Evening star., 1897-04-15
ed the following telegram from Maj. Clark
Of the ordnance department. dated at
Natchez Miss yesterday:

ed the following telegram from Maj. Clark
Of the ordnance department, dated at
Matches, Miss. yesterday:
Have Just finished inspection Of district
from Vicksburg to Red River landing, on
the Louisiana side. No present conditions
of distress prevail. Much labor is here be-
ing expended In raising. strengthening and
guarding the levee system from vicksburg
to Bougere. Cultivation Is in progress in
side the levee. and not only is all labor
fully employed, but assistance IS being
sought in some cases from the unemployed
on the opposite side, while the increasing
height of the water Is already provided Tor
along much of this line. and the low places
can be raised as necessary within limits
greatly to be apprehended. This danger IS
increasing daily, both from increase OF
pressure and in saturation.
"rl case of crevasse at any point large
ext 1T of thickly settled country Will be
deeply Inundated and stock will have to be
moved quickly to places of safety. and con-
ditions of distress will result. The people
have been thoroughly warned ana shouid
be sufficiently the alert to avoid loss
of human life and stock. but will doubt
less need much assistance in getting stock
in safety to the hills below Bougere, on
the Louisiana side. Much of the culti-
waited land is high and enough out of wa
ter to provide for stock
Houses are still occupied as rule In this
region. and both people and stock can
easily be taken out from the river side II
continued rise renders 1t necessary On the
Mississippi side. from Memphis to the
Louisiana line. nearly all the large cotton
plantations protected only by private ievees
and the unprotected small farms are either
well under water or being rapidly flooded.
In most cases the stock has been removed
as 1t has become necessary Minor losses
ings.
Houses are stiN occupied as a rule or
families collecting in the highest In the
in nearly al. cases of inundated plan
tatioffs ana small farms the laborers are
remaining. although in some cases the
floors are under water. They are well pro-
vfded with boats. and in no danger or i'm
mediate distress 1t is desirable 20 have
these people remain in their homes II pos
sible. While planters are interested and
will provide for these laborers for a time,
the small farmers have good supply or
credit for the present.
Conditions which will keep this labor
long unemployed will result in much dis
tress- Assistance from outside sources not
required, Consensus of conservative and
disinterested opinion is that no immediate
action Is required along this line, and that
present distribution of rations would not
only demoralize the recipients of assist
ance. but also the surrounding labor at
present employed
Sixty Thousand Need Food.
AdJutant General Ruggles received the
following telegram from the military in
specting officer at Vicksburg. dated today:
over nine-tenths Washington, Issa-
quena. Sharkey. Sunfower and consider
able of Yazoo and Warren counties over
flowed Estimate 10000 people need food
Stock also suffering severely in eastern
half of this territory. where distress is be-
coming acute. Can only be reached by boat
up Yazoo and Sunfiower rivers from Vicks-
burg. Start for Washington tomorrow un-
less otherwise ordered