The Portland daily press., 1897-04-24
STATISTICS OF THE FLOOD.
Figures Compiled by Treasury Depart
ment Showing Population and Value o.
Property.

Washington, April 21-The Bureau Of Sta
tistics of the Treasury Department has
made the following report of the damag
caused to agricultural interests on the Mis-
sissippi River by the Hood:
'sSince the publication on April Il of a
statement relative to the agricultural inter-
ests of the submerged districts of the Mis-
sissippi Valley south of Cairo, ILL.,, the area
under water has been considerably extend
ed. This extension is below Vicksburg
Miss. but on the right or west side of the
river, and is mainly due to a break 1000
feet in width in the levee at Biggs.
ssThe outflow of water at this point has to-
tally submerged four parishes (counties) of
Louisiana and partially overlooked five
others, while break at La Fourche Cros-
sing, in the southern part Of the same
State, has resulted in the submergence OF
an additional area of nearly 800 square miles
in La Fourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
In this newly submerged region there was
in 1890 a total population OF 1886. in the
pro portion of four coIored persons to one
white
''The region contained in the last census
7,747 farms, with a total area of over 1,000,-
600 acres, of which 100000 were improved.
OF this last mentioned area 900 acres, OF
over one-half, were last year devoted to
cotton, over $1,000 acres to corn, 5000 acres
to sugarcane, 1900 acres to hay, and an in
considerable acreage to other crops.
"The total value of these farms, inclu-
ding fences and buildings, but exclusive of
their movable equipment, was in 1890 close
upon $11 100000, and the value OF the nipple
ments and machinery upon them was over
$1,000 On Jan. of the present year they
contained live stock to the value of 81 $780,
900, and so lately as the 1St of March last
they were estimated to have still on hand
about $8C0,000 worth of the crops of last
season. The total value OF the farms SUBJ
merged by the breaks in the levees that
have occurred since The 10th inst. with
their farm Implements, live stock and crops
on hand is, therefore, close upon $l3O0O,OOo.
"Ihis region produced last year nearly
1O0,O 900 bales of cotton, over 100000 pounds
of sugar, over 13,3oO,OOO bushels of com, be-
sides hay, potatoes, oats and other minor
products, the entire production aggregating
value, even at the low prices that have
prevailed, of more than $4,25O, 1000. The total
area submerged at this date is over 10000
square miles. 1t contained at the last CEN
sas 1896 farms, with a total area of 1904 1865
acres, nearly one-half Of which was i'm
proved, and total population, agricultural
and other OF 1904. If to the value of its
farms, farm buildings and farm machinery,
according to the census of 1890, there be
added the value of its live stock on Jan /
last $50, 174, 636), and of it's products Of last
season, still OIL hand ON March / last
l79), the total of $50, 176,177 will repre-
sent the approximate value, of the agricul-
tural property of the submerged region
Among the products of this region last year
were 466 O56 bales of cotton, worth SIG, $40. OGO;
1855, G45 bushels of corn, worth $3s95, 27s,ss
and 9,o33,S7S pounds of sugar, worth $271, 016,
the total production, including minor crops,
representing value of S21, 1872 1s0 on the
plantation