Evening journal., 1897-04-22
DELUGE STATISTICS.
Official Report on the Amount Of
Damage Done by Floods.
THOUSANDS OF FARMS DESTROYED.
Total of Over 500, 100000 Worth o.
Property Has Been Ruined by the
Devastating Element-f1stimate
of the Submerged Area.

Washington. April 22.-The bureau of |
statistics of the treasury department
has made the following report of the
damage caused agricultural interests
on the Mississippi river by Hood:
"Since the publication ON April II OF
a statement relative to the agricultural
interests of the submerged districts of
the Mississippi valley south of Cairo.
H., 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 out
flow Of water at this point has totally
submerged four parishes (countics) of
Louisiana and partially overlooked five
others. while a break at La Fourche
crossing in the southern part of the
same state has resulted I'm the submer
gence of an additional area Of nearly
800 square miles in La Fourche and
Terrebonne parishes.
'In this newly submerged region there
was in 1890 a total population of 1886
in the proportion Of four colored per
sons to one white.
Thousands OF Farms Ruined.
"The region contained in the last CEN
sus 7,747 farms. with a total area Of
over 100000 acres. OF which 100000
were improved. Of this last mentioned
area, 213.O00 acres. or overone- half, were
last year devoted to cotton, over 9l,-
900 acres to corn. 6.OOO acres TO sugar
cane, 1000 acres to hay and an incon-
siderable acreage to other crops
'The total value OF these farms, in
cluding fences and buildings, but ex-
frrn rf al
was in 1890 close upon $11 000. 600, and
the value Of the implements and ma
chlnery upon them was over 5000 600
on Jan. I Of the present year they con-
tained live stock To the value of $780,
0O0, and so lately as the 1st of Marcf
last they We're estimated 10 have still
on hand about $500, 600 Worth of tn,
crops of last season. The total valu,
Of the farms submerged by the break.
in the levees that have occurred sine,
the 10th inst, with their farm imple
ments, live stock and crops or hand. il
therefore close upon $4,000 600.
This region produced last yea
nearly 100000 bales Of cotton. owe
100000 pounds Of sugar, over 100000
bushels Of corn, besides hay, potatoes
oats and other minor products. the en-
tire production aggregating a value
even at the low prices tnal prevailed
OF more than Sl,25O, 600.
Total Area submerged.
"The total area submerged at thi
date is over 10000 square miles. ]
contained at the last census AZ. 936 farm
with total area of 4,904. 466 acres, neai
ly one half of which was improved, an
total population, agricultural an
other of 462, ,041 IL to the value Of II
farms. farm buildings and farm ms
chinery, according to the census Of 1S9
there be added the value of its liz
stock on Jan. 1 last (S9,174, $3.50, and
its products Of last season still on han
on March 1 last (S4595.17O. the tots
of S9O.176,i77 viii represent tho approx
mate value of the agricultural properi
OF the submerged region.
Among the products OF this regio
last year were 466,056 bales of cotto
worth S16S12, ,O6O: 12.525.6l5 bushels
corn, worth $3.995.27S. and 9032.S
pounds of sugar.gworth S27f. .ol6, the t.
tai production. including minor crop
representing a value of S2l7S2.1s0 q
the plantations"