The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-06-11
THE INUNDATED CITY.
A Million Doilar's Worth Of Property
Destroyed. M Is.

b - ~
Prom the Louisville courisr-Journsl, Junes.
The details Of the inundation OF the city
of New Orleans, as given In our ex-
changes, are mournfnl In the extreme.
More than ono-hslf the cityis under wat
or, and new break in the canals, or an
unfavorable wind might still further in
crease the damage. The waters of Lake
Ponchartrain, swollen to the immense
torrent pouring IN from the Mississippi by
the Bonnet Care crevasse, and raised still
further by an east wind blowing fefcelye
from the gulf, appear to have broken
through the banks of the canal. The New
Orleans Pieayune says; "The water now
mods Canal street 70 Dryades street, and
on Common street the waters extends to
Rampant. In the angle Of the city formed
by the Old Basin, Claiborne street and
Elysian Fields street, there 10 but little
water; only such, indeed, MS arise from
overaowed sewers. But between Elysian
Fields street and Lafayette avenue, and
far beyond Florida Walk, the flood ex-
tends uninteruptedly to a vast lake--a
miniature sen. Nor does It stop here, but
covers all The vast area below Canal ST.,
from Bayou 81. John to JourdAn avenue,
and from Hagan avenue, up Poydras, to
Rampant stnet. Nearly every homestead
in this vice extent is surrounded by
water -
THOUSANDS Of families are shelterless
and without food, and their privations
and sufferings must continue TO increase.
The city authorities are showing com.
mendabie activity in taking measures to
relieve the distress, and citizens respond
heartily tothe appeals for aid. On Nom
day morning the distribution of cooked
provisions to the needy began at tho Clair
borne market, and those who were unable
to come we're notified that any signal Of
distress would be needed by the police.
The Commercial Bulletin urges upon all
to pass this Information from mouth TO
mouth as the only way by which it could
reach the poor
OF course se,dshness and villainy seize
upon such times of excitement to prey
upon the defeiseless. The most extort-
ionate charges are made by the boatmen
FOR removing persons and property, and
open robteries abound in tho flooded dis
| tricts. The police detected four miscrc-
| ants in the ac. Of cutting the levee on
Ciairborre canal in the rear Of Poland
street, but unfortunately they escaped, af-
ter having cut the canal in five places
A general meeting of citizens was held
on Sunday and G. Covoroc, President Of
the bank Of New Orleans, A. forner,
President Of the bank of America, and c.
ceive subscriptions. The Young Mems
city and the various charitable Orgsni Ia
the uufortunstes.
Thnruh ,,,r lataet talanranb tch ao
report the food as abating, the danger is
by no means over. There is flood IN the
Missouri and the upper Mississippiis rap
the city can hardly fall short Of million
of dollars and, if the many reports as u
the gross carelessncss and incom.
petency of those in charge Of
The levees upon which th,
safety Of the city depends
are true, there is a fearful record OF
loss and suffering for which they
are responsible. The food Of 1869 wa;
q warning to the Department Of Improve-
ments; and though the present overflow
was six inches higher than the point
| reached by the waters then, it was not be.
| yond human foresight and skill TO have
provided against this disaster and pre-
vented It. The river Is ever at their doors,
and a watchful oversight over the whole
levee system should be constantly main
| tained. 1t Is asserted, wo know not with
how much truth, that the crevasse at
Bonnet Care, probably the ultimate cause
of the destructive food at New Orleans,
owed its origin to contemplate quarrel
as to whose business it was to close road
made through the levee for local purposes
whether the entire neighborhood should
repair the breech, OF the person who had
used the road last. While tho quarrel was
going on, the river rushed through, and
when all were ready to work in concert
it was too late l, was telegraphed yes
terdsy that the giving way Of the canal
leyee at New Orleans was caused by the
commissioners selling the right to remove
the dirt from the levee to Oil vacant lots
and that the waters broke through at the
place that had been thus weakened. Such
criminal imbscility slmost surpasses be-
lief, and We are inclined 10 doubt it on
\ general principles. The terrible fact IL
there, however, and explanations al
to the cause are not in order now.