The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-04-17
THE FLOODS.
High water Record Broken An the
Northwesf-Anothe Levee breaks


the government gauge showed 14.s feet
above mean low water and the gauge at
the pumping station, seven miles north,
where the channel is confined, showed
1913 feet. On the Iowa bottoms north
of Council Bluffs the water is four feet
deep, but is held back from the city
by dykes. The factories along the
river have taken precaution against
overflow. A portion of the Burlington
tracks was washed out. Mon
day evening the river broke over
into its old channel by Omaha, flowing
.nto Florence lake, which was formed
when the river changed it's course near
ly 20 years ago. The water is pouring
down through the lake and has flooded
the bottoms in the vicinity. All the
houses in North Omaha, 200 or 300 in
number, are surrounded and the in
habitants have been moving TO higher
ground. The Missouri Pacific and Elk
horn tracks are under water, the round
house of the latter road being sur
rounded. The water from the break
into Florence lake is finding an outlet
into Cutt-off lake and IL the rise Is
much greater there isgreat danger that
the river will reestablish its abandoned
course of 20 years ago. In this event,
the property loss will be enormous, rs
there are extensive railroad plants,
factories, etc, in the line OF the threat
ened cutoff.
Memphis, Tenn, April 13.--The
mighty sweep of the waters south of
Vicksburg has at hast had it's effect
upon the lower levees and telegram
from Tallulnh, La, reports that the
levee which protects Davis island has
given way. Twenty-Five hundred peo-
pie inhabit Davis island, which con-
sists of about 5000 acres of land. The
place is situated in Warren county,
Miss. Throughout the upper delta the
flood situation shows little change
since last reports. The work OF govern
mcnt relief has been actively inaugur-
ated. Many people are being fed and
housed at Greenville. Roscdale, Helena.
Friar's Point and other points along the
river. A relief steamer is now plying
up the st. Francis river with food and
forage for man and beast.
Washington, April IA statement
relative TO the agricultural interests
of the submerged districts OF the Mis-
sissippi valley south Of Cairo, H., has
been issued by the department Of agri-
culture. II is based upon a chart pre-
pared under the direction OF the chief
of the weather bureau showing the ex-
tent of The flood on April @. 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
are the departments own figures for
January 1, 1897. The statement fol-
lows:
The total area under water on April
was about 1880 square miles. OF which
Z 300 square miles was In Mississippi, $50
square miles In Arkansas, 1,75O square miles
IN Missouri, 100 In Tennessee. and 450 IN
Louisiana. This region contained in 1890,
so far as can be determined I'm view OF the
indefinite boundary lines Of the food. a pop
ulation OF S79.6S5. OF which iSG,lS9, or about
one-half. was ia Mississippi, l0O,225 In Ar
kansas, and the remainder almost equally
divided between Missouri and Tennessee.
Tho flooded districts contain, IL Is csti-
mated. about $500 farms. OF which about
1880 are In Mississippi nearly 10000 in Ar
kansas, and n like number about equally
divided between Missouri and Tennessee.
These farms contain total area OF about
$500. 900 acres, one-half OF which Is IN Mis-
ale n r-at a. n "A r
kansas, tho proportions IN Missouri and
Tennessee being about the same as In the
case OF the number OF farms. The total
value OF thcse farms, with their improve
mcnts, farm implements, otc., Is close upon
so5, 000. goo. and here also the proportions In
the different states are about the same as
above noted.
The live stock on hand the first OF jan
uary OF tho present year was valued at
over S.500.0o0, divided IN very much the
Same proportions as other farm property.
IL ~ estimated that OF the crops OF last
year ever S3S75.000 worth remained on hand
In the submerged region In the last month.
cotton representing about two-thlrds OF
this amount and corn practically all the
remainder
Tho largest interests az stake SO far are
those OF the state OF Mississippi. whose
flooded districts represent an invested cap
ital In agriculture alone OF close upon
si2,o000o0. over 1900 farms containing
100000 acres OF land, OF an average value
OF about SIS an acre. are under water in
the country lying between the Mississippi
and Yazoo rivers. Including some or the
most productive lands OF tho state.
Arkansas stands next In the extent OF its
imperilcd interests. nearly 10000 farms, con-
tanning 1.0Oo00O acres OF land, worth over
900. being submerged.
The agricultural interests affected in Mis-
souri, represent total capital OF 100000.
tho $500 submerged farms containing an
area OF about 10000 acres, worth abou,
s. $4,000
Tennessee Is not far behind Missouri IN
the extent OF It's imperiled interests. the
number and acreage OF tho submerged
farms being very nearly the same. and
the entire value, including 81. 900 for live
stock, and 600 for crops on hand, be-
ing over sSJ0O,O00.
What effect the floods will have upon
the crops OF the present season dependa
upon the length OF ita continuance, and
the practcablity OF wheat planting after
the subsistence OF the flood. The entire
region under water on April produced
last year about $1,000 bales OF cotton wall
fFnH nf al ero arn