The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-05-09
THE OVERFLOW.
Approximate Estimates or the
Loss II Has Caused.
Now Orleans Tmes. May N

New orleans Times May T.
After the dread OF battle comes the
fearful reckoning. II Is then wcattNin
an appreclablo Idea of the extent of our
loss Although II can scarcely be said
the Hoods have logan 10 abate, Stlll
their destructive paths are now seen,
and we begin TO see the raNagos III
liicted upon our unfortunate and sul-
lerIng people, War has It's hardships
II h true, aud 70 individuals II often
brings the dirCet distress and suffering,
yet philosophers and statesmen allcge
that In the great atler progrcs aud de-
Vclopment Of civilization, the rcndiug
Of lossilOtcd prcludiceS aud obsolete
customs which operate to mauarlc the
links Of progress, there is secured some
compensation, But In a wax with The
elements there is no after compensa-
ton. All Us wreck, ruin and waste
which marks the path Of such dread
monsters, Not until there has been
n complete subsdonce OF the waters,
can there be n full measurement of the
damages sustained, but survey Of the
vast plane of water, which stretches
FROM the border of Arkansas 20 the
gulf with an average width of say
fifty miles, we may at least approx
mately estimate the calamity. Predi-
eating our estimates on the best lights
now before Us, the loss, direct and con-
sequential, to the people Of this state
must largely exceed
TEN MILLIONS or DOLLARS.
When the flood shall have entirely
passed away, and absolute facts are as
certained, the estimate stated may he
largely increased, but cannot be di-
minshed, and not until then will it be
possible to determine what the ludi
vidual suffering has been.
The area now under water is Vari-
ously estimated ut from 100000 to
3 1000, 900 acres. The estimates of dam
age must include the labor previously
expended in the crops, the loss of FEM
ces, cattle, mules, poultry, and every
variety and kind of chattel property,
houses damaged machinery, stores of
food and clothing, loss of prospective
crops, also the prospective damage for
a season of unemployed time until the
sufferers can again find remunerative
employment the time, labor and en-
pense of restoring the wasted land, fen
ces and habitations. Involved in all
these estimates is population fairly
estimated at
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND,
without considering the large CONNER
cial 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 he reasonable in
these calculations, and TO find them on
ascertained and appreciate 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 concern
ing cotton, we consider the entire pro-
duct OF Louisiana, Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi. Should the food subsde hy
the middle Of the present month,
there would yet be time to obtain some
recompense for the loss in this crop
but il is well known the 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 a crop. Well informed plan
tiers, and good judges, with whom we
have conVersed, consider that there
will be II loss of 100000 bales of cotton
Oh the crop of this year, even under the
most favorable circumstances. Should
the overflow continue longer than the
18th instant, the loss will belargely en-
HANGED, and exceed 100000 bales.
THE SUGAR LOSS.
The loss in this commodity is almost
total and absolute, not only for the
present year, but will attend that in
iustry for two more years besides the
present. Cane cannot be brought to a
productive capacity under three years,
md its restoration will only be accom-
Dlished gradually. 1t will be fair to
count in the loss not only of the pres
EFT year, but the consequential loss of
succeeding years. The loss on this
years. crop is variOusly estimated mt
from 10000 to 10000 hogsheads, but we
are persua led that the former figures,
80, 600 hogsheads, is within the margin
If certainty. That would be $1,000, 600.
Next year 20, 900 hogsheads, So, 100000,
md the year following that 10000
or Sl,00O,000. The sugar
oss then, directly and consequential,
must be set down at So, 100000.
THE RICE CROP.
Some over-strong estimates have
Deen made of the loss in this crop, and !
We have eudeavored to reach indis- |
)utable conclusions. The rice crop of |
he state is written down in the statis-
les at 81, 2O5 barrels of go pounds each.
The producing parishes are: st. james
I35 barrels not overflowed; st. John |
80 barrels, one-quarter overlooked, |
oss SIS barrels; St Charles 5402 bar
els, loss one-fourth or 1850 barrels; |
Jefferson 30S barrels, not overlooked; |
Orleans Il barrels not overlooked; st. |
Bernard III barrels, not overlooked; |
30, 25i barrels, loss one
bird or l0,0S5 barrels; Terrebonne H.
Al, loss four-fifths or 93l2 barrels; La
ourche 1924 barrels, loss two-thirds or |
10 barrels; Vermillion SS4 barrels, not |
Lafayette $40 barrels, not |
,verfiowed. We have here Il certain |
oss of 5,0Sl $40 pounds, which, esti-
mated at s Lie, aggregates $3l 1886.
THE TOBACCO CROP.
There may be some loss in the crop of
but diligent inquiry has fail
I'd to discover that ii is material. The
,rop, ut best, is not large in this state.
A full estimate OF the loss, and we are
without facts to justify it, would be
100000.
This brings us to the consideration of
he most difficult part of the subject,
The loss of
CHATTEL PROPERTY.
such as cattle, mules, hogs, poultry,
farming tools, fences, etc. Necessarily
we are much at sea here, ana however
nhinct innoh II may Iva tn nrnSput psti- |