The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-04-15
HAVOC OF The FLOOD.
Water Covers Nearly 100000
Acres Of Fertile Land.
Their Values Estimated Mt 4G5, OUO,-
OOO-Live Stock in the SUBMERGED
District Worth $4,000, OOl)-
Crops ON Hand, $3,75O,OOO.

Washington, April 12.-A statement
relative to the agricultural interests
OF the submerged districts of the Mis-.
sjssippi valley south of Cairo, ILL.,, has
been issued by the department of agri.
culture. 1t is based upon a chart pre-
pared under the direction of the chief
OF the weather bureau showing the ex-
tent Of the food on April 6. To this
chart the department. has applied the
crop statistics of 1896 as representing
more closely than any other available
data the acreage and value of the crops
of 1897 now in jeopardy. The statistics
of population. of the number and acre
age of farms and of the value of farms
and farm implements are those of the
census, and the statistics of live stock
IRE the depart ment's own figures for
January l., 1897. The statement fol-
lows:
about II. 800 square miles, Of which 1900
square miles was in Mississippi, 4, 500 suua re
miles In Arkansas, 1,75O square miles II,
Missouri, 1900 in Tennessee, and $50 IN
Louisiana. This region contained in 1890,
so Tar as can be determined In view of the
population Of 379,6S5. of which lse,4S9. or
about one-half, was in Mississippi, 1OQ, 2s6
| IN Arkansas, and the remainder almost
equally divided between Missouri and Ten
nessee.
The flooded districts contain. 1t is esti-
mated, about sc, 500 farms, of which about
1880 are in Mississippi, nearly 10000 in
arkansas. and like number about equal
1y divided between Missouri and Tennes-
see. These farms contain a total area
OF about $4,000 acres, one-half OF which
is in Mississippi and rather over one-fourth
in Arkansas, the proportions in Missouri
ard tennessee being about the same a.
In the case OF the number of farms. The
total value Of these farms, with their i'm
provements. farm implements, etc., is close
upon 1000, and here also the propor-
tons in the different states are about tho
same as above noted
The live stock on hand the list of Janu-
airy OF the present year was valued at over
$500 600. divided in very much the same
proportions as other farm property. It il
estimated that of the crops Of last Yea r
over $3,S75,00o worth remained on hand in
the submerged region in the last month,
cotton representing about two-thirds of
this amount and corn practically all the
remainder.
The largest interests at, stake so far are
those Of the state of mississippi. whose
NODDED districts represent an invested cap
~
$42000.00o. Over $4,000 farms, containing
1000. 600 acres Of land. Of an average value
OF about S1S an acre, are under water in
the country lying between the Mississippi
and Yazoo rivers, including some Of the
most productive lands of the state.
Arkansas stands next in the extent of
it's imperiled interests. nearly 10000 farms.
containing 100000 acres of land. worth
over $14, 100000. being submerged
The agricultural interests affected in Mis-
souri, represent total capital Of 50, 0O0. 900.
the $500 submerged farms containing an
area of about 10000 acres. worth about
$7.250, 900.
Tennessee is not far behind Missouri in
the extent of its imperiled interests. the
number ana acreage Of the submerged
farms being very nearly the same. and
the entire value, including 81 ,250, 900 for live
stock, and $400,O for crops on hand. be-
ing over $780, 900.
What effect the floods will have unon
tho crops of the present season depends
upon the length of it's continuance, and
the practica bility Of wheat planting after
the subsistence of the flood. The entire
region under water on April produced
last year about 10000 bales of cotton. val
ued at close on $4,000, 900; over II. COX. 0o0
bushels Of corn. worth about s., 40O, 600, and
wheat. oats. potatoes and hay, worth over
$500. 0O0.
The weather bureau predicts a further
extension of the flooded area, but no at
tempt, Of course, has been made to esti-
mate the serious possibilities Of such ex-
tension.