The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-22
THE FLOOD STATISTICS.
The Sixth Break in the Mississippi
Delta Levee System. .,,,.
RATIONs FOR THREE THOUSAND
We're Distributed at Vicksburg Yes
neutrality-suspicious. Value of Agrt-
cultural Property of the Submerged
Region Reaches S8O,I76,177.

were Distributed aC N1cKSDufR 6b-
terday-Approximate value Of Agri-
cultural Property of the Submerged
Region Reaches S8O,I76,177.
Memphis, April 22.-The sixth break
in the Mississippi delta levee system
occurred at 10 o'clock yesterday at
point few miles south of Lake Provi-
dence, La, on the Mississippi side Of
the river. The break is a large one,
and a great volume of water Is rush
ing into Issaquena county. Miss. This
county, with the adjacent counties of
Sharkey and Yazoo, have already been
partly inundated from the earlier
breaks. and yesterdays crevasse. it Is
believed, will not materially affect the
situation in that vicinity. The water
is gradually spreading over Madison
parish from the Biggs crevasse, and 1t
will be several weeks before it subsidies.
The river at Natchez has been sta
tionary for the past "a hours, being at
tributed to the vast volume of water
pouring through the crevasse above
and below that city. The situation Is
a little more encouraging, especially
on the Louisiana side. At Vidalia the
levees are now in good condition. Tho
back water going through Blggs and
Reeds levees has not yet arrived at
Natchez, but all streams are begin
ming to swell. Refugees from all the
swamps are being provided for as well
as possible. while stock continues to
fill every spare pasture.
Reports from the sixth mississippi
crevasse in Issaquena county, on Prom
ised Land plantation, show that is is
not widening, and that the flow of
water through 1t Is slackening. The
water inside the levee was only six
feet below the level of the river. This
creyasSe has. already caused some
hundreds of persons to leave their
homes, and may be severely felt on
Lower Deer creek, where much land is
still above water. Unless closed before
the river falls it will protract the flood
situation below.
The flood situation in Madison par
ish Is daily growing worse, owing to
the unexpected spread of water from
Biggs crevasse. This yesterday over
flowed the plantation of the Ashley
Land company at Omaga, 80 miles
above this city, and So miles north OF
Biggs crevasse. The company's man.
ager telegraphed to Vicksburg for
steamer to bring out stock, and the
Ruth left at a. m.
Three thousand people were issued
rations at Ficksburg yesterday, and
this total will be considerably increas.
ed, II Is believed. The situation pre-
sents many difficulties. Some planters
are ready and anxious to supply the
wants of their tenants. Others, who
see no prospect of making crop, being
on low land are either unable or un-
willing to do so. Many negroes, who
could get supplies to be paid for when
a crop is made, prefer to get free
rations. To weed out the undeserving
Is a task of great difficulty, but it is
being done approximately, The people
of Vicksburg have contributed and are
contributing most literally to feed the
hungry. Tents for 1000 persons were
received at Vicksburg yesterday, and
arrangements We're made today to
erect them. They will relieve state
of unhealthful overcrowding.
The bureau Of statistics Of the treas.
ury department at Washington has
made the following report on the dam
age caused agricultural interests on
tine Mississippi river flood.
Since the publication on April Il
of a statement relative to the agricul-
tural interests of the submerged dis
tricts OF the Mississippi valley south
of Cairo, Ills, 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
1000 feet in width in the 1evee at Biggs.
The outflow of water at this point has
totally submerged four counties Of
Louisiana, and partly overfiowed flva
others, while g. break at La Fourche
crossing, in the northern part of the
same state, has resulted in the sub
mergence of an additional area OF
nearly 300 square miles in La Fourche
and Terrebonne counties.
IN this newly submerged region |
there was in 1890 total population Of |
1886 in the proportion Of four colored !
persons to one white. The region con-
tanned in the last census 7,747 farms, |
with a total area of over LOCO 900 acres,
Of which 100000 were improved. OF |
this last mentioned area 213,O 900 acres,
or over one-half, were last year devot-
ed to cotton, over 81, 600 acres to corn,
5000 acres to sugar cane, 1900 acres to |
hay and an inconsiderable area to |
other crops.
1.-THE total value of these farms in
Guiding fences and buildings, but ex-
al
was in 1890 close upon 81, ,0OO, ,OOO and
the value Of the implements and ma
chinery upon them was over $500, 900.
Jan. / Of the present year they
contained live stock to the value of
81, 500 900, and so late as March last
they were estimated to have still on
hand about $500, 600 worth of the crops
of last season. The total value of the
farms submerged by the breaks in the
levees that have occurred since the
10th inst with their farm implements,
live stock and crops on hand, there
fore, is close upon $4,000. 900.
This region produced last year near
ly 100, 900 bales Of cotton, over 5000, coo
pounds of sugar and over 1900, 600
bushels of corn, besides hay, potatoes,
oats and other minor products, the
entire production asgregating value.
even at the low prices that have pre-
vailed, of more than s4,250 900.
1.-THE total area submerged at this
date is over 2a.GG0 square miles. 1t
at the last census 46,936
farms, with a total area of 4904, 1866
acres nearly one-half of which was
improved, and total population. agri-
cultural and other of 1852 041 If to tba
value of its farms, farm buildings and
farm machinery, according to the CEN
sus of 1890. there be added the value
Of It's live stock on Jan. l last and of
Its products Of last season still on hand
on March l last, the total of $90,176177
will represent the approximate value
Of the agricultural property of the
region.
Learning to Ride Bike.