The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-12
0GSial Estimate Of Acres Inundated
by Recent Floods.
Value of Property Involved Is
$85,OOO,OOO.
Ores Are Jeopardized and Over 800, 600
=. People Affected.

Saiiey. south from CAIRO, Ills. Inc
statement says:
The total area nder water on April 8
was about $500 square miles. of which
1909 square miles was in Mississippi,
400 square miles In Arkansas, 1850 square
miles In Missouri, 1900 in Tennessee and
$50 In Louisiana. This region contained
in 1890, so far as can be determined in
view of the somewhat indefinite bound
sry lines - the food, a population OF
1855, of which 166,489. or about one
half was in Mississippi. 10O,235 In Ar
kansas and the remainder almost equally
divided between Missouri and Tennessee.
Taking the entire region the colored
population outnumbered the whites in
the proportion of IL to Z, the colored pre-
dominating In the flooded districts OF
Mississippi in the ratio Of more than
5 10 I, and In Arkansas in that OF to i.
In Missouri and Tennessee the popu-
uation of the flooded districts is largely
white. In the former state In the pro-
portion OF 10 TO I, and the latter in that or
3 1to1
The flooded districts contain. 1t IL es.
timaked, about $500 farms, OF which
about 1850 are in Mississippi, nearly
1o,0Oe In Arkansas and a like number
and Tennessee. These farms contain a
total area OF about $500. 900 acres one
half OF which Is in Mississippi. and rates
over one-fourth in Arkansas. the pro-
portions In Missouri and Tennessee being
about the same as I'm the case OF the
number OF farms. The total value of
these farms. with their improvements.
farm implements, ETC.. Is close upon
fG5. 900. .ooo and here also the proportions
in the dierent states are about the same
rs above noted.
The total number OF acres improved
at the taking OF the last census was about
,,000.S and about 1900. .0c0 acres were
last year devoted to cotton and corn, to
which crop nearly 50 per cent Of the en-
tire acreage cultivated is devoted. The
live stock on hand Jan. OF the present
year was valued at over 81, SOC, 900. d.
vided In very much the same proportions
as other farm property. II Is estimated
that Of the crops OF last year over
&c, 75O. 900 worth remained on hand In the
submerged region on the last of the
month cotton representing about two
thirds OF this amount and corn prac-
ticaTly all the remainder.
The largest interests at stake so far
are those Of the state Of Mississippi
whose flooded districts represent an in
vestment capital in agriculture alone Of
close upon $42. .000, 900. Over Is. 900 farms,
containing 100000 acres Of land OF an
average value of about $l8 an acre, are
under water I'm the country lying be-
tween the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers,
Including some OF the most productive
lands of the state. Their live stock, even
ut the present low prices. is worth nearly
$500 o0o and the farmers and planters
are estimated to have about s., ,00O, 900
worth OF the crops of last year still on
hand
Arkansas stands next In the extent Of
its imperiled interests. nearly 10000
farms. containing 1000. 900 acres OF land.
worth over $4,000. 900, being submerged.
These farms contain live stock to the
value of over s1.5O0, 900 ard crops un-
sold and unconsumed to the value of
nearly 100000. the entire agricultural
interests OF these lands representing a
value not far short of s17 200, 600.
The agricultural interests affected in
Missouri represent a total capital of
rather over s9.0o00o0, the $500 submerged
farms containing an area Of about 47o.-
600 acres, worth about $3.50. 900. the live
stock representing nearly 81 500. 900 more,
and the crops on hand another $500 600.
Tennessee is not far behind Missouri in
the extent Of its imperiled interests, the
number and acreage of the submerged
farms being very nearly the same. and
the entire value, including $3.50. 600 for
live stock and s4OO, 900 for crops on hand
being over $S, 500, ,00O
What effect the flood will have upon
the crops of the present season depends
ha Ian OF nf re
the practloability of wheat planting af-
ter the subsistence OF the flood The en-
tire region under water on April pro-
duced last year about $40, 900 bales of cot
ton, valued at close on 1l3, ,O0O, 900: over
h.0oe.0oo bushels Of corn, worth about
$S,@s.0oo. and wheat, oats. potatoes and
hay. worth over 100000 more. The most
valuable portion of these crops was
raised In mississippi. whose region now
submerged produced nearly 25O, 900 bales
OF cotton. besides other products, mostly
for local consumption. The counties
wholly or partially submerged are
among the largest cotton producing
countries in the United States. Yazoo
county, which alone has produced over
50. 900 bales in a season. is one half under
water, while Boliver county. Coahoma.
1ssaquena, Washington with produc-
tive capacity of 100, 900 bales) and other
famous counties are partially sub
merged.
The weather bureau predicts q further
Extension OF the flooded area, but no at
Tempt, of course, has been made to esti-
mate the serious possibilities Of such ex-
tension.
The weather bureau publishes map Of
the country flooded on April 10. and says:
The flood water now I'm western Mis-
sisstppi Is Just beginning to return to
the Mississippi river through the Yazoo
and Millikens landing a few miles to the
north. The gradually increasing strain
expected during the next few days on the
Louisiana side. opposite the place where
the Yazoo foods returned to the Missis-
sippi renders IL possible that the ievees
may break and the food pour through
into northeastern Louisiana, In which
case II Is possible that much. II not all.
or the area In Louisiana formerly covered
by foods will be flooded again this year.
Heroic work is now being done on the
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