Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-03-29
SOUTHERN FLOODS.

SOUTHERN FLOODS.
LIEUT. C. b. sArrrs,ssssho w,sspcciallyde
tailed to gothrough the ovaffiowed districts in
the vicinity Of Arkansas City, has examined the
Arkansas and White rivers aud points south OF
the Arkansas. He reports that nineteen
twcntieths OF the country is under water, and
considerable portion Of the coored population
is in destitute circumstances. Lieut. Sitterlee
estimates that fully 500 people have no means
OF Subsistence. The State authorities are do
ing nothing to alleviate the suffering, trusting
to the suflciency Of the Government bounty.
There will be little or no stock left
in the flooded district. A gentleman VINO
made the trip from yicksbnrg to Yszoo City
reports the condition OF the inland dst,tc
as bad or worse than reported. Sunflowe-, La
fore, Bolivar, Coahoms, Tallahatchie arl
Tunlca counties are entirely undeT water. issa-
quena, YaZoo, Holmes and Washington coun-
ties are about one-haif and Warren county
about one quarter so. The total population OF
these, by the last census, was 1862, 442, and OF
these at least 100, 900 are colored laborers made
absolutely destitute by the food, and who
must be supported by outside contributions I'M
til the river falls and work is resumed.
The region south OF Memphis Is swarming with
buffalo gnats, which are killing what little stock
was saved from drowning. One result OF the
overflow has been to prove to the satisfaction OF
tho natives that the ieyee system Is q failure.
Millions OF money may be spent In repairing
the damage already done, but in the opinion
OF the knowing ones, it will be thrown away.
Reports received at the War Department in
Washington estimate that there are 81, 900 des-
titute sufferers in the flooded regions between
Cairo, Ill, and the Gulf OF Mexico. II is be-
heyea that an appropriation OF $1,000, 900 by
Congress will be required before these people
can again become self-supporting.
Ia the Louisiana Sugar R.gsea--A Dis
couraging Picture Of Rain and Desoia-
fion.
lBaton Rouge Telegram to Chicago Times.l
Your correspondent has been drifting down
the great river for more than a week, and
reached Baton Rouge tonight. There is q
sarasness about the spectacle, but it does not
grow tiresome. Something is constantly aris-
inS to relieve the monotony of overmuch desc
la'ion. Villages, settlements, plantations and
corrsis OF cabins are to be seen every few miles
along the bsniS, half under water. Buildings
On ground forty feet above the river at low
wst,r can scarcely be seen now, the Hood hav-
ing enyeloped them. Great steamers drawing
ten feet OF water plow across bars and
banks the tops Of which could be seen from
the pllot-houses in sunsmer time The
cling TO their homes with tenscity aud despera-
ton, determined not to go as long as there il a
plank left to float on. At every landing refu-
gees from the interior are taken on board.
Their rocitals are distressing in tho extreme.
Many say they are ruined, and that they will
never return. Others curse their luck, but say
they will try it again. At Natchez the river is
only twenty-five miles wide, narrower than at
any point south OF Columbus, XIV. The effects
OF tho big breaks about Min ken's bend are felt
for seyenty-ive miles down the river and near
Vidalia, opposite Nstchez, other crevasses lot
the water through on the land further down.
For twenty miles north and south OF the month
OF Red river the spectacle ia even more appall-
ing than at the mouths OF the Arkansas aud
st. Francis rivers
Here the damage is very great, not only to
stock and machinery, but tho gsowing crops as
well. II takes thres years TO make a sngar
crop, and an overflow means It's entire ruin.
That is what has come upon the district de.
scrlbed. The water Ia by no meaus confined 70
the limits pointed ont, but that il as far az he
writer has been able 10 reach by personal oh.
seryations and inquiry. The lower delta of the
Mississippi, from Baton Rouge south, IL all
bottom or fiat land. Tho river at Baton Rougo
has an elevation OF less than fifty feet above tho
sea-level, aud watrr emptied in upon the land
below that point would scarcely know whether
to run up h,li or down, unless pushed by a
power behind. The force of the volume com
ing up behind is all that keeps the DRIFT moving
toward the gulf, and the motion is oftent,mes
scarcely perceptibc. The sluQgisluess of The
lower wsters Is the reason why the drainage OF
The upper river Is not more rapid and explains
why the river is SO much slower falling than it
Is rising. The basin is full and the incline IS
so very slight that the water merely dribbles ont
over the top, whore the crops are IN the ground
in Arkansas. Mississippi and Upper LOUISIANA.
The lower parishes will still be inn d ttei
FEARS FoR THE FUTURE-wHAr WILL FOLLOW
1HE FI'oD.
Daily contemplation has robbed the food OF
many Of the horrors that appalled, the residents
in tue early stages OF the deiuge, aud the people
are already laying plans for the future and de-
termiping what they will do when the waters
snbslde. What will be the result OF 1t all? ia
the question the Times CORE spondent has been
asking everybody with whom he has been in
contact whose views were worth having. Will
the planters lie down, or will they raise cotton
crop this year in spite of tho calam " that has
visited them2 In many in ,tancas the reply Is
that tho country is ruined, aud that nothing re-
mains to do but move out aud abandon the fight.
The cooleT-headed and more thoughtful men
talk differently, and are not 30 east down.
They look the cat@trophe squar,ly in the face
and canvass the .ituatlon logically. Az long ago
"a last July, tbs hanks OF New Orleans, st.
Louis and Now York cut down their lines OF
discount with the Mississippi valley and other
cotton-rsising districts about one third Blr-
rowers in the overfowed stations NAV look for
still further drawing of MT less tn an ~ per
cent, making curtailment Of at least 50 per
cent on their borrowing leverage IN Limo
months. Beside this, many sre disposed TO
anticipate an entire failure oil this wears crop.
Thousands aud tens OF thousands OF
head of stock have been entirely
destroyed, and fences aud buildings and farm
machinery washed away or ruined by tho
wholesale. That Is the bleak and discourag,ug
side OF the picture. There is another anI
brighter side. Unle there should be acontlnu-
alton OF the extraordinary and protracted rain
fall that occasoned the fivod the water at and
below Cairo will pass away by the LIST OF Nav.
leaving the land IN splendid condition. for plsnt-
ing. 1t Is an established fact that cotton on
over flowed land viii require full month leas
time to mature than that planted on dry land.
The sediment left by the rcceding uat.r ini-
pirts marvellous terminating fore. To tie
soil, and vegetation advances with ss-
tonishing rapldny The water lsaves the
land in splendid condition for cultivation, AID
but 50 per cent. OF tho labor u.ually ~ qniroi
to plant q crop will be needed thi, spri,ls for
the wors. There is the best authority for the
statement that cotton and corn plsnte on
overtiowed land about the mi6,ie Of May viii
Wild fine crop, unhss something ul;Is Il
should arise to prevent lis natural a sve.op-
meUi. IL will b. soen that the situation. whilo
full OF Encouraging features. ~ by no means
d. sperste. The river country has amsz,Its rr-
cnperative power, and o goot crop vi; 20 Ter
toward repairing the damage resulting from
tue Il Ioi and restoring tho eredi, OF lhs land.
owners aud producing clssSss-
"THERE is one thing want 10 say for
moor old Simrkins remarked m hrothev