New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-18
VOLUME VIII--NO
The Levee and the High Water.

The Levee and the High Water.
The news that the river had fallen to high
watsfrk furnished needed relief yes-
terd0y IA {nerning, and was something of a
recompenae against the great rainfall
So great has been the amount of rain
that the several draining machines are kept
running Light and day. Fortunately, they
are in excellent order and have a full sup
ply Of fuel
A email break in the Orleans draining
canal let out considerable water, but Ad-
6inistrstOr Lewis men have closed the
leak.
The rear portion of the Third District is
flooded.
X. The ,levee from Algiers up to the Company
canal is not in prime condition. Back of
Algiers and Gretna tho water is steadily
i encrosching. 1t is now up to the railroad
track. -
III Our city front seems to be all right, and
Bho trightful reports come from Kenner.
This latter plsss has much more water than
is required.
We are informed by Charles E. Halstead,
Z just arrived from Plaquemine, that the
levee broke at Hickey's Point, three miles
above, about three o'clock on Thursday
4 morning.t At ten in the forenoon, the cre-
: tasse was three hundred feet wide and
twelve deep, and the water was pouring
through like csteract. The roar could be
|. heard for . distance of ten'miles.
q Naturally there is great suffering and dis
tsss in Iberville parish. The plantations
~ Ahe immediate vicinity of the crevasse
- lbmerged and the Inhabitants forced
5 drtf6nd at distance. The town
q Kquemine itself is threatened. All day
9rsasy the people of all classes turned
s.O4tjuthe. rain to work on the levees. Mr..
Hh3stead has been commissioned by the
people of Iberville to come down to the city
for ~ purpose of obtaining assistance. 1t
parish, but also in other portions of the
State. A greater calamity is now upon us
than any from the same cause within our
recollection. The food extends far and
wide, and the angry waters of the Missis-
sippi are overlapping and destroying the
fraii levees in scores of place. We never
before felt the want of assistance from
other States to q greater extent Without
prompt action hundreds of people must
starve outright. We hope, therefore; the
appeals from Catahoula, Caldwell and other
places in the Ouachita valley, and from
!. Iberville, will meet with a fitting response.
Probably the worst piece Of news that
has boeR received during the season Of Gre
vasses was that announcing the giving way
of GrGkd elevee. in the parish of Pointe
Coupee.0 This disaster occurred Thursday
night, end the water is now rushing through
the break with terrific velocity. As re-
sulk the water fell twelve inches at Bayou
Sara Yesterday point on the opposite
side 81 the river, and few wmiles below.
By this crevasse hundreds of plantations
and small farms will be overAowed that
lkave hitherto escaped, and it is calculated |
that the whole country between the Missis- |
ssippi and the Atchafalaya river will be |
.upder water within the next three to five |
,p9s.
n Water from the Bonnet Carre crevasse
has compelled the Jackson Railroad Com
|
there. and hereafter, until further notice,
connections will be made by way of Lake |
Pontchartrain up to Manchac. The eve-
ming departures will be at four o'clock, from |
the head Of Elysian Fields street, and ar
rive at 10 P. NJ. The seven o'clock morning |
express train is iscontinued. This ar
rangement is similar to that of 1871. The
L. - L.. IL. 4 A.
passengers, and another boat will take
Ssavs freight.
This addition of water to the lake will |
raise the level, but not to an extent that
need create alarm. Already the muddy
lines can be seen. .
Senator Brewster lis here, from the
Quachita country, delegated to inform the
authorities of the deplorable condition OF
affairs up there IN the overfiowed sections.
Information concerning the situation has
been forwarded to Washington, and Con-
gress will be petitiOned to furnish general
relief, in the form of provisions. An an
swer will be received to-day by Governor
Kellogg.
Judge Thomas Reber, president of the
police jury of the parish of Concordia, ar
rived by the last trip of the steamer Natchez'
to secure aid for the destitute people of the
parish, and to make certain levees secure,
the breaking of which would completely
ruin the little land that is not now over
flowed.
l-The steamboat Bradish johnson was not |
Il&Ted to land at the Plaquemine wharf,
y citizens who ordered Captain Picket not
o stop there for fear the boat would break
he levee and SO, inundate the village. The
Johnson returned, having transferred her !
argo to the Bertha. ii
Grunewald Hall.
This beautiful hall was wen filed last
evening in spite Of the rain and consequent
muddy condition of the streets. Although | a