The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-03

memorable year 1874, when . precisely SINH
lar conjuncture produced most disastrous re.
suits. In view Of this threatening outlook Il
behooves the people, both In this city and In
the parishes that will be affected by over
flows. TO make every possible preparation to
meet the foaming torrents that will soon be
rushing upon ns from the Cumberland and
Rocky Mountains. There are about fifteen
days In which to get ready, and III that time
very much can be done toward strengthen
Ing the levees. provided there be an exhibi-
tion Of energy and enterprise. As for the
city, we believe, and II is the opinion Of the
city surveyor. based upon careful examine
ton OF the river front, that the levee can be
made perfectly secure inside Of forty-eight
hours. including the Algiers side; 30 that
there need be no fear OF any trouble from
water las for as the city IL concerned), but
with the parishes 1t ls very different,
and we greatly fear that unless
there BIO prompt and vigorous action
on the part OF the parish authorities the dam-
age will be great to the planters. Col. Har-
dee, State Engineer, is fully alive to the
gravity Of the situation, and Ia taking active
steps TO avert, as far 40 possible, the impend-
Ing danger. but hle means are extremely
limited. aud the people most Interested will
have to depend mainly upon their own means
and exertions for security. There need not
be- any approximations Of large amount OF
water from Red river, rs almost, II not quite
all. the flood from that rapidly rising stream
win be carried of by the Atchafalaya. to-
gether with large amount from the Missls-
slppi Itself. But NO desire to warn our friends
OF the river parishes that there is real danger,
and to suggest that there is no time to lose II
they would be prepared for the water which
is surely coming, and In such volume ~ to
warrant the liveliest approximations. When
the floods from both the eastern and western
tributaries Of the Mississippi unite, as they
soon will, we may confidently look forward
to repetition OF 1874, 80 far as high water la
concerned; 1t remains to be seen how mucl,
better prepared we are to encounter such
condition of affairs The water at Little Rock
la rising about one foot per day, and the heavy
rains In the upper river country will
soon make that strea Y bank full; the Ouachi- |
to ls reported us out ofits banks; the Missouri |
ie steadily rising, and four inches Increase
per day is reported at st. Louis. The news
from the Cumberland shows that there has
been second rise, the rapidity Of which may
be Inferred from the fact that having fallen at |
Nashville to fourteen feet ten inches above
low water mark on the twenty-sixth OF Feb
ruary, 1t rose to. thirty-four feet one inch
above by the second instant, or over nineteen
'eet In five days. The highest point reached
oy the flood at Memphis during the high
water OF 1876 was thirty-five feet above low
water mark. and 1t Is now thirty-three feet
'ix inches above; the highest point reached
It Cairo was forty-seyen feet three inches
lbove, and 1t Is now forty feet five inche
lbove. At Vlcksburg the highest point
cached was forty-five feet six inches (but
hat was before the cut off. and Was equiva-
ent to about forty-one feet, and Is now
hirty-nine feet. These facts taken In connec-
ion with the heavy rains reported, reveal q
ondition OF affairs which certainly calls for
erious consideration and prompt action.
The city authorities will no doubt at once
ut the levees III thorough repair, 80 that we
nay not only be secure ourselves but be pre-
ared. X need be, to extend assistance to such
1 our near neighbours as may lind themselves
a y,arII L