Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-20
THE MISSISSIPPI.
News Of the Great Freshet In
Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS HARD At WORK.
The River Held Back-Levees That Are
Sure to GO-Negroes Liable to
suffer-A Warning to
Steamers.

ANEW WILLIAMS MarCQ I0.-Nd ptdAu
j. Pickney Smith, of the States,
who is at Convent telegraphs his paper
as follows:
Major Edwards, general manager OF
the Louisville, Nashville & Texas rail-
road, is at the break, three miles above
this place, with large force of men.
The gap is about 100 feet wide and four
deep. The levee is small one and the
railroad track is about a quarter of a
mile back, over which the water is now
about ten inches deep. Both the ex-
press and local down train are on the
upper side of the break and this morn
ing's up train is expected to return to
the city"
A dispatch received here says the
break was caused by rice iume. The
levee was new and four feet above the
present water. Both ends of the break
have been secured and men are at work
closing it in. The Mississippi Valley
railroad is but little under water, and
only needs few repairs in order to let
trains pass.
The condition of affairs on the river
front last evening was much more salts
factory than the day before. The city
authorities, aided by the railroads, have
strengthened the weak places in the
levee and constructed temporary levee
of bags filed with earth from st.
Louis to Hospital streets and at other
points, but from st. Louis street and
Canal, where so much water came in,
nothing has yet been done. The city
authorities will, however, continue the
work of constructing temporary levee
along the river front until the city is
secure from overflow, even with still
higher tide of the river. The levees in
this section are injured more just now
by wind and weather than by flood.
Yesterday the wind was blowing from
the north and with a velocity of thirty
miles an hour. An ordinary wind from
the northwest carries the river out to
sea, but yesterdays wind has had but
little effect upon the river. The water
flowing in the city from the river has
not been sufficient to food the streets at
any time.
Between Julia and Girard streets the
water is running over the Louisville &
Nashville tracks, but traffic has not been
interfered with. On the Algiers side of
the river the streets are clear of water
and no apprehension of danger is felt
there.
Inquiries at the different railroad
offices elected the information that un-
safe places have been reported along
their lines, and that no crevasses have
occurred other than the one at Nita, on
the Missouri Valley railroad. Every
precaution is being taken by the rail-
road authorities to prevent disasters
that might be occasioned by the rising
waters.
Governor Nichols has issued procla-
nation requesting all steamers to keep
as near mid-stream as possible, and to
run as slow as circumstances will per-
nit during the present freshet in the
Lower Mississippi, the waves of pass
ing vessels having done good deal of
damage to temporary work on the levees.
Picayune specials say that at Bolivar
the river is rising rapidly, but the levee
is in superb condition and no apprehen-
sion is felt The first levee between
Memphis and the Arkansas side begins
just above Helena and runs down to
Oldtown, distance of eighteen miles.
This is all in excellent condition and no
trouble is expected.
The circle levee back of Laconia will
break before Tuesday next. The water
is within ten inches of the top, and
rising rapidly. There are 1000 people
living inside the circle, of whom $50 are
white. The negroes will suffer from
hunger unless ratiOns are served by the
Government. The whites are able to
take care of themselves. The destruc-
ton to stock and other property will be
enormous.
The Arkansas levee, which commences
at Possum Fork, about 100 miles above
the Louisiana line, is not to be compared
with the Mississippi levee, and will be
washed almost entirely away by the
present high water if the coming rise
proves as great as is expected. The con-
dition of affairs at Sappington Hook re-
mains unchanged. The Government
boat Vidalia will leave here to-day
with 200 men to assist in the work of
closing the break by piling and revet-