The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-23
DROWNED OUT AND BENEFITED.
a Good Thing That Plantation Was
Submerged.
Eh.n,n I'm Nam III. O..
From the New York Sun.


New ORLEANS, Oct. 1S.-Last year a
crevasse occurred on the Ames plantation
Immediately opposite New Orleans. 1t was
the only big crevasse Of the year, but it was
a most damaging one. The water poured
over the entire plantation and neighboring
ones, completely destroying the crop, kill
ing the cane, and not leaving enough to
plant with. 1t destroyed the vegetable
gardens and truck farms on which New
Orleans largely depends for it's supplies, the
diaries and stock farms on the western side
of the river, invaded the suburbs OF Gretna
and Algiers, and running down stream,
nearly parallel with the Mississippi, 100
miles. it flooded the rear of all the planta-
tions fronting on the river.
The loss from this orevasse has been
placed as high Gs So, 900, 000 the worst suf-
terers being the planters, the railroads, and
the truck farmers. OF course, the heaviest
loser was the owner of the Ames plantation,
in which the crevasse occurred, Oliver
Ames Of Massachusetts, son Of OaKes Ames
of Credit Mobiler fame. His loss was put
down as something over 100000. His crop
this year would have bene 5000. 900 pounds
of sugar. On this the government bounty
alone was 500, 000--the crevasse saving the
United States treasury that amount on this
one place, and probably close ON million
altogether-aud the total profit on the crop
would have been about 100000.
The crevasSe is over now and the planta-
ton is being prepared for the coming year.
An examination to see the effects OF the
crevasse discloses the fact that while the
latter damaged the place fully 100000 and
entailed q loss to it Of that amount, it has
benefited even more.
For months the Mississippi river poured
~ tod tl,av nj v,ka r;N ND hes
left on it deposit of the richest alluvium
from three to five feet thick The planta-
ton formerly known as the Nullaudon place.
was one OF the oldest IN the state, and had
been cultivated in sugar, Que of the most
exhaustive crops, for a century. II
had, In consequence, become largely
worn out and impoverished, and a
large amount of fertilizers was used
in its cultivation. In the place of an old
plantation, very much worn, the ere
vase gives Mr.. Ames a brand new one
thoroughly fortified, and with one of the
finest soils DO ssible. IL has elevated the
plantation several feet, rendered the chance
of future overflow less probable, improved
the drainage and greatly increased the
acreage. The lands on the Mississippi, as il
well known, slope back from the river, tbs
rear of che places being swampy and gener
ally unfit for cultivation. The alluviun
from the Mississippi has filled up the = ann
and converted it into valuable land, suitable
for any crop. In the same way, on th'
Myrtle Grove plantation of Theodore VIII
kinson, which was overhowed in 1889, i
was found, after the crevasse was over, tina
it had largely increased the acreage by fill
ing up the swamps or legoous IN the rear.
The exact amount of pecuniary benef
Mr.. Ames has received from being over
flowed and drowned cut, and, according tx
the popular belief, ruined, it is impossible,
to say, but it has been estimated as nucl
over 800 900, and by some as high a
| $3.50, 600. He has received q brand new anC
larger plantation in return for an old one
Yet, Notwithstanding the fertilizing effect
of a crevasse, neither he nor any othe
sugar planter in Louisiana seems TO wei
come them. And to protect against futur,
accidents of this kind the plantation is nov
| being surrou aded on all four sides by higl
\ levees, so that no break occurring on any
neighboring place can injure 1t. When thu
work is through. the Ames plantation viii
be like walled city and completely sur
rounded by mud walls.