Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-20
CHICAGO.
The Wheat Crop in Kansas and
Other States.
Destructive Flood in Northern
Illinois ana Wisconsin.

every county in Kansas show that on
the whole the winter wheat crop is in
excellent condition, better than usual
at this season. Everything now de-
pends upon rain. The past few days
have been exceedingly hot and windy,
and in some places the dirt has been
blown so as to expose the roots Of the
wheat to the scorching sun. But little
damage has been sustained as yet. A
good warm rain would be of incalcu-
liable benefit Farmers say that with
favorable weather the crop will be the
finest ever harvested in Kansas. The
spring wheat crop appears to be in a
favorable condition.
In seventeen counties its condition
is fair; in forty-thrce it is a poor crop,
and little confidence is felt in it. The
aggregate acreage of rye is rather lin
tied, and reports as a whole are rather
favorable.
Dispatches from along Rock river
in Illinois and Wisconsin state that it
is higher than ever known before, and
is doing an immense amount of dam
age. At Sterling, ILL.,, it is twelve feet
above low water mark, ard has been
rising for the past twenty-four hours.
The immense manufacturing interests
Of Rock Falls, OF pOsile Sterling, has
been threatened with complete de-
struction, and night and day hun
dreds Of men have worked for dear
life to protect their bulkheads and
raceway. If the water should rise
another foot, the loss oflife would be
enormous. The lower rart of Sterling
is flooded. The lair grounds are sub
merged and distilleries with hundreds
of cattle are on an island with water
crowding dangerously on all sides.
The Chicago and Northwestern
railroad track for FIVE miles is COM
pletely covered with water, and much
oft iswashed away. The track be-
tween Clinton and Dixon has been
abandoned, and there is no communi-
cation with the outside world, except
by telegraph. The river between
Sterling and Erie ha: overfowed and
is covering the country for many miles
aud if it continues rising the destruc-
tion will be fearful
Thousands of anxious people line
The river banks watching the fearful
food, which at times runs in waves
three or four feet high.
At Fort Atkinson, Wis, all low.
lands near the river are flooded and
the ice comes down in huge chunks,
crushing bridges and every obstacle in
its path. The water is within a
few inches of the top of the piers
of the city bridge aud the ice has
already moved the bridge over a foot
from its foundation. The Chicago and
Northwestern bridge is much dam
aged, and is pronounced dangerous to
travel. At Rockford, all the dwell
ings on Loomis, Montague, Wall,
Morgan and Knowlton, streets are
flooded. The water in many cases is
running into the windows, the people
being forced to leave their homes. The
Register Office is afoot deep in water,
and others nearly as bad. The water
is twenty-five inches higher than the
high water mark of 1877. The river
is two miles wide at several places
north and south of here, and many
farmers have large fields of winter
wheat five feet under water, while the
meadows are equally flooded. Above
Elgin the Fox river broke its gorge
and dam and the ice and wa
ter tore down the dams at Carpenters
vile and Dundee.
AtElgin the river rose two feet above
water marx, breaking the dam and
sweeping away the fine iron bridge and
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
roailroad bridge, just south of:s the
city taking barns and outhOuses and
flooding stores Easements and the first
floors in the chief streets. Damage, so
| far, ,$75, 900 to 100000 and another ice
gorge threatens the city with further
havoc. All mills manufacture and wa
ter powers have suspended operations
1t estimated that the water has
damaged property in Kane county
from 100000 to 100000. At Beloit
there has been some damage and great
apprehension, but most Of the damage
seems over. In newspaper Offices the
hands were worked with foot of
water under them. The Chicago
freight house employees here have pc
titloned the general freight agents for
an inoraaeo of tvantv par cnnt IN
wages andit is understood that they
will strike if the increase is not
granted. Their present wages are $l.25
to $l.5O per day.
There was a sudden collapse in the
pork corner" this morning, and un-
der heavy sales and hundreds Of ru-