The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-28
THE FLOOD SITUATION,
No Material Change In the Water
Soaked Districts.
The Water Covers Over Four Mil
lion Acres-Many Persons Are
Destitute-Omcial Weather
Bureau Bulletin.

Washington, April 22.-The bu,eau Of
statistics of the treasury department
has made the following report on the
damage caused agricultural interests
by the Mississippi river flood:
The total area submerged at this date
is over 900 square miles. IL contained at
the last census 1886 farms, with total
area of A. 904 466 acres. nearly one-half OF
which was improved, and a total popula-
ton agricultural and other. or 462.O4l. II
the value OF the farms. farm buildings and
farm machinery. according TO the CEN
sus OF 1890, there be added the value OF its
live stock on January /, last, $9.l74,636,
and OF its products OF last season still on
hand on March l, last. H,b95,l1s. the total
of S90.l7617 will represent the approximate
value of the agricultural property OF the
submerged region. Among the products
OF this region last year were 466,Oo6 bales
of cotton. worth s16.312,0 60; l2.525,645 BUSH
els OF corn. worth $S,y9b.27S. ,S7S
pounds of sugar, worth s27i.ol tAsXtetal
production, including minor crops. r&pre-
senting a value OF s21. 7S2.lSo on the plan
tation."
Reports Not Encouraging.
Memphis, Tenn, April 24.-No new
crevasses have appeared in the levees,
but the current CT the river is still
beating against the southern embank-
ments with fury that causes the
gravest apprehension. The break at
Delta has inundated $4,000 acres Of the
finest plantations in southern Louisi-
ana and the water continues to pour
through the opening and is rapidly
spreading over a greater area. Reports
from Greenville are not encouraging.
While the water is slowly receding in
the overfiowed portions of the Delta
district it is almost certain that the
planting of this years crop will be 30
days late.
Many Are Destitute.
The negro laborers are in a fearful
state of restitution throughout the
delta, although the government relief
work is being carried on theoretically.
The situation north of Memphis and in
Arkansas, however. has greatly inn
proved. Capt. Davis. the general pur-
chasing officer here, will send out two
boats loaded with provisions to-day,
one going north and the other to the
st. Francis river country. Capt. Davis
states that this will be the last govern
ment shipment to these districts unless
some new emergency arises. Many peo-
pie are returning to their farms in Ar
kansas and the work of planting will
begin shortly.
An Official Bulletin.
According to the official bulletin of
the United States weather bureau, the
Mississippi river at Memphis fell two
tenths of a foot in the past 80 hours. and
will continue to fall slowly at this point.
From Cairo, ILL.,, a most encouraging re-
port comes. 1t is to the effect that the
river there fell several tenths OF foot
since the last bulletin was issued, and
will continue to fall at that rate for
some days to come. At Vicksburg and
New Orleans there are no changes, the
river remaining stationary. AT all 9TH
er points from which bulletins are is
sued decline is reported, varying from
one-tenth TO eight tenths of foot. The
greatest fall is at Shreveport. La, where
the gauge shows a decline of eight
tenths of foot in "a hours. The Mis-
scuri river at Kansas City and Omaha
fell three-tenths of foot. The rivers
at Nashville and Chattanooga also reg
istered fall. In fact, no rise was re-
ported by the weather bureau in it's Off
cial bulletin.