Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-22
LOSS IS ENORMOUS.
TWENTY THOUSAND SQUARE MILES
UNDER WATER.
AREA INCLUDES 46,e35 FARMS
FARM PROPERTY IN SUBMERGED
REGION WORTH $oO,OOO,OOO.
Sixth Break in the Delta Levee Sys-
tenn Yesterdny-Crest of the Mood
Wave Is Now Thought
TO Have Passed-Work
still Continues.

Washington, April 21-The agricultural
department has issued a statement con-
corning the overfiowed districts along the
Mississippi. 1t shows that the total area
submerged at this date is over 10000 square
miles. 1t contained at the last census 469S5
farms, with q total area of 4,90i, ,466 acres,
| nearly one-half of which was improved.
and 4 total population, agricultural and
other, of 462,041. If, to the value of its
farms, farm buildings and farm machin-
cry, according TO the census of 1890. there
be added the value of its live stock on jan
uary l last .6S6) and of its products
of last season still on hand on March l
last (S4,595,l19, the total of s901I6,1T will
represent the approximate value of the
agricultural property of the submerged re-
gion. Among the products of this region
last year Were 466,056 bales of cotton, worth
Sl6,Sl2, ,060; Il, 525 Gas bushels of corn, worth
| 2,9S5,27S, and $685. SIS pounds of sugar worth
| s21,Ol6. The total production, including mi
nor crops, represents value of s2l,is2 $50
on the plantation.
Memphis, Tenn, April H-The sixth
| break in the Mississippi delta levee system
| occurred at Tenoco this morning, at point
a few miles south of Lake Providence,
La, on the Mississippi side of the river.
The break is quite Il large one and great
volumes OF water are rushing into lssa-
quena county, Miss. The county, with
the adjoining counties, Sharkey and Yazoo,
has already been partly inundated from
the earlier breaks and to-day's crevasse
it is believed, will materially affect the
situation in that vicinity. The water will,
of course. rise again, but the swift flow
ing Yazoo will doubtless carry it back into
the main channel again within Il short
time. No new breaks are reported from
the Louisiana district
The water is gradually spreading over
Maaison parish from the Biggs crevasse,
ana it will be several weeks before it sub
sizes. The river at Memphis Is slowly fall
ing.
Nicksburg. Miss. April 2l.-Reports from
the sixth Mississippi crevasse. in Issaquena
county, on Promised Land plantation, show
that it is not widening and the flow of
water through it is slackening to stiffness
already. The water inside the levee was
only six feet below the level of the river.
This crevasse has already caused some
hunCreds of persons to leave their houses
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
| ttcod situation in Madison parish is daily
growing worse, owing to the unexpected
spread of water from the Biggs crevasse.
This reached and overfiowed to-day the
plantation of the Ashley Land Company at
Omaga. thirty miles above this city, and
| thrty-siN miles north of Biggs' crevasse.
| The companyS managers telegraphed here
| tonight for a steamer to bring out stock.
Such spread of water northward is un-
Conditions in South Madison are more
| favorable than was supposed possible, and
no loss of life occurred there. The situation
| along the Louisiana levees above this place
Is unchanged, and cannot be considered as
| otherwise than critical. The levees are en-
dangered by sloughing, being very soft.
" a 10Y ar Cfn HirO
! be surprised should disaster occur at sew
| eral points.
Three thousand people received rations
here to-day. and this total will be consid-
| erably Increased it is believed. The sit
uation presents many difficulties.
Some planters are ready and anxious to
| supply the wants of their tenants. Others
who see no prospect of making CROP be-
ing, on lowland. are either unable or un-
| especially numerous in this county. which is
not protected by leveeS and many negroes
who could get supplies to be paid for when
a crop is made prefer to get free rationS.
| They are not greatly blamed, for all of
| them are heavy losers in one way or an
other and very few of them have anything
| but their bone and sinew and their work to
| look to for living. To weed out the un-
deserving is task of great difficulty. but
he f being peSpe done Of Saxs
uteo and are contributing most literally
| TO feed the hungry. Government supplies
end Sn' tho rver by osR
| the tendency to congregate here. Tents
for 1000 persons were received here to-
| day and arrangements will be made to
erect them. They will relieve state of
unhealthful overcrowding.
| New Orleans, April 2l.-The gauge rose
IL ut one time yesterday and the impress
sion along the Louisiana line. in view of
| the subsequent fall, is that the flood wave
| came on a fair day. found the people pre-
pared and passed on. Nevertheless the
| crest of the flood wave has not yet been
here officially: and the river may go high
| er. The work of the past is as nothing
| to that going on now. Planters and farm
ers, laborers and merchants have aban-
| dcned everything else and are camping on
| the weak spots. nursing them with tender
| care and holding them against a weight
anG q mass Of water which is almost in
conceivable.
More material is going out now than ever
| before, and the activity is superhuman.
Miles of new work. of box levees. of piles
of filled sacks and earth have sprung UP in
| every section. Railroads are carrying men
and material free. and no money has been
spared by the levee board or the people.
only calculated to hold the flood from cross
ing the levee line, and when the water
| falls. nearly the entire system will need
substantial repair, if not rebuilding.
| Natchez. Miss, April 21-The river here
| has been stationary for the past twenty
| four hours. being attributed to the vast
volume of water pouring through the Gre
| vases above and below here. The stua-
| ton is n little more encouraging and hope
| full, and especially on the Louisiana side.
| At Vidalia. the leveeS are now in good con-
| dition, and foot or more above the water.
| Defective places are being rapidly replaced.
| The clear weather for the past week has
| been of great benefit to them. drying and
| hardening them on top and outside. and
| little or no apprehension is now felt.
| Many people think that the crest of the
| wave that has been looked forward to
| ing through the crevasses near Delta and
| the force will soon have passed.