New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-12
MISSISSIPPI BRIMFUL.
FORTY MILES OF LEvEE ONLY SIX INCHES
ABOVE THE FLOOD.

A HOPEFUL REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT
WEATHER BUREAU on THE oUTLcoK-rHE
EMBANKMENTs HOLDING sPLENDIDLY.
New-Orleans, May 11-After the meeting Of the
Mississippi River Commissi yesterday General Com.
stock stated that the commission had decided to mako
alterations in its original plans for the rectihca-
tiOn OF the Red River problem. As rapidly as the
appropriations would permit dam would be built.
As to Mr. spcaring's dredge the General stated that
te washing out OF bar only resulted In the material
being deposited somewhere else, and forming new
distractions. Speaking of the trip from st. Louis
down, General Comstock said that II had been almost
purely one Of Inspection. The Tensas front in Arkan
sas, he said Is in bad shape, forty miles Of
levee being only about six inches above the river
The same is true from the Arkansas line TO Lake
Providence, and General Comstock had doubts whether
sack work would prove Of any avail II the river should
continue to rise. In general, however, he found the
lcvee system not cny much better than 1t last
year, but was surprised at the great Improvement
which, with few exceptions characterized the whole
line. still, he considers the situation the whole
most critical.
The Times -Democrat's- dispatch from vcksburs
Miss. DR.. sol. Mcdowell manager for the
Richardson's. and thoroughly acquainted with North
east Louisiana, interviewed by correspondent
to-day. lie thought the water passing through the
crcvasse at Brooks HILL Ark. would be carried OF
Dv JOc'S Bayou, Bayou Mason ana Bouef River, ana
therefore would the damage that would
otherwise result from II. In any case. however, Ii
was a dangerous crevssse and would overflow numer.
plantations The most serious feature OF the
present outlook, he considered. the certainty TINT
the river would remain at high stage to unusually
late period This. he thought, precluded any reason
able hope OF cultivaiing lands already over6owed.'
\ break twenty feet wide occurred at BouZecOur
tho east bank OF the river, thirty-four miles below
the city. The Is not deep and the current
not strong ut this point Besides the levee Is pro-
tected by good, high batture. Word was received
at the Office OF the New-Orleans and New Southern
Railroad that material repair 1t at hand and
that If the sent Ii thought the break
could he closed before much damage had been done.
A tranload Of material sent. 1t Is believed the
force the ground will be sufficient to cope with the
difficulty.
Reports OF the condition OF the levees below St
Sophie, the east bank of the Iiver and below Con-
ces,on. the west bank cannot be obtained as tho
telephone wires down. Much apprehension Is felt
concerning some of these levees, they not
Sitered TO lie "A safe condition. Especially is this
true Of the evec the Mineral Grove plantation when
by reason Of It's peculiar location and the swfness Of
tie currents. Is subject TO unusual pressure. Unless
Crevasse at some point above NewOrleans. q
disastrous break in Of the lower coast levees is
seriously feared. There report today that q
crcvassc had occurred at Bayou Gooa, but investi-
CATION showed that there was only wash)ut
In the old leyec, letting the water In against
tte new evee gradually. No apprehension OF DAM
age i, felt, the new levee Is believed 10 be
equal TO the emergency. The old levec at Waterloo
about nine miles south Of Bayou Sara is reported 10 be
entirely submerged Waterloo is little settlement Of
cabins situated between the old and evees. 1t is
only the new levec that is depended upon and what
happens TO the old matters little. report
received here yesterday stating that another break
had occurred Bayou la Forche. on the Little Tensas
utofIop Ayo mi hqtO
break was reported be about twtntyfye feet wide
and the citizens OF the vicinity preparing TO close
Washington. May 1.-THE following statement was
issued by the Weather Bureau to-day:
The stage OF water throughout n great stretch
along the lower course of the Mississippi River Is
near the top Of the levees: the water is still rising
and an overflow Is imminent. At Arkansas city
Yesterday the stage 49,. The top Of the levce
is 403 for several miles above. Below. TO the
Louisiana State line. the levees were good for 4SS
feet on April 81 and have been probably raised some
since then At Greenvile the stage is ABS feet, and
the top OF the lowest levee in the vicinity As feet
At VicSsburg the stage Is Asa, and the top OF the
evces 40 feet. according to some reports h,'io
higher or 40.5. At New-Orleans the stage is 1858;
the levees will hold lS.3. height not at all likely 10 be
reached break of the evecs of $50 feet has occurred
in Kentucky Bend on the side Of the river, sixty
six miles below Arkansas City.
The sta ye Of water at Cairo to-day Is 3S5 feet The
fall has been sharp from 4s.2 on April IS The sud-
den fall OF the stage Cairo woud justify the opinion
that the rise at Nicksburg would not continue more
than three to FIVE days longer. which at the rate OF
rise OF fifteen hundredtis OF foot day would carry
the stage 70 about 40 feet. when very considerable
fall feet night be anticipated before the effects
Of The coming crest Cairo could be felt The break
in the levee nt point above may prevent any flrther
rise at Vicksbuig considerable TAU.
It. Louis, May ll.-rhe state Of affair, along tho
river front has changed materially since yesterday
The water has risen eigtenths OF a foot since last
night, report, but the flood has nearly reached its
crest and will scarcely rise much beyond It's present
stage feet. 1t Is the water ont Of the Illinois
River that is keeping the Mississippi up at this point as
the upper Mississippi falling at Quincy yesterday
and had reached It's crest AT Louisiana.
saginaw Mch. May 1l.-IIeavy rains have fallen
during the last few days, and the country about here
Is flooded. This Is worth hundreds OF thousands Of
dollars to the lumbcrmcn. who VIII be enabled u get
ali their logs down 70 the mills ., .
the floods here two men and much livestock havo
been drowned The men are George Girdham and
David Markley. Numerous, small buildings have also
been carried away. The river Is sui rl>lng
Collicrsve Tenn. May ia tornado passed two
miles northwest Of ihs place Yesterday at noon DO
ing great damage 10 houses. livestock ana fences.
The storm first struck the farm Of j. IT, Cartwright,
blowing away several OuthOScs and destroying largo
amount OF timber The farm cf Chester biggs,
colorcd next visited Biggs and family had Just
finished dinner when the i3uSe was completely de-
bcr> Of family or less injured by falling tim
hers chimncys cite. Every ire" In his yard was
twisted off torn mp by the roots. and the place was
Uttered with dead hogs. cows and fowls.
COST OF TIE LOUISIANA LEVER