The record-union., 1897-03-30
WHOLE NO. 1888.

=
Bohemian flats and the residents OF
that locality are moving out. The
Easements of many concerns on the
West Side are full of water. Much
higher water in the Mississippi is re-
ported at Little Falls, ST. Cloud and
Grand Rapids. There is still about
foot of snow on the ground.
SITUATION DISCOURAGING.
QUINCY GID, March 29-The Mis-
Sissippi keeps UP its record of the past
week at this point, and another rise is
registered, making the stage fifteen
feet above low water mark. Thousands
of sightseers line the river banks and
bluffs to see the muddy water which
has submerged all of the islands and
stretched back over the Missouri bot
toms for a distance of several miles.
with only the tops Of trees and partly
submerged houses visible here and
there to mark the former places of
abode of thiuty farmers.
The situation in the levee district is
the same as it was yesterday. A large
force of men are working herOically 20
strengthen the weak places in the
levees and thereby save their homes
and crops. but 1T is now believed their
task is hopeless one, as old river men
say that the river Will go beyond the
mark of 1883. Reports from north of
here are very discouraging and the
rainstorm which prevailed Sunday only
increased the fears of the owners of
land in the levee districts
FLOOD CONDITIONS GRAVE.
ALTON Qll), March 29.-Flood con-
ditions become gIaver every hour Men
were put 10 work this morning over
hauling all the levees protecting higher
bottom lands The railroad companies
are putting their tracks in American
and St. Charles bottoms in the best
possible condition to withstand floods,
for less than twelve feet more water
viii bring the stage of 1892 when the
tracks of all railroads were submerged
between Alton and St Louis
The gauge shows an advance of four
tenths of a foot in the last twenty
four hours. The river is within less
than three feet of the stage reached in
the middle of May last year. and, with
nearly two months of wet weather
ahead, the outlook is gloomy.
Thousands of dollars have already
been ewept away in crop products, and
it is raining again, so that the prairies.
even back from the river, look like
lakes. and the preparation of lands for
spring crops is again deferred
RUNNING OVER THE LEVEE.
NEW ORLEANS, March 29-The
river finally reached the top of the
levee this morning, and began running
over into Mandeville street, directly in
front of the celebrated French market
building. 1t is not believed that any
material damage will occur to property.
The people in the city are not greatly
alarmed because the levee at that point
is a very strong one and there is no
fear that it will break no matter how
much water flows over it.
That portion of the river where the
water is flowing over is the nearest
point between the river and Lake Pont-
chartrain. The water coming over the
levee can be easily carried back into the
lake. There are several streets which
would carry it to the lake at once.
Canal street and the main portion of
the city is above where the overflow
has occurred so that very little dam
age can be done unless the water flows
over the levee in the upper part of the
city
The only news disturbing the citizens
is the fact that freshets and rising riv-
ers are reported from the States above
Louisiana.
News has come that the Minnesota
rivers are rising rapidly The Missis-
sippi at St. Paul has passed the ten
foot mark and is getting higher.
Higher water is reported at Little
Ic
At Quincy. ILL.,, the river is fifteen feet
above the low-water mark
Every effort will be made by the city
authorities of New Orleans to strength
en- the levee. From past experience
they know that the very high water
only lasts a few weeks and after that
all danger is past. Usually when the
river is booming the levees above break
and that relieves the pressure here. 1t
very often happens that the Ievee on
the Algiers side caves in and generally
saves this city
THE HIGHES YET.
WASHINGTON, March 29-ColoneI
Gillespie, President of the Mississippi
Commission. has telegraphed General
Wilson, chief of engineers, from Vicks-
burg under hate of yesterday:
THE gauges along the river, from
Memphis to Vicksburg, give a flood
reading varying from one and one
third to three feet above any previous
ly recorded readings. The feeling every
where is one of uneasiness.
"All the State Levee Boards are bat
ting against the rising floods regardless
of cost. AS yet no widely spread dam
age has been reported, though several
breaks of levees have occurred The
levees are seriously strained at all
points,