The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-05-21
High Water and Flood Notes,

Several families have moved to III
pinewoods and in the country to es
cape the tortures and troubles of a,
overflow.
Nearly every COW and lots of horse
have been sent away. Fresh milk i
now a scarce commodity hereabouts
In high water, as we expect, chick
ems roost high. They have all bee,
put up.
The patrol system is hrst.class.
better idea could not have been sug
gested.
Several parties expect to live i,
their houses even if the water should
come into them. BY the use of eleva
ted platforms they will he all right.
Have you a skiF, a fiat boat or Z
raft3 Every body else has, and there.
no use of your getting left.
In accordance with the MAYORS
proclamation, issued on Monday, near.
ly every business house in Alexan
dria was closed, aud the bosses thereof
their clerks, and other employees were
working on the levees.
And the river is actually falling
brought about, no doubt; by breaks,
three in number, viz: Dennis Smiths,
Connella's and Aleck Wise's, reported
here Monday afternoon,
The fall is pnt down at two inches,
which is good enough for a beginning.
At n time it seemed probable that
the Lottery Go. wonld have been APP
pealed to for aid. No doubt the Pres.
ident, Mr.. Danphin, would have tele
graphed favorably, and given all the
money needed.
1t is calculated in round figures that
the present high water will cost for
lumber, nails, labor, tools and repair
of streets in Alexandria no less than
$4,000.
Every nan who was able and failed
to come out on Monday and do his
share of work has been spotted.
Yes, indeed, the boys worked faith.
fully and we'll. Some of them were
terribly burnt and parched by the sun
but what of that They did what
they believed to be their duty; a proud
consolation. In the name of the com.
munity we return them thanks.
The steam ferry boat rescued a boat
load of cattle of the Experiment place
on Monday.
Monday, May 10th, 1890, will ever
be remembered in the history Of our
Town. The scene on the streets that
took place then is indescribable, with
men and boys going here and there in
their fright of the expected overflow,
ladies and children watching from
their homes what was going on; hor-
ses, cattle, etc being driven away to
the highlands through the streets,
skifs, fat-boats and other floating ap.
p%aratuses being carried to the river,
etc. The excitement was high, high.
The meeting Sunday of the citizens
of Alexandria, impromptu almost as it
was, was largely attended. That
move was in the right direction. The
Mayor presided, and Messrs. McCor-
mick, of the Town Talk, and Biossat,
or the Democrat acted as Secretaries.
An executive board of IL, composed
of tue members of the City Council,
and seven of our citizens was appoin.
ted. They will manage and control
all matters appertaining to the high
water, and make necessary arrange
ments therefor. Our space will not
a further mention of the pro.
ceedings.
We are told that a good deal of
land is under water between here
and Boyce. The break at the Stat
ford place, as also the others down
the river, will put many acres under
water.
The government gauge reading on
Monday evening was 1915, showing a
rise of three inches for the previous "a
hours. Yesterday morning the gauge
read $685.. Some few contend that
1855 vas reached; the principal pant
of the fall of p inches is said to have
occurred before mignight on Monday.
But for the timely aid rendered on
Monday night, just in time, as it were,
the break at the c%ulvert would have
been a serious one. But with steady
work the same was stopped.
We are not safe yet. We must keep
up the watch on the levees ever if the
has begun to fall. Gazing of the
which always follows a fall,
are dangerous.
What an advertisement for Alexan-
dria it will be if we escape this over
aow-and everything looks that way
just now. We can say to the outside
come here, we are high and
dry, and escaped the ravages of the
great food of 1890.
--You can buy better and cheaper
groceries from Baner & We'll. than