The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-24

nelds. farms and gardens bore their sem-tropic
-'saH HARvRsrs OF WEALTH AND BEAUTY.
Two zones there seemed to vie with each other in
the production OF their airest fruits and richest har
vests. In those days few acres OF this land could
be purchased at less than $50 per acre; put now.
since war, oppression and numerous noods have
been let loose on this formerly beautiful district
Its march OF progress has been STAYED, improve
ment has been stopped, the plantations, estates,
farms. groves and gardens have gone into decay,
and It's inhaoitants, most OF whom were once
happy and wealthy are struggling bitterly against
poverty and starvation.
For the people who dwell In this region the
spring OF 1874 opened with less gloomy portcnts
than those OF many previous years. 1t was I'M
usually early and full or PROMISE and by the mid
die OF March the crops were at least two months
ahead OF the season, owing 70 the unprecedented
midness oil the winter More rice has been sown
In this district than has before been planted
In Louisiana; larger acreage OF corn was In and
growing finely; the
CANE FIELDS WERE ALREADY GREEN
and more promising than they have been in
twenty years. Thus the farmers were blessed
with promise and prospect OF raising harvests
enough for themselves and the taxgatherer.
This was the state or things up to the middle OF
March; but previous to that date predictions OF
very high water had been pronounced by many
old planters, who. at the constant OF rises In
the upper rivers. shook their heads, saying that
the prospect for an early flood was almost certain
Their predictions unfortunately. have proved
TOO true. Nor was the flood long In coming; BURST
ing the levees IN Arkansas Mississippi and north
louisiana as IL came. In lower Louisiana Tor some
time the nope was felt that the great river would
ma vent for It's surplus water through many OF
Strange to say these did not appear TO decrease ia
volume IN tne least; Tor though It poured enough
water through these upper breaks to form
LITTLE INLAND SEA.
on came Cne nOOd, bursting the frau levee barriers
that vainly opposed themselves TO It's might,
spreading ruin and desoaton till 1t nearly reached
the sea- or I'LL its current swept over the uncult
waited lowlands IN close proximity to the Gulf
THE FLOOD OF 1874
came without any thing or anybody being prepared
for it. Since the rise OF 1871 up to this year there
has been no nigh water OF any consequence. The
by the dood three years ago had not in the mean
time been properly repaired or rebuilt. The water
broken levees, hence no harm was done during
these intervening years. The Louisiana Levee
Company and the commissioners In charge thus
became over confident, and, judging from these
two years, seem to have forgotten that the Mis-
sissippt's great spring rise was Of almost annual
occurrence Thus the first year Of this company's
organization there was no high water, the second
year likewise, and this corporation, ignoring the
acs that tine water was was unusually low these three
owing to the company's EFFORTS that for
two years - the people Of Louisiana were
came. and the louisiana Levee Company with
also the three commissioners. although having re-
no wise prepared for the rise OF this year, which
Is the greatest that has occurred since the coun-
try has been settled, here. at New Orleans, two
days ago, the river being eight inches higher than
1t ever was before.
TIE COAST PLANTERs
In the meantime, had relied ON the Levee Com
pany: Thus came the great hood OF 1874, with
nothing to resistit deluging thousands Of square
miles q land dsstroyng crops wnsreon millions
not only the beasts OF the forest and field, but
many human Inhabitants OF the desoated region.
OF the most fruitful portion OF the earth, riding in
on its pillows such spectral ships a. bankruptcy,
Below the mouth Of Red River rev miles was
the great embankment known as Grand Levee
This had base OF 200 leet and was thirty feet IN
hundred yards OF this has given way, and fur
Gus torrent PUSHES with roar through the breach,
pEE1sTATioN AND DEsoLATIoN FOB HUNDREDS OF
MILES,
The waters OF the Grand Levee break have al
ready met those OF the Port Hudson Crevasse,
which Is more than forty miles below, on the west
bank OF the river, opposite Port Hudson. This lat
Through this second break volume OF water
rushes, which has already submerged
r Sss csons
entirely destroyed. immense numbers OF stock
have been drowned and many people ruined and
Thirty miles below the Port HUDSON break Is the
West Baton Rouge crevasse, whose width is also
several hundred yards. The turbid torrent that
flows through this breach has already inundated
many large sugar plantations and small farms.
Then further down the river Is the Plaquemines
crevasse, which, delugtng very populOus district,
damages the country to the extent OF millions
This viii probably submerge larger area OF culti-
waited land than any crevasse on the coast.
Below the Plaquemines break is the M'Cullom
crevasse. less disastrous than any OF the four
above, but stu terrible as to the amount OF ruin
FORTY MILES ABOVE NEW ORLEANS
on the east bank Of the MississlPpA with rush
wide. In the Bonnet Care bend the Mississippi is
PoncSsrtrsin. The water nom sns crsVasas is
already swelling the lake, till now It has crept up
to the base Of the back drainage levees OF this city
swell the lake water, when repetition on q
grander scale OF the overflow OF 1871 would occur.
large area OF sugar and rice land, has broken the
line OF our greatest railroad and Is threatening
New Orleans with overflow from the rear levees.
days ago In many places the water was pouring
over tins 'front.' nooding the streets and
force Of over 1000 men was instantly set to
work at raising the levee in many parts until at
aen en Sc @ e
immense outlets above, all taking out great yet
comparatively small tribute OF the Mississpprs
Below New Orleans is the fairest, most prosper.
GUS and most fertile portion OF Louisiana. This
region has natural advantages Of climate and FER
dnctive land in the south For the 1rst time in
sixteen years 1t is deuged. The Hood or 1874
broke through its levees and IL now pouring over
It's fields ana farms, engulfng them In one COM
mon ruin.
On Belle Chase formerly the residence OF Ju-
dan p BENJAMIN, and one OF the finest estates in
the South large portion OF the evee has been
swept away. Through this breach current is
pouring which has already hooded several large
sugar plantations This breach Is eighteen miles
below New Orleans, west bank.
below New Orleans, east BANK Is the largest
crevasse OF the lower coast. The vol
ume OF water which rusnes through tins open
ing has inundated and destroyed the crops on
FOURTEEN IMMENSE SUGAR ESTATES
and many highly improved farms. XIV
After this. all the way down till the levee lands
terminate, are many small crevasses, from nty to
loo feet wide. Thene are In the rice region which
thus submerged IL owned by Bradish Johnson, q
prominent citizen OF New York. A few OF his
Louisiana sugar plantations are however, out OF
water.