New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-22
THE WESTERN FLOODS.
THE MISSOURI STILL RIsING-RAILROADs DEMoRAL-
HgD-woRKING ON THE LEvEEs.

GREAT DAMAGE TO LANDS AND CROPS
THE MISSOURI STILL MsISG-RAILRoADs DEMoRAL-
IzgD-woRKING ON THE LEvEEs.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
ST. LOUIS, June 21.-Until to-day opinion was
evenly divided on the question of whether the pre-
sent flood likely TO be attended with disaster,
but now there is hardly any doubt but the maxi
mum height of water has not yet been reached
and serious and widespread disaster is unavoidable.
Over large extent of the bottom country the blow
already struck is a very heavy one and every inch
added to the present stage of water the Missouri
and Mississippi rivers will vastly add to the DESC
lation already reported The sultry heat
of yesterday foreran one of the heav-
est wind and transforms ever experienced
in this city, and its presence was also sorcly felt in
those parts of the State whose already flooded con-
dition made 1t most undesirable visitor The total
fall of water enormous. and the additional
volume and impetus 1t will supply to the raging
waters will turn the lake against the safety of many
of the levees and dykes which for days past have
been protected from annihilation by men working
night and day.
From Jefferson City word came that since yester
day evening the Missouri rose SIX inches and that at
noon to-day it was rising at the rate of foot day.
Great damage was reported as happening to lands
and fencing while families were flying to the
bluffs from all overhowed localities. Nearer homo
the condition of affairs is not less terrible. The
bottom land on tho Illinois shore, opposite here,
is thickly populated and the city Of Easr st.
Louis, with It's IL, 900 inhabitants is now dreadng
calamity. This point IS of especial Importance on
account Of the many railroad tracks which run
through it. these are raised upon either trestle
works dumps, generally the latter but the
water IS within q few inches of them,
and tho almost certain additional rise
rise will render them impossible and cut of st,
Louis communication with the eastern world. One
after another of the levees protecting East St. LOUIS
inundatiOn have succumbed to the raging waters.
Chouteau Island levee gave way early,
and gave up 1000 acres to the
food. and now only the new Madison County
dam stands between the lands In the Ameri-
can bottom and sweeping disaster to its thousands
of thrifty inhabitants. Fortune has favored them
so far this year. and if this dam breaks the water
will ruin one OF the finest crops ever grown there.
Until this morning the dam considred SAFE but
nj , p. IN. the water was within six inches of its
summit, and it feared that the men engaged in
strengthening ITS weak places with carloads Of rock
land and clay sent to it from Alton, Ill.,, would at
any moment find Themselves unable to cops with
the waters pressure. over 800 men are engaged
upon it this evening but further of five inches
bottom unavang.
At East st. Louis Cahokia Creek has spread over
all the lowands forever a mile, and has flooded out
entirely the colored village of Brooklyn. large
slough between Bowmans Dyke aud the OHIO and
Mississippi embankmcnt has been confined TO its
banks thus far, but IL 10 goes tho whole adjacent
section Of the city will be flooded. Hundreds Of
families are flying from their homes, aud only few
OF them stop before the bluff some ten miles dis
tant is reached. In q suburb of East 81. Louis,
known as the willows and occupied by 100 fami-
lies. only the few that have two-story houses
left and these will probably have to follow as
the water IS within reach of those looking out
of second story windows. Above East ST. Louis the
food of 1SSl is in many places surpassed III oxtent.
From the head of Old Bloody Island the overflow
extends n mile nOrthward ami mile eastward,
completely flooding all lands except the raised beds
of the railroad. II trace OF the river bank Is lost
further north. At Venice the inhabitants are IN
prayerful apprehension of danger. At Alton the
watcry waste extends miles upon miles, and the
ferry boat can find no place TO land on
the Missouri .de dHS The junction
is miles removed from the geographical one,
aud water COMMUNICATION Is had direct from lton,
10 the Missouri bluffs six miles distant.
At noon to-day the condition of the railroads
throughout Missouri was all but desperate. The
Wabash which had partly recovered from recent
disaster received terrible setback and Is now
thoroughly dcmoraiZed. The Iowa Division has
not reported on account Of the wires being down.
Mr. Wade, OF the Wabash. who has moro trust
worthy statistics at hand than anyone else from
high water regions says that the river will go on
rising for sixty hours yet and that railroad com
mubicatOn with East ST. Louis will he be cut oil
wIthna day. In tho city much trouble has occurred
aud positive disaster Is threatened. Business is sus
pended all along the levee from Locust-st. to Bid
dle-si the sidewalks and lower stories of buildings
being Hooded along this length. At Bremen on tho
north aud CarOndalot ON the south lumber yards
aud mills are threatened with disastrous inunda-
tons, and thousands Of men are employed in build
ing new leYess or watching old for their pro-
teclon.