St. Paul daily globe., 1890-03-14
CRUMBLING LEVEES.
The Raging Mississippi and
Tributaries Out Of Their
Banks.
Southrons Fully Realize Now
That a Flood Is Upon
Them.
Portions Of New Orleans and
Memphis Are Already
Inundated.
The Floods Threaten to Sur
pass the Great Calamity
Of 1888.

New ORLEANS, March 19.-The river
here at a. m. was 1913 feet: at 2:45 it
was reported by the Harbor station at
IL feet 8, and at $3.50 they reported the
water at II feet, but it remained at that
point but a short while, when it receded
to 16 feet s. where it seemed to make a
stand. This was six inches above the
record of other years. and the water
went over the levees all along the city
front at every depression or low place,
and soon flooded the streets and side
walks of large section of the city. Up
town at the head of Jackson, Washing.
ton and Saraparu streets the waves
washed over the levee and submerged
the streets and sidewalks. The same
thing occurred at other points down to
P0ydras street. Here the water
spread over the broad space occupied
by the Morgan road, and filled
up the low places. 1t then be-
ran out into the cross streets on either
side, covering the sidewalks on Poyd-
rasS street as far as st. Charles street,
and filling the cutters back to the drain
age canals in the rear of the city. On
Gravler street the water flowed freely,
completely
COVERING THE STREET
in places. At the head of Canal street
the water was running over the levee
but very little, but from Custom House
street to Cont the water came over the
leYees freely, and completely submerged
the streets, and in many places the side
walks and lower floors of business
houses. From the north side of Canal
,t,. 20 f,I Il toto Of
fourteen blocks from the river, to Ram
part street, a distance of eight blocks,
the city is submerged From Rampant
street the water flows off in the cutters
of street drains to the drainage canals
in the rear of the city. Below Elysian
Fields street. the water is also passing
over the leVee in many places. On the
north side of Canal street. the sidewalk
in front of the Touro buildings was
OverhoWed. Hill's jeWelry store was
invaded by the water, and other busi-
ness places suffered in like manner. The
damage done so far is not great. The
greatest damage was that sustained by
merchants who had sugar stored in the
old bonded warehouse on old Levee
street. At $3.50 p. m. the gauge reading
at the head of Canal street was sixteen
feet eight-tenths, showing that the
river had remained about stationary
since p. m. This overflow seems to
have taken most people by surprise,
though all who had business on thelevee
made preparations for it to the extent
of removing their goods to safe quarters,
Since yesterday evening the leYees
across the river.
HAVE BEEN IN DANGER,
and the water is coming over from the
line of the Davis crevasse above the
lower line, distance of some fifteen
miles. In many instances the water
flows back for ten squares. Large
forces have been at work raising the
levee with sacks filled with earth. The
Southern and Crescent oil mills were
being washed under by the water, and
the floors were torn away and embank-
ments built underneath. A break Oc-
cured at the Hatch Place, near Har-
vey's canal, but it only reached width
of four feet when it was discovered
and promptly closed. 1t is still a
dangerous spot, as the levee is
very weak there. The legee at
Sh haTD7S place, five miles above GrSltna,
where there was a serious creVaSSe some
years ago, is again creating anxiety, as
it shows signs of weakening, and
force will work all night 70 straighten
it. Company canal empties into the
river Just above the city limits, on the
right bank, and is the avenue by which
boats reach Bayou BartG.,ia and the
oyster fishing grounds below. The
water has reached the top of the locks
and tney will not be opened any more
for the present, as the letting in of the
river might lead to damaging results.
From Canal street ferry to the Morgan
depot, the principal part of Algiers, a
distance Of three-quarterS of mile, the
situation at one time was very threaten
ing. About noon the water commenced
WASHING OVER THE LEvEE
along its whole leugth. and III a short
space Of time the entire front and the
street for ten blocks back were flooded.
Yardmaster Mcguire, of the Morgan
road, and the city forces went to work
at once, and in four hours threw up an
entire new leyee. That stopped the
flow temporarily, but the water was
already knee deep on the front street.
The Southern Pacific and the Texas Pa
ciic tracks are both across the river,
but travel is still uninterrupted owing
to the good work done. Just below AL
giers is the Orleans leyee, which COM
mandS large section of country. A
new levee was constructed only few
days ago, but the river has been climb
ing up, and to-day the warning signal
was again given. The water was
six inches deep over the levee's
crest. Men and material were
promptly furnished, and a gallant
effort is being made to stay the food.
The swell caused by ocean steamers
seriously interfered with the work at
the levees several days ago. washing
some of the new work into the road,
and the mayor has asked the governor
10 issue proclamation to steamships to
show due regard for the safety of the
levees. The city council met tonight
and adopted resolution appropriating
$4,000, or as much as shall be neces-
sarY for work on the levees during the
danger period.
FLOWING OVER THE LEVEEs.
New ORLEANS, March II -Midnight-
1t has been raining steadily but slowly
since D. m., but the rainfall added to
the water passing over the levees in
front of the city, and, running back,
has oyerfiOwed a large section of the
city in the vicinity of Claiborne street.
The river gauge shows no material
change. Water is flowing over the
leyee rapidly at the head of
Peters street, and the sidewalks
and streets In the vicinity are
covered with water. The water is also
running over the levee pretty freely at
Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Toledano,
Sarapaetu and State streets. Gangs OF
men are working along the Iev6e at
many points, and the flow of water into
the city may be checked if there is no
further rise. The railroads are doing
good work in assisting the authorities
all along the line. The outlook tonight,
however. is bV no means reasSuring,