The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-22
THE FLOOD STATISTICS.
The Sixth Break in the Mississippi
Delta Legee System.
RAT1oNs FOR THREE THOUSAND


terday- ay-Approximato Value OF Agri-
cultural Property of the Submerged
Region Reaches S0O,17G,177.
Memphis, April 22.--The sixth break
in the Mississippi delta levee system
occurred at 10 o'clock yesterday at a
point a few miles south of Lake Provi-
dence, La, on the Mississippi side of
the river. The break is large one,
and a great volume of water Is rush
ing into Issaquena county, Miss. This
county with the adjacent counties Of
sharkey and Yazoo, have already been
partly inundated from the earlier
breaks, and yesterdays crevasse, It is
believed, will not materially affect the
situation in that vicinity. The water
is gradually spreading over Madison
parish from the Biggs crevasse, and II
will be several weeks before IL subsidies.
The river at Natchez has been sta
tionary for the past "a hours, being at
tributed to the vast volume Of water
pouring through the crevasse above
and below that city. The situation Is
little more encouraging, especially
on the Louisiana side. At Vidalia the
levees are now in good condition. The.
back water going through Biggs and
Reeds levees has not yet arrived at
Natchez, but all streams are begin
ming to swell. Refugees from all the
swamps are being provided for as well
as possible while stock continues to
fill every spare pasture.
Reports from the sixth mississippi
crevasse in Issaquena county, on Promv
4 ,.r., 30 . fe- de-
not widening, and that the flow of
water through It is slackening The
water inside the levee was only six
feet below the level of the river. This
crevasse has already caused some
hundreds of persons to leave their
homes, and may be severely felt on
Lower Deer creek, where much land is
still above water Unless closed before
the river falls it will protract the flood
situation below.
The flood situation in Madison par
ish is daily growing worse, owing to
the unexpected spread of water from
Biggs crevasse. This yesterday over
flowed the plantation of the Ashley
Land company at Omaga, 30 miles
above this city, and So miles north of
Biggs creVasse. The companys MAN.
ager telegraphed to Vicksburg for a
steamer to bring out stock, and the
Ruth left at 4 a. m.
Three thousand people were issued
rations at Vicksburg yesterday, and
this total will be considerably increas-
ed, it is believed. The situation pre-
sents many difficulties. Some planters
are ready and anxious to supply the
/ wants of their tenants. Others, who
! see no prospect of making a crop, being
| on low land, are either unable or un-
/ willing to do so. Many negroes, who
| could get supplies to be paid for when
| crop is made, prefer to get free
rations. To weed out the undeserVing
is a task of great difficulty, but it is
being done approximately. The people
/ of Nicksburg have contributed and are
/ contributing most literally to feed the
hungry. Tents for 1000 persons We're
/ received at Vicksburg yesterday, and
arrangements were made today to
erect them. They will relieve a state
/ of unhealthful overcrowding.
The bureau of statistics of the treas
ury department at Washington has
made the following report on the dam
age caused agricultural interests on
/ the Mississippi river flood.
"Since the publication on April 70
| of a statement relative to the agricul-
! tural interests of the submerged dis
tricts of the Mississippi valley south
| of Cairo, MS, the area under water
| has been considerably extended. This
! extension is below Vicksburg Miss
/ but on the right or west side of the
/ river and is mainly due to a break
/ 1900 feet in width in the levee at Biggs.
! The outflow of water at this point has
! totally submerged four counties of
Louisiana, and partly overlooked five
others, while a break at La Fourche
| crossing. IN the northern part of the
/ same e.a-e, has resulted in the sub
/ mer. are of an additional area of
! nearly square miles in La Fourche
/ and TeIu bonne counties.
I'm this newly submerged region
/ there was in 1890 a total population of
/ S2,356 in the proportion of four colored
| persons to one white. The region con-
tanned in the last census 7,747 farms,
with a total area of over 900, 900 acres,
of which 100000 were improved. OF
this last mentioned area $4,000 acres,
or over one-half, were last year devot-
ed to cotton, over $1,000 acres to corn,
5000 acres to sugar cane, 1000 acres to
hay and an inconsiderable area to
other crops.
"The total value of these farms, in
Guiding fences and buildings, but ex-
elusive of their movable equipment
was in 1890 close upon $11, 900, 900, and
the value of the implements and ma
chinery upon them was over 5000 900.
Jan. 1 of the present year they
contained live stock to the value of
$1,5O0000 and so late as March / last
they We're estimated to have still on
hand about $780, worth of the crops
of last season. The total value of the
farms submerged by the breaks in the
levees that have occurred since the
10th inst, with their farm implements,
live stock and crops on hand, there
fore, Is close upon $1400O,0 900.
"This region produced last year near
ly 10000O bales of cotton, over 5000, 600
pounds of sugar and over /, 800. OO0
bushels Of corn, besides hay, potatoes,
pats and other minor products, the
entire production aggregating a value,
even at the low prices that have pre-
vailed, Of more than S4,25OOOO.
'%he total area submerged at this
date is over 10000 square miles. 1t
contained at the last census 46. 98g
farms, with a total area of 49O4, 468
acres, nearly one-half of which was
Improved, ard a total population, agrl-
cultural and other of 462, OIL. II to the
value Of its farms, farm buildings and
farm machinery, according to the cen
sus of 1890 there be added the value
of its live stock on Jan. / last and of