The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09
The Floods.

The present season has been rema rkable for
its swollen waters. From almost every por-
ton of the country come accounts of rivers
and streams oyerfowing their banks, and caus
ing great loss of property, and ia destroying
lands, with now and then loss OF life. The de-
struction along the Mississippi river has been
unprecedented. In some places the sheet of
water is 30 miles wide-whole districts were
inundated, and farm houses submerged. In
stances are reported where persons have been
surrounded by water escaping through
the broken evees, and deluging the surround
ing country-causlng families to seek refuge
in the upper stories, or escape by boats.
dispatch from Washington, dated the 5th, says
that the "War Department continues to re-
ceive dispatches from points in the Southwest
in regard to the damages from floods Secle-
tary Lincoln said this afternoon that the losses
and consequent suffering exceed any estima te
yet made. There are urgent calls for greater
measure of relief than can be afforded by the
appropriation, and these demands of course
cannot be fully met The Senators and mem
bers of the House from the afflicted States are
also in receipt of urgent kilograms calling for
an appropriation commensurate with the dis
aster From Little Rock alone there are re-
ports of - 900 persons made absolutely dest-
tute, and to teed these, even until the flood re-
cedes will require double the sum that has
been set aside tor that State by Congress. Sen
ator Garland says that the municipalities and
tl1aA tnto .
ally, but that they are burdened by refugees
from the flooded districts. He also says til at
the present distress is only a beginning. The
| levees are broken in SO many places that the
| impoverished communities will be entirely
| unable to repair them in time to prevent oyer
| flow when the June rise comes. 1t is also
feared that under the best crcumsl ances the
ground will be in such condition rs to delay
| planting until too late for good crop.
! AT an informal meeting of the members OF
| Congress from the affected States, held this
| morning for consultation, it was resolved to
ask for an additional appropriation of $780,
600, and resolution will probably he intro
| duced in the House to that effect tomorrow.
| A proposition was also made to ask for an
| appropriation to repair the levees at once
| TO do this promptly and effectively, SO as to
be of service to the people this year, would
require not less than 100000. Considera-
| ton OF this proposition was deferred until a
formal meeting of the members from the river
States can be called, which will be done prob
| ably Tomorrow
MEMPHIS, March 5.-The river at this point
is about stationary, but will doubtless begin
| rising again tonight, as heavy rains have
| fallen to-day throughout this region, which
makes the situation gloomy below. In an in
terview tonight Commissioner l.. N. Man
gum of Arkansas, said that in the counties OF
| Mississippi, Crttendea, Lee. Ponsett, Cross
Craighead, st. Francis, Phillips, Desha, Chicot
and Monroe in Arkansas, he had Information
of about 10000 destitute people who would
have to be fed by the Government for at least
| tolty days. These counties do not include
those bordering on the Red River, where great
suffering is said to exist. Commissioner W
l. Hemingway, of Mississippi, said that the
inhabitants of Tumica, Coahoma, De Soto
Quitman, Bolivar Washington, lssaquena
l Yazoo. Tallahatchee and Suntower counties
in his State, to the number OF 10 900, were in Il
like suffering condition. These counties in
Mississippi are all above Vicksburg, and there
are other counties below that city that hayt
suffered by the floods.