The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-30
10000 NILES UNDERWA
Treasury Departments Statement of
Damage to Agricultural Interests
THE APPROXIMATE VALUE OF
The Agricultural Property of the
Submerged Region is Over Ninety
Million Dollars.

The Bureau of Statistics of the Treas
ury Department at Washington, under
date of April 2lst, has made the follow
ing report Oh the damage caused agri-
cultural interests by the Mississippi
overfood:
Since the publication on April 12 of
statement relative to the agricultural
interests of the submerged districts of
the Mississippi Valley south of Cairo,
Ill, the area under water has been con
siderably extended. This extension is
below Nicksburg, Miss, but on the
right or west side of the river, and is
mainly due to Il break 1000 feet in
width, i'll the levee at Biggs. The owt.
flow OF water ut this poins has totally
submerged our parishes (counties) Of
Louisiana and partially overfowed five
others, while n break mt La Fourchc
crossing in the southern part of the
same State, has resulted in the submcr-
gence of an additional area of nearly
300 square miles in La Fourche and
Teare Bonne parishes. In this newly
submerged region there was in 1890 Il
total population of 81, 1856, in the pro-
portion OF four colored persons to
one white. The reg ion contained ut the
last census 7,141 farms, with total
area OF over ZOO, 900 acres, of which
100000 were improved. OF this last
mentioned area, 213, 600 ocres, or over
one half, were last year devoted to cot
ton, over $1,000 acres to corn, 6,OGO
acres to sugar cane, 1900 acres to hay
and an inconsiderable acreage to other
crops. The total value of these farms,
including fences and the buildings, but
exclusive of their movable equipment
1Stn plncn 4
the value of the implements and lna-
chinery and implements upon them
was over $500, COO On January |, of
the present year, they contained live
stock to the value of 1900, O00
and so lately as the first of
March they were estimated to have
still on hand about $500. 900 worth of
the crop of last season. The total value
OF the farms submerged by the breaks
In the lev2es that have occurred since
the 10th inst, with their farm imu!e-
mcnts, 1.-Two stock and crops on hand. is
therefore close upon Sli, 600, 600. This
region produced last year nearly 100, coo
bale" OF cotton, over 5000 900 pounds
OF sugar, OYER !, 800, coo Bushels of corn,
besides hay, potatoes, oats and other
minor products. the entire production
GggrcSaitnS value, even Mt the low
prices that Lave prevailed, of more
than 81. 30. eco.
The total area submerged ut this
date Is over 20, GEO square miles. 1t con-
tanned ut the last census Ssi6,gj0 farms.
with total area of d, ,9O4, AG6 acres,
nearly one half of which was improved,
and total population, agricultural
and otherwise, of .iG2. .Oil. If to Tie
value of It's farms, farm buildings aMi
farm machinery, according to the cen
sus of 1890, there be added the value OF
its live stock on January |, last, (S9,
IA. G3G) and of it's products of last sea.
son still on hand March |, last ($4. 5:j4. =
T5+) the total of 500. 116. III will repre-
sent the approximate value of the agri-
cultural property of the submerged
region. Among the products of this
region last year were 46G, 056 bales Of
cotton. worth Sl6,3l2, O6O; 1885, ,645
bushels of corn, worth $3,095,27 and
?,O33, so pounds of sugar, worth S21,
org The total production, including
minor crops, representing value of
S2l IS2, $50 on the plantations