The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-09
RELIEF WORK ON THE RIVERS.
SECRETARY ALGER PUSHING FOR
WARD THE work.


600 Appropriated by COngress-Re-
ports From EngineeF officers on
the Scene-The Plans For the Re-
lief of the Destitute People.
Washington, April S.-Secretary Alger
is pushing forward the work of relief for
the flood sufferers and within a few days
the disbursement of the rations provided
for by congress viii begin.
To-day the secretary was in consulta-
ton with Col. Gillespie, president of the
Mississippi river commission, who was
summoned here by telegraph by the sec
retary for that purpose.
Col. Gillespie has just returned from
visit of inspection of the flooded districts
along the lower Mississippi, and backed
by his experience in the river improve
ments was able to give the secretary a
fair idea of the needs of the situation.
1t is felt by the engineer officers that
with the appropriation of 100000 already
placed at their disposal by congress, for
the protection of the improvement works,
they will be able to restore the broken
1evees and get the river banks into normal
shape wherever they are protected by
levees constructed by the national gov
ernment and are not state work.
Already Capt. Fitch at Memphis has
been authorized to draw upon the appro-
pration to the extent of $4,000 for the re-
pairs necessary in his district, which lies
up the river from Memphis.
With a view to the ascertainment of the
exact state of the levees as far as possible
to learn it at this time. Gen. Wilson, chief
of engineers, has telegraphed to the Off
GERS of his corps along the river to report
the facts to him. These reports came
along this morning. They have reference
solely to the levees, and are as follows:
New Orleans April Ito U. S. Chief of
Engineers: Telegram received. There are
no breaks in my line as yet. The levees
are under a severe strain now, but the
worst has not reached my district. We
are making every effort all along the line
to prevent any breach. (Signed) NJ. Derby.
Memphis Tenn, April S.-The levees
west of the river in my district are prac-
tically intact. There is one crevasse OF
little importance on Amos bayou, about
| two miles from the upper end of the levee
| system, and through this crevasse water
| has inundated a small area, including Ar
| kansas City. But little damage or destf-
| tuition Is apprehended from this. There
are four crevasses in my district in Mis-
| sssippi, one opposite Island Seventy, one
southern side Concordia bayou, about
eight miles above Rosedale; one at Stop
Landing Choctaw Bend one on the
| northern side of Lake Lee, about eight
miles below Greenville. The width of the
breaks was about 800 to 1000 feet on April
2. The land now overfowed, or that soon
will be, from these breaks is roughly es-
timated about 25 by 120 miles There is
no reliable information yet as to the
amount of the loss or desutution caused
by the flood It will depend largely on
the time the flood continues. Interior
points hitherto accessible by railroad will
probably soon exhaust the supplies on
hand, and can be reached only by skiff.
/ think vague press statements Of enor-
nous damage and suffering very much
exaggerate present conditions.
The first warrant drawn ON the treas
ury under yesterdays appropriation of
900 for the benefit of the Mississippi
and Red river flood sufferers, passed the
accounting officers to-day. 1t was for
$4,000 and will be followed by others as
rapidly as use can be made of the money.
Memphis Tenn, April 1.-THE breaks in
the st. Francis levee are at Carutherville,
Mo-. 5000 feet wide; just above Arkansas
and Missouri state line, two breaks, each
1000 feet wide; between Osceola and No
dena, Ark, seventeen breaks, aggregating
mile in width This basin is practically
overhowed from Gayoso. Mo, to the
mouth of the st. Francis river for twenty
to twenty-five miles back. The overfiowed
area is estimated at $500 square miles.
The breaks in the White river levees are:
Three miles below Helena, Ark, 800 feet
wide; hve miles below, 1000 feet wide;
fourteen miles below, 800 feet wide. Be
low Modoc, Ark, and foot Of Island GA, are
six breaks, the lower being three-fourths
of a mile wide. Others will aggregate
about 5000 feet. Between Knowlton, Ark,
and two miles above are three breaks ag-
gregating 700 feet. The Laconia levee is
broken, inundat 2 Laconia circle The
overfiowed area " the White river basin
Is estimated at 500 square miles. In the
upper Yazoo district there is one break
opposite the mouth OF the ST. Francis
river about 500 feet wide. There Is no in
formation on which to base an estimate of
the overfiowed area of the upper Yazoo
district. / have no data for an approxi-
mate estimate of the loss and destitution.
which, however, is great Fitch.
Touching the matter Of relieving the
people in the flooded districts which has
been separated from the matter OF re-
pairing the levees. the Secretary Of War
has made some change In the detail OF
officers announced yesterday The ser
vices Of the engineer officers are so badly
needed in other directions that the two
members Of that corps, Col. Haines and
Capt. Gaillard, were relieved and two in
fantry officers were substituted. so that
the detail now stands: Maj Sanger, in
spector general; Mai. Craig, signal CORPS;
Capt. Clarke, ordnance department; Capt
Martin, quartermaster's department:
Lieut.. Rlchman, Ninth Infantry, and
Lieut.. Rowan, Nineteenth infantry. The
last two named officers are now on duty
In the information bureau here.
After further consultation among the
army officers respecting the procurement
OF supplies II has been decided to make
the purchases not only at Memphis, but
also al st. Louis and New Orleans. At
these two last named cities there are
already stationed officers Of the commits
sary generals department and this morn
ing Commlssary General Sullivan ordered
Capt Davis. one OF the best officers OF his
corps from Chicago 20 Memphis 70 super
fnfond the purchases 70 be made there