Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-15
FLOOD STATISTICS.
AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT
ESTIMATE ISSUED.
1890 Square Miles Coversd-TotaI Pop
ulatIOn OF Flooded District ID Nearly
GOO,OOO-AO,OOO Farms Under Water
Total Loss win Reach S1sS. OOO. 200.


WASHINGTON, April IL. "A statement
relative to the agricultural interests
Of the submerged districts of the Mis-
sissippi valley south of Cairo, ILL.,, has
been issued by the department Of
agriculture. The total area under
water on April was about 1890
square miles, of which 1900 square
miles was in Mississippi, $500 square
miles in Arkansas, 1850 square miles
in Missouri, 1900 in Tennessee and
$50 in Louisiana. This region con-
tanned in 1890, SO far as can be deter
mined in view of the somewhat indef-
inine boundary lines of the flood,
population of 379, 65S, of which 1856, 4s9,
or about one-half, was in Mississippi,
100,235 in Arkansas, and the remainder
almost equally divided between Mis-
souri, and Tennessee Taking the en-
tire region the colored population out
numbered the whites in the proper
ton of to /, the colored predomln-
ating in the flooded districts of Mis-
sissippi in the ratio of more than to
/, and in Arkansas in that of to
/. In Missouri and Tennessee the
population of the flooded districts is
largely white, in the former in the
proportion Of 10 to and in the latter
in that of to 1.
The flooded districts contains, it is
estimated. about 80, 500 farms, of which
about 1000 are in Mississippi, nearly
10000 in Arkansas, and like number
about equally divided between Mis-
souri, and Tennessee. These farms
contain total area of $500, 900 acres,
one-half of which is in Mississippi and
rather over one-fourth in Arkansas,
the proportions in Missouri and Ten
nessee being about the same as in the
case of the number of farms. The to-
tai value of these farms, with their
improvements, farm implements, ETC.,
is close upon S65, 900, 900, and here also
the proportions in the different states
are about the same as above noted.
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 S42, 900. Over $4,000
farms, containing 100000 acres of
land, of an average value of about SIS
an acre, are under water in the coun-
try lying between the Mississippi and
Yazoo rivers, including some of the
most productive lands of the state.
Their live stock, even at the present
low prices, is worth nearly SO, 100000,
and the farmers and planters are esti-
mated to have about 81, 900, 900 worth
of the crops of last year still on hand.
Arkansas stands next in the extent
of It's imperilled interests, nearly 10000
farms, containing 100000 acres of
land, worth over S14 900, 900, being sub
merged. These farms contain live
stock to the value of over S1,5O0,O 900,
and crops unsold and unconsumed to
nearly 5000, 900, the entire agricultural
interests of these lands representing
a value not far short of SIT, 900, 900.
The agricultural interests affected in
Missouri represent a total capital of
rather over 100000, the $500 sub
merged farms containing an area Of
about 100000 acres, worth about
81, $50, 900, the live stock representing
nearly 81, 500, 900 more, and the crops
on hand another S5OOOOO Tennessee
is not far behind Missouri in the ex-
tent of its imperilled interests, the
number and acreage of the submerged
farms being very nearly the same, and
the entire value, including 81, 100000
for live stock and 100000 for crops on
hand, being over IS, 500, 900.