The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-05-13
.rHEaOvERFLoW.


tain an appreciable idea Of the ex-
tent of our loss. Although it can
scarcely be said the foods have be-
gan to abate, still their destructive
paths are now seen, and We begin
to see the ravages inflicted upon
our unfortunate and suffering PEG
pie. War has its hardships, it is
true, and to individuals it often
brings the direst distress and suf
fering, yet philosophers and states
men alege that in the great after
progress and development of civil
ization, the rending of fossilated
prejudices and obsolete customs
which operate to manacle the links
of progress, there is secured some
compensation. But in a
WAR WITH THE ELEMENTS
There is no after compensation
All is wreck, ruin and waste which
marks the path of such dread mon
sters Not until there has been a
complete subsistence of the waters,
can there be full measurement of
the damages sustained, but a sur
vey of the vast plane of water,
which stretches from the border of
Arkansas to the gulf, with an aver
age width of say fifty miles, We may
at least approximately estimate the
calamity. Predicating our esti-
mates ON the best lights now before
us, the loss, direct and consequent
tial to the people of this State must
largely exceed
TEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
When the food shall have entirely
passed away, and absolute facts are
ascertained, the estimate stated
may be largely increased, but can
not be diminished, and not until
then will it be possible to deter
mine what the individual suffering
has been.
The area now under water is va
riously estimated ct from $500, 1000
to 5000, 1000 acres. The estimates
of damage must include the labor
previously expended in the crops,
the loss of fences, cattle, mules.
poultry, and every variety and kind
of chattel property, houses, dams
aged machinery, stores of food and
clothing, loss of prospective crops,
also the prospective damages for a
season of unemployed time until
the sufferers can again find remu-
nerative employment, the time, la
Dor and expense of restoring the
wasted lands, fences and habita
tons. Involved in all these esti
mates is a population fairly esti
mated at
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND,
Without considering the large com
mercial interests of New Orleans,
which are to be affected by the
overflow, not only for the present
year, but until these damages can
be repaired.
We have desired to be reasonable
in these calculations, and to found
them on ascertained and appreci-
alive facts, for in that way only will
they have any value in the public
mind. Suppose we begin with the
loss of the
COTTON CROP.
In making these estimates con-
corning cotton, we consider the
entire product of Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Mississippi Should
the flood subside by the middle of
the present month, there would yet
be time to obtain some recompense
for the loss in this crop; but it is
we'll known that late planting of
cotton is never safe for any yield,
and can not be counted on under
the most favorable circumstances
for more than half crop. Well
planters, and good judges
with whom we have conversed, con-
slider that there will be loss Of
100000 bales of cotton on the crop
of this year, even under the most
favorable circumstances. Should
the overflow continue longer than
the 18th instant, the loss will be
largely enhanced, and exceed 800,
900 bales
THE SUGAR LOSS.
The loss in this community is al
most total and absolute, not only
for the present year, but will attend
that industry for two more years
besides the present Cane can not
be brought to a productive capac-
lty under three years, and its resto-
ration will only be accomplished
1t will be fair to count
in the loss not only for the present
year, but the consequential loss of
succeeding years. The loss on this
years crop is variously estimated
ut from 10000 to 40, 600 hhds., but
we are persuaded that the former
figures, 10000 hhds., is within the
of certainty. That would
be 100000. Next year 10000
hhds-, 100000, and the year fol-
lowing that, 10000 hhds-. or ST.
100000. The sugar loss then, di-
reetly and consequential, must be
set down at S6,OOO,OOO.
THE RICE CROP,
Some overstrong estimates have
been made of the loss in this crop,
and we have endeavored to reach
indisputable conclusions. The rice
crop of the State is written down
in the statistics at 52,206 barrels
of $50 pounds each The produc-
ing parishes are: St James, 1876