credit and their
hopes, and the investment has proved
an utter loss. Not only will the crops
and stock of thousands of our citizens
be lost, but they will be driven from
their homes and subjected to swamp fe-
vers and other ailments which will
greatly add 10 the burden of their mise
ries.
But it is not alone from Grand Levee
that the threat Of general overflow
comes. In no portion of the State are
the lsvees of sufficient solidity and
height to resist the unusual pressure to
which they are now subjected. Every
where the river threatens to overleap
or thrust aside the narrow combining
walls ofearth through which men in eff
feet have said "Thus far shalt thou 90
and no further, and here shall thy proud
waves 20 The night Of the Mississippi
is well known. When the proud river
marks out for itself new dynamic laws
and seeks fresh channels of escape for
its continent waters, it is no easy mat
ter to bring it back into its old lines and
limits Of restraint. Such is its position
at present. A month earlier than usual
the waters have attained an unusual
height-one never before known at this
season of the year-and from all quar-,
tiers come cries of melting SHOWS and
still greater floods.
The Natchez Courier, of the Goth ult.,
says:
During the twelve hours from sum
down on Wednesday to sunrise on Thurs
day, the river at Vidalia, opposite Nat
chez, rose three inches.
A view from our bluff shows a terri
bly, angry and swollen stream of water.
Lake Concordia looms up like a great
arm which the Father of Waters is ex-
tending to warn and punish. The river
extends to the levee Immediately in
front of the courthouse and looks as if
every little swell would send the bound |
ing current over the only frail barrier
that still protects the beautiful planta-
lions of that parish.
Marengo levee is still reported as in
tact; though very great apprehensions
are hourly felt as to its safety.
MIR. Lyle, ofthe Concordia LateNgen-
Ger, writes us under date of IL o'clock
last night " Since my paper went to
press, information has reached me that
Marengo levee is liable to break at any
moment. Slushes are continually tax
ing place and seipage water flowing
The grand levee at Morganza broke
day before yesterday, turning the angry
flood of the river into the southwestern
parishes of Louisiana, to find its way to
the Gulf through Berwick's bay. This
disastrous break, while it spreads ruin
over seven parishes of the State, will
yet free the lower river from Bayou
Sara down from danger. 1t has already
affected the stage OF water above the
break. AT Red River landing, when
the Quitman passed Wednesday even
ing, there had been fall ofnearly eight
inches, and it was reported the fail caus-
ed by the break had been felt above
Fort Adams.
The chief engineer of the first levee
division writes rather discouragingly
about closing the Roman crevasse, fifty-
six miles above New Orleans. He is
still hopeful, but cannot reject all doubts.
The original gap is widened to the ex-
tent OF QUE hundred and fifty feet, and
the water passing through it is from six
to twelve feet deep.
The Natchez Courier, of the aoth ult..
says:
Notwithstanding the influence of the
Morganza break, the river at this point
rose three inches during the twenty
four hours ending yesterday noon. 1t
is fearfully high. The marks at Browns
saw mill, just above the city, indicate
stage of water already higher than the
flood of 1892" and worse remains be-
hind"
Intelligence was received Yesterday
noon that there was but little chance
of holding the Marengo levee longer