Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-22
SOME STARTLING FIGURES Given 0ut by the Bureau of Sta
 tiStioS. TIE FLOOD DAMAGE GREAT And Will Reach Fer Into the Millions Urgent Appeal for Aid Comes From
 North Dakota

Washington, April 21.-The bureau of statistics of the treasury department has made the following report on the damage caused to agricultural interests by the great Mississippi river overflow:
 "Since the rise begun in this section a statement in regard to the agricultural interests of this section is necessary. Below Cairo, H., the river is still out of it's banks. The flood below Vicl1sburg is mainly due to the erevasse at Biggs. The outflow of water at this point has totally submerged four parishes (coun- ties) of Louisiana, and partially over flowed five others, while a break at La Foulehe Crossing, in the southern part or the state, has resulted in the su bmerg- enee of an additional area of nearly 5U0 square miles in La Fourche and Terre- oonne parishes. In this newly submerged region there was in 1890 a total popula- ton ot S2356, in the proportion of four colofed persons to one white. The re- glon contained at the last census 7747 Iarms, with total area of over l, GOO 900 acres, or which 120,000 were improved Of this last mentioned area 213,00O acres or over one-half were last year devoted to cotton, over 91,000 acres to corn, 6000 acres to sugar cane, 2,OO0 acres to hay and an inconsiderable acreage to other
 
 including fences and buildings, but ex- elusive of their movable equipment, was Tn 1S90 close upon $11 900 900 and the value or the implements and machinery upon them was over $600,000. On Jan. l of the present year, the district contained i've stock valued at $1,500,000 and so late " as March l, last, they were estimated to have still on hand a bout $500, 900 worth or the crop of last season. The total Value or the farms submerged by the breaks in the levees that have occurred since the 10 inst, with their farm i'm plements, live stock and crops on hand, is therefore close upon S14, ,000, GOO
 This region produced last year nearly IOO,O0o bales of cotton, over 5000 900 pounds or sugar, over 1,300, 900 bushels of corn, besides hay, potatoes, oats and other minor products, the entire produc- tln assregating value, even at the low prices that have prevailed of more than $4,250D00
 The total area submerged at this date IS over Z9,O00 square miles. It contained at tha. last census 46 935 farms, with a to- tai aet teage of 4,906,66 acres, nearly half or which was improved and a total popu- onuagricultural and otherwise of 462,- 04l F. to the value of its farms, farm buildings and farm machinery accord lng to the census of 1890 there be added the value of its live stock on Jan. last. Ge,Il4,l66). and of its products of last season still on hand on March 1, last, &4,195,11g, the total of S9O,176177 wiil represent the approximate value of the agricultural property of the submerged region, Among the products of this re- zion last year were 466 056 bales of cot ton worth $16,312060; F, 156 1894 bushels of corn worth $3, 3,995,27S, and 9,033, ,S7S pounds of sugar worth S271, ,176. The sugar pro- auctions, including minor crops, repre- tation."