, 1897-04-22
MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.
OVER 10000 SQUARE MILES OF
LAND ARE NOW UNDER
WATER.
Value Of Lands and Property Submerged
Nearly 500, 600, O0O-Recent Breaks
Have Covered Over a Million Acres
With Water, Causing Damage of
$50. 900. 900.

Washington. April 21.-The bureau of
statistics Of the treasury department has
made the following report on the dam
age caused agricultural interests by the
Mississippi river flood:
Since the publication of April IL, Of
u statement relative to the agricultural
interests OF the submerged districts OF
the Mississippi valley south of Cairo,
H., the area under water has been con,
siferably extended.
THE extension is below Vicksburg,
Miss, but on the right or west side OF
the river, and is mainly due to a break
2,D0O feet in width. in the levee at
Briggs. The outflow Of water at this
point has totally submerged four par
ishes (cOunties) OF Louisiana, and par
TALLY oyerflowed five others, while a
break at La Fourche crossing, in the
southern part of the same state, has re-
suited in the submergence of an ad-
ditional 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 S2,356.
in the proportion of four colored per-
sons to one white.
THE region contained at the last CEN
sus 7.7i7 farms, with a total area OF over
| 900, 900 acres, of which 420,0 0 were
improved. or this last mentioned area.
2i3, 600 acres. Or over one-half, were last
year devoted to cotton, over 81 900 acres
to corn, 5000 acres to sugar cane, p, 900
acres to hay and an inconsiderable acre-
these farms, including fences and build
ings, but exclusive of their movable
was in 1890 close pom SILL
GOO, 900, and in value Of the implements
and machinery upon them was over
$500, 900. On January l of the present
year they contained live stock to the
value Of one and one-half million dol
lars, and SO lately as the first Of March
last they were estimated to have still OF
hand ABOUT $500, 900 worth of the crops
OF last season The total value OF the
farms submerged by the breaks in the
levees that nave occurred since the 10th
inst, with their farm implements, live
stock and crops on hand is, therefore,
close upon $14, OOO, 900.
This region produced last year 1O0.-
900 bales Of cotton, over 5000, 900 pounds
OF sugar, over 1900. 900 bushels of corn,
besides hay, potatoes, oats and other
products, the entire production ag-
gregating a value, even at the low prices
have prevailed, of more than four
and one-quarter million dollars.
The total area submerged at this date
is over 1000 square miles. 1t contained
at the last census 46, 1856 farms, with a
total area of 1904, 466 acres, nearly one
half OF which was improved, and u total
population, agricultural and others of
1904. II to the value OF its farms,
farm buildings and farm machinery, ac-
cording to the census of 1890, there be
added the value of its live stock On jan
uary l last. $9~,174,636. and of its pro-
Of last season still on hand on
/ last, $4,595,179, the total Of
$90,176, 177 will represent the aproxi-
mate value OF the agricultural property
OF the submerged region. Among the
products Of this region last year were
466, 056 bales OF cotton, worth $16.312,-
06O; 12,525, 645 bushels OF corn, worth
50, 1896, 27s, and 9.033,S7s pounds Of sugar
worth $271 ,O16. The total production,
including minor crops, represents a val
Of s2l, 1872, 1870 on the plantations"