The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-03
THE OUTLOOK.

Will marx quite an era IN the history
of our parish. Several times before
we have seen the river at its highest
stages; on the 31st Of May and on
the 1st OF June, 1892, the gauge at
this place recorded 4l.90 feet, and
on the 23rd of May 1898, 4l.S5.
For the last three years we had no
water, the river got scarcely out OF
its banks meantime the National
Government and the State Levee
Board put more and moro dirt on the
top OF all our levees. Even the
levee in front OF the town, which had
been considered one of the highest
in the State, was raised by nearly two
feet. Every levee was reinforced,
sodded again, banquettes were built
behind each levee over 10 feet; it
looked like we would never again ex-
perience an overflow, and many
thought they could quietly sit down
and look amuslngly at the big river
rushing by on her way to the gulf.
Slowly however, but relentlessly
the river began to rise at the rate OF
6, Z, or more inches day the high
water mark of '92 was passed on the
Oath inst. with no abatement in the
rise, and it looked like if deluge
was going to pour down upon US and
our levees, in which we had so much
confidence, would be swept away
like so much sand before the wind.
On Thursday of last week. the
Pitchers Pointpeople found out that
they had only 9 inches of bank
left to their levee, with the river
rising at the rate of 6 inches day !;
they knew that unless much heroic
work was done they and the whole
parish would be overlooked. They
began working under many difficult
ties; they put sacks on the levee; the
water soon came even with the top of
the bank, encroached on the first tier
Of sacks, reached the second tier,
and only trojan work saved the leyee
and prevented our being overflowed
from the Pitchers Point levee.
Strange to say that after it was all
over and the water began falling, it
was plainly seen that the Pitchers
Point leyee was In some places 9
inches, and for about three quarters
of mile 6 inches below grade.
Next came the terrible experience
Of last Sunday night, night long to
be remembered by the people Of our
town. A southeast wind swept
broadside the Mcclure leyee below
town; the waves for several hours
rushed over it and had it not been
for the vim with which whites and
blacks worked during that livelong
night, we would have now two feet
of water all over town.
Sunday night, however, was to
give us relief. About 5 O'Clock the
levee broke at Wayside, Miss, 10
miles below Greenville, and on Tues
day morning the water had fallen
here about inches. Since then,
three more breaks have taken place
one at Australia. Miss, 1913 miles
above Grecnville; another at Stops,
MISS, A miles above Greenyille,
md fourth one at Rosedale, Miss,
"a miles above Greenville. A. the
lime of this writing (Friday morn
ng), there is so far no break on this
,lue Oh the river. !
Since the breaks the river has
ALLEN here about eight inches, and
IN enormous pressure has been taken
IF our levees. But the danger is
lot over, far from it. We could say
~ the contrary that our levees are in
! greater danger than ever and
'e1uire day and night careful watch
ng. Every day that TIE water stays
against the leyees makes them that
much softer, more water-soaked and
'pongy, consequently more danger
'us. The history OF breaks would |
how that many OF them took place
IN a falling river when the people |
bought that, because the water had |
allen several inches they did not |
iced to watch the leyees any longer.
We need not impress that on Levee
Commissioner Ransdell, he is fully |
reused to the situation, and he will !
lot cease his energetic vigilance un-
il the water has fallen at least two or |
hree feet. But many of our citizens
iced to be reminded of this, and we