Evening star., 1897-04-19
Citisens of New Orleans Want Greater
! Security From Flood.
PLEDGE ALL TIE MONEY NEEDED
Proposal to Cut the Levee Oppo-
site the City.
FIRING ON ECTs

city has caught the fever Of excitement
and though the authorities insist that the
line is well protected and no danger ex-
lists. the citizens held several mass meet-
ings and urged action, ple1ging all the
money needed.
This has induced the board to build the
temporary levees two feet higher, after
having already provided for a temporary
rise Of two feet. A large force of men are
already at work. night and day. on the up
per levees and by tonight this extra eau
tion will be completed. Work will then
be begun on the commercial section and
two feet of sand bags added there by Tues
day night.
The Carrollton levee. about which most
OF the agitation Is in progress, stands at
the head Of the finest residence avenue In
the city. and as a spectator stands at the
top he looks upon the roofs Of mansions
while almost wettfng his feet in the mighty
river seeming eager to break its bonds
one glance at the picture is sufficient to
account Tor the anxiety which has led 10
uch bitter attack upon the really good
work the levee board has accomplished
Al one OF the meetings one Of the citi-
zens suggested the cutting Of levee on
the opposite bank of the river in order
to save the city. Some of the people from
over the river were present and quietly
replied that any such attempt would Lnaan
the perforation Of the cutting committee.
A groundless fear that New Orleans
would attempt such measures has been
abroad In adjoining sections for several
days. and at the monster Bonnet Carre
embankment the rumor has caused the
camping of an armed company of volun-
teers on the levee each night.
Last night three negroes in skiff were
caught stealing along in the shadow of the
levee and fusillade was prompt. The boat
swiftly darted toward the opposite bank
hpfnro nQr G
wounded.
Although a number Of weak places con-
tinue to develop the line below Baton
Rouge continues firm. and there Is no ces-
sation of work. Yesterdays fine weather
and the absence of the delayed flood kept
the gauge stationary below 10 feet. The
prediction of % feet will probably be veri-
fed.
On the Lower Mississfppi.
VICKSBURG. Miss. April 19.-The sit
uation Is not bettered on the Louisiana
side. The water from the Biggs crevasse
Is overfiowing large portions of the upper
Madison parish.
kilograms from Ashwood at midnight
asked that relief boats be sent to Bayou
Vidal. that life as in danger.
The United States steamer Florence went
down at l am. Steamer Ruth arrived here
last night, loaded with stock and refugees
from the Mississippi side above Issaquenna
county. SteaT ers Lake Palmyra and Wat r
Maiden, with barges In tow. left Davis Is
land and arrived this morning from the
upper YaZoo and report the lands on the
north or upper side under water as high as
Belzoni.
Daily mail service has been established
by skin from Vicksburg to au points
the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific rail-
read. During last night and this morning
over 800 destitute people arrived by relief
beat. At am the gauge showed fifty-one
feet. fall of three-tenths in twenty-four
hours. AT IL I'm. 1t was 51S.
Capt. Martins Experience.
The War Department officials regard the
outlook in the lower Mississippi valley with
the greatest anxiety. and fear that the
levee system there will prove unable to
withstand the terrible strain. Captain Mar
tin of the quartermaster generals depart
ment has just returned to Washington and
Is preparing his report to the Secretary of
War He was sent out to inspect the condi-
ticns in that section of the country lying
alcng the Mississippi river from Vicksburg
to GIeenville, and his report gives s5me
startling figures as to the extent Of the
devastation worked by The waters.
he says that there was under water last
Wednesday a strip of land on the east
bank Of the river with Vicksburg 1T .ts
apex. with a base of twenty miles and six
ty miles wide. Containing go square miles.
This Is all cotton country. 1t is generally
owned IN large Plantations, the owners Of
which divide it into small parcels and allow
negroes to work 1t on shares.
In 1880 there was produced in this strip
1l2,OoO bales Of cotton. The population is
estimated at from $1,000 to 100000, about
cne-sixth Of the people being whites.
captain Martin says that not more than
~ per cent Of this country is above wafer
made up Tor the most part of little tracts
along Deer creek, Sunhower river and rail
read embankments
Most OF the negroes have stuck by their
cabins. having anywhere from one to two
weeks supplies by them.
However, when the officer left thew we're
beginning to swarm into the towns, He
estimates that about 0000O persons In this
district are in need Of aid from some OMAR
ter. The people themselves are DOING all
in their power. and Capt Martin cites in
stances of great nberaitiy on the part of
the whites.
AS long as there is a promise of a good
COTTON crop to be made the plantation
owners may generally be relied upon to
reed their negro workers, but with the
disappearance of that chance will come
inability on their part to respond to fur
ther demands, because Of the loss of their
credit with the factors and bankers -
Captain Martin thought that the chances
Of making a crop this year. though general
ly regarded as gloomy at Vicksburg, where
not so bad. and had certainly been very
much improved by the breaking of the
levee at Bigg's Delta. Though this was a
terrible misfortune to the dwellers below,
the erevasse will probably lower the waters