The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-17
FLOOD STATISTICS.

hA5hlN0IONs Ap1A
relative to the agricultural interests OF
the submerged districts of the Missls-
slppi valley south of Cairo. H., has
been issued by the department of agrl-
culture. 1t is based upon a chart pre-
pared under the direction of the CHIEF
of the weather bureau, showing h
extent of the food on April 6. To this
chart the department has applied the
crop statistics of 1896 as representing
more closely than any other available
data the acreage and value OF h
crops of 1897 now in jeopardy.
The statistics of population, of the
number and acreage of farms and OF
the value of farms and farm imple-
ments are those of the census, and the
statistics of live stock are the depart
ment's own figures for January 1, 1897.
The total area under water on April
6, was $500 square miles, of which
1900 square miles were in Mississippi,
4,5G0 square miles in Arkansas, $50
square miles in Missouri, 1000 in Ten
nessee and $50 in Louisiana. This re-
gion contained, in 1890, so far as can
be determined, in view of the some
what indefinite boundary lines of the
flood, a population of SI9,6S5, of which
1S6, 4S9, or about one-half, was in Mis-
sissippi, 100, 2Sa in Arkansas and the
remainder almost equally divided be-
tween Missouri and Tennessee.
Taking the entire region the colored
people outnumbered the whites in the
proportion of II to Z. the colored pre-
dominating in the flooded districts OF
Mississippi in the ratio of more thar
five to 1, and in Arkansas in that of 2
to 1. In Missouri and Tennessee the
population of the flooded districts Is
largely white, in the former state in
the proportion of 10 to 1, and in the
latter in that of 2 to 1.
The flooded districts contain, it is
estimated, about SO, 800 farms, of which
about Is, 500 are in Mississippi, nearly
10, 900 in Arkansas and a like number
about equally divided between Mis-
souri, and Tennessee. These farms con-
tain a total area of about $500, 0G0
acres, one-half of which is in Missis-
sippi and rather over oEe-fourth in
Arkansas, the proportions in Missouri
and Tennessee being about the same as
in the case of the number CT FARMS.
The total value of these farms with
their improvements, farm implements
ETC., is close upon S05. 900, 900, and here
also the proportions in the different
noted.
The total number of acres improved
1t the taking of the last census was
about 1000, 900, and about 1,500, 600
acres were last year devoted to cotton
aud corn, to which crops nearly 95 per
cent. of the entire acreage cultivated is
devoted. The live stock on hand the 1st
of January of the present year was
valued at over 1900, 900, divided in
very much the same proportions as
other farm products
1t is estimated that of the crops of
last year over S., 80, 900 worth re-
manned on hand in the submerged re-
gion on the last of the month, cotton
representing about two-thirds of this
amount and corn practically all the
remainder.
The largest interests at stake so far
are those of the state of Mississippi,
whose flooded districts represent an in
vested capital in agriculture alone of
close upon $40, 900, 900. Over IS, 900
farms, containing 1000, 600 acres o:
land, of an average value of about SIS an
acre, are under water between the
Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, including
49,. Sc A. r,@eA --,IY-a la-Ic -
the state. Their live stock, even at
the present low prices is worth nearly
So, 500, 600, and the farmers and plant
ers are estimated to have about 81, 000,-
900 worth of the crops of last year still
on hand.
Arkansas stands next in the extent
of its iTnperiled interests, nearly 10, 0G0
farms, containing 1000, 900 acres of
land, worth over $4,000, 900 being sub
merged. These farms contain live
stock to the value of over 81. 500, 600
Snd crops unsold and uncansumed to
the value of nearly 5000. 900, the entire
agricultural interests of these lands
representing Il value not far short of
ST., 200, 900.
The agricultural interests affected in
Missouri represent a total capital of
rather over 50. coo. 900, the $500 SUBJ
merged farms containing an area Of
about 40, 600 acres, worth about 81, 250.-
900, the live stock representing nearly
81, 500, 600 more, and the crops on hand
another $500, 900.
Tennessee is not far behind Missouri
in the extent of it's imperiled interests,
the number and acreage of the sub
merged farms being very nearly the
same, and the entire value including
81, $50, 900 for live stock and $500, 900 for
crops on hand, being over S., SOC, o00.
What effect the flood will have upon
the crops of the present season de-
ponds upon the length of its continu-
ance, and the practicsbility of plant
ing after the subsistence of the flood.
The entire region under water on
April 9 produced last year about S70,.
600 bales of cotton. valued ut close on
SIS, 000, 900; over 1000, 900 bushels of
corn, worth about IS, 800, 600; and
wheat, oats, potatoes, and hay worth
over $500, 600 more. The most valuable
portion of these crops was raised in
Mississippi, whose region now sub
merged produced nearly ESQ, 900 bales
of cotton, besides other products,
mostly for local consumption.
The counties wholly or partially sub
merged are among the largest cotton
producing counties in the United