The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-24
TIE FLOODED COUNTRY.
General Greeley Gives Resiew OF the
Lever Ntssissippi.

WenefAt 0reetey Gives Review of the
Lower Mississippi
WAsHIxsToS CRY. March eS--tieneral
Greeley. chief OF the signal service bureau.
in an interview with correspondent OF the
New York Heyuid last night. expressed him
sell at length on the great flood in the Mis-
sissipri river. and gave some very interest
ing statements about the probable effect Of
the disaster on property and crops.
The river conditions in the lower Mise
issippi valley" said General Greeley, are
ominous OF disaster. What may come OF
the water now in the lower river and that
which is on the way 70 il from almost
countless tributaries, no one can forecast
with positive certainty. II seems clear TO
me. nevertheless. that unless the levees
are in perfect condition, and unless they
are materially raised above the level OF
1884. there must be many breaks and an
enormous amount Of injury to crops, ii
not to stock and other personal property.
''The great floods In the lower Mississippi
have been those OF 1858, 1859, lS62, 1874,
1852 and 1854. 1t is certain that the flood
Of this year will equal the highest ever
known. in by far the greater part of the
Mississippi valley, from Memphis to New
Orleans. At New Orleans the highest
water ever known Is already equaled, and
at Memphis IL lacks less than half foot
of the maximum. II Is true that
below the famouB high water .of
1862. but that point Is OF doubtful
accuracy, and another foot and half At
vicksburg will touch the great food of
1884. Heavy rain Is falling in the lower
Mississippi valley. from yicksburg south
ward, and while the prospects are for fair
weather after today, yet this local rainfall
must aggravate the freshet conditions
which threaten vioksburg from above. In
deed, 1t is only matter Of prudence that
all movable property liable to injury
or destruction by the food should be
removed in the entire valley to high and
secure localities. II is not the part Of any
bureau of the government to take pcssi-
mistic view OF the situation, but the condi-
tons are now such that it seems dereiic-
ton OF duty for me to avoid an expression
that the worst should be prepared for.
1.-The critical conditions near vicksburg
must be apparent TO every one when IL is
considered that the very important levse st
Alsatia landing, on the west side of the
river, about forty miles above yicksburg,
broke on the night Of March 10. A more
significant sign is perhaps the break
ing OF the levee at Myersville, on
the east side of the river, about seventy
miles above vicksburg. which occurred this
morning. This indicates the advance OF .
new freshet wave from the upper river
The breaking OF the levee at Myers
vile will not relieve the lower valley,
since the water win be forced into
the Mississippi by the bluffs before 1t
reaches vicksburg. 1t seems inevitable
that portions of the Memphis & Little
Rock railroad must suspend operations. If
tbev have not already done so. and that
similar conditions will exist on the vicks-
burg. Shreveport 4 Pacific railroad.
"ft is true that the levee system has
been brought to high state OF perfection.
and il seems remarkable that the breaks
have been so few and unimpor.ant up TO
this time. In the great flood OF 1884 breaks
occurred MI along the river. when the
water was from two TO three feet
lower than at the present, ! am un-
familiar with the additions made during
the past year or two in the height Of the
levees, but IL is not possible that the entire
river has been so walled In as TO render
oyerfiows for extended areas unlikely
The river at vicksburg may be expected to
reach forty-nine feet. which Is in excess of
any other high water ever known except
that OF ls4S2-
aThis season the signal service for the
first time has adopted the principle Of fore.
casting for 4 week or more the crest OF food
waves. and has given definite opinions. 50
that Ali concerned might have timely warn
,nr. OF course. such predictions are
critical tests OF the capacity OF the
off,ciaI in charge TO do satisfactory work
az this character. So far they have been
very successful. as may be inssxnced in the
rred;ct,on OF March /. IN which the re-
dic-sou was made thst on March Is the
river At vicksbusg would be - fees. and
il now il likely thai this prediction
vii be verified within . fes inches.
IL shouId De borne Ia mind. also,
,hsf this service has not . Sufficient
number OF river stations 10 do this
work with the greatest degree Of accuracy.
since there are ios.00o square miles just
above Cairo and 1900 square niles helo~.
concerning which this once practically
the rainfall nor the river conditions tn these
areas. which sggregsie nearly 3o@o
square miles
The stage OF the river at Helena il
,srossshsy the most certain index Of what
may be expected in the lower Aississspp!
valley, owing 10 the fact OF the water
which asss oGt of the ST. Francis
basin. In some years IL Is impossible 70
predict What viii be the effect on the
lower river from the water which
PASSES Cairo or Memphis. owing 70
he uncertainty ~ 70 Whist will comsout OF