Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-15

MEMPHIS, TENN, March 14-The river
rose one-tenth to-day, and is now 1854 on
the gauge-the highest point ever re-
corded-and is still rising. The consensus
of opinion here is that the levees on the
Mississippi side will be able to withstand
the pressure OF the great food. The splendid
levee and equipment of the Mississippi
Valley Railroad are contributing in ma
terial degree to the preservation of the levees
in the Yazoo Delta. Nothing is being left
undone by the railroad to maintain the
levees and prevent disaster.
The situation on the Arkansas side below
Arkansas City is far from reassuring, al
though the damage, should the levees give
way, would be slight if comparison were
made with the destruction which would
ensue should the,east bank break.
THE COUNTRY DESoLATED.
Passengers on the Louisville, New Or
leans and Texas Railroad, on trains leaving
New Orleans last night and arriving here
this morning, were treated to novel scenes
along the road. The lowlands and lagoons
In the Mississippi delta are flooded until
the dry land visible is the ridge on which
the track runs and a few promontories,
whose black hulks protrude above the
water now and then. These places
afford shelter for hundreds OF squirrels and
small game driven to them by the inunda-
ton. Huts and cabins in lower lands are
submerged several feet in water. Tied at
their doors are skiffs and dugouts, which
afford the occupants their only means of
transit from one place to another. Every
Thing presents an air of waste and desola-
ton. The railroad embankment is still II
or Is feet above water and in no imminent
danger. The scene is picturesque in the ex-
treme between Vicksburg and Lula, Miss.
In that district the water is highest, and
farmers who have not already moved are
making every preparation to do so.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED.
The river commenced running over the
levees at 10 o'clock last night, md the
whole town, except Fort street, is now from
inches to 2 feet uuder water. Bus.ness is
entirely suspended. The White and Black
rivers commenced falling this afternoon and
it is hoped the worst is over. The damage to
the adjacent country is immense. Oil
Trough county, containing $4,000 acres of
cultivated land, is now under water from 6
inches to 20 feet. The rise was sudden and
without warning. Fences and everything
movable are gone. The country south of
Newport, which embraces some of the finest
farms in the State, is also inundated. The
losses at Newport are very heavy regardless
Of the loss of business.
A Helena special says: The river rose two
inches during the past "a hours and is now
four feet below high water mark. Mr.. j. B.
Miles, an authority on river matters, saws:
AN EXPERTS OPINION.
The present indications are that the river
will go to or over the high water of 1865 feet
l inch-and will probably be at least one foot
above that at Friar's Point, Miss. Below Old
Town the water will be but little above 1885.
Above the Arkansas river the highest point
will be reached about the 26th. The Arkansas
river is now more than two feet higher than
ever known and the levees on the Arkansas
side will have to give way. When the fall
reaches New Orleans many will suppose the
danger is over, but the overflow of the 1ensas
swamp will return at the mouth of the Red
river IN two or three weeks and with the addi-
tional water here will raise the river below
Baton Rouge until there are one or more crew.
asses. The east side of the river must be held
until the west side gives away.
Between Helena and the mouth of the ST.
Francis river there are very few spots of
dry land and rise of two feet will certainly
cover everything. Quite number of houses
have been abandoned by their tenants who
lands. In some places the river is from five
to seven miles wide.
LOUISIANA WILL GO UNDER.
A special from Vicksburg says: The
steamer Helen Mead, under charter to
Louisiana Levee Board for the past few
days, returned here last night. Her master
reports weakest places on the Louisiana
side are Wilson's Point, Alsatia and Long
wood levees, but conditions critical every
where. At Willow Point, La, he found
water running over levee. He is an ex-
perienced riverman and considers that
Louisiana will inevitably 60 under even if
the Mississippi levees were down.
President Maxwell, of the Louisiana |
Levee Board, is in the city to buy material. |
He takes more hopeful view Of the situa-
tion and says his people are still hopeful |
and working. though owing to rains in the |
past few days have done little 5eyond |
patching levees. He considers Alsatia |
levee the most dangerous point on the
Louisiana line and the one where crevasse
would do the most damage Barges and |
100 men are at work there. He regards the
situations very alarming on account of the
rise in the upper rivers. He says the peo-
pie of Louisiana are determined to hold |
T. cir side