Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-03-06
LeYees In Danger.

Concerning the condition of the
Ievees and the uneasy feelingproduced
along the lower Mississippi by the con.
tinued rising of the water, the follow.
ing information has been nreceived from
Col. c. E. Wright, editor of the Vicks.
burg Commercial:
The high stage OF water from Cairo
to the gulf creates uneasiness through
this section. Another rise in the Ohio
and accompanied with one from the
Arkansas would put the levees to a
severe strain, and especially the new
work just completed or in process of
completion. The local levee boards
expended last year large sums of
money to protect the levee and last
fall in repairing breaks in them caus-
ed by the overflow OF last year. The
people in this section earnestly hope
that the one million emergency bill
passed by the house, and now pend
ing in the senate, will be passed before
congress adjourns so as to make this
sum available in case of need, as the
local levee boards are not as strong
financially as they were last year.
A telegram from Capt. Lambert, for
many. ysars editor of the Natchez
Democrat, says:
The sitution of river matters along
the lower Mississippi just now is quite
critical. While the water in sight
does not appear to be sufficient to
cause flood of the height attained
lo Of 1y.,or tho frIioo
for rains through q considerable por-
tion of the valley. and if they should
occur it is probable that the floods OF
last year would be equalled the pres
ent season. Many Of the tributaries
OF the lower Mississippi are now bank
full and even ordinary rains affect
them. All the water that they carry
l.lto the river increases the danger to
the extent that there is no telling
what the final results will be. The
levees are not really in so good condi-
tion as they were at this time last
year, and there is constant fear of
their giving way under the pressure in
many points along the line. There is
every reason, now why congress should
come to the relief Of the people of the
Mississippi valley and make prompt
and liberal appropriations for the
levees. Not only the property of the
people, but their lives as well are de-
pendent upon maintaining the levees,
and this can only be done by the nat
ional government coming to their as-
sistance.
The Louisville, New Orleans an Tex
as railroad having suffered great dam
age by the overflows last season, R. f.
Reynolds, commercial agent of the
company, was interviewed concerning
the outlook. He said:
have been in communication to-
day by wire with all points between
this city and Memphis, and the con-
clusion arrived at is that the present
condition of the Missippi river and
tributaries threatens g. disastrous
overflow from Memphis to New Or
leans. The main river, as well as the
tributaries, are higher than at this
date last year. The greatest appre-
hension is felt by all living in the Miss
issippi valley, and if immediate help
was given by congress many millions
of dollars worth of property could be
saved. The planters and people have
not been idle, but seeing thegreat dan
ger to their lands and homes, have done
and are doing all their means, limited
by their last years misfortune, will ad-
nit. The hard fight of 1890 is now
being repeated with the rivers higher
than last year, and still rising at an
alarming rate. The repetition of the
devastation and disaster of 1890
would mean a loss of millions to the
states of Arkansas, Mississippi and
Louisiana and to the country.
The New Orleans Times. Democrats
Natchez, MISS, special says: The
government steamer, General Newton,
has returned from the Kempe levee,
whither she went with a barge of lum-
Der and other material to work in
strengthening the levees. This levee
will require constant work until q de-
cline sets in, and the utmost watchful-
ness will be necessary to save it.