Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-04-29
ANOTHER BREAK.
Issaquena County, Miss, Covered
by q Ponderous Torrent.
ENORMOUS LOSSES BY The FLOOD.
New Orleans People Camping Out and
Watching the Weak Places on the
River-Pitiable Condition Of
Farmers In Illinois.

"
full alarm cry Of 'levee broke' was re-
peated for the sixth time in the Yazoo-
Mississippi delta, when the huge
lS-foot levee at Shipland land
ing, lssaquena county, suddenly
crumbled away, letting in, with a
mighty rush and roar, the ponderous
torrent of the great river. Shipland
is on the Promised Land plantation
about two miles below Lake Provi.
dence, La. At the time Of the break,
back-water from the upper Gre
vases was already against the levee ten
or II inches deep, and many high places
around were still uncovered. Many
fine plantations, upon which partial
crops might have been made, must
now share the fate Of the rest, and in
all Of lower Issaquena, Sharkey and
Yazoo counties, where there was a
foot of water before, there will now
be three feet or more. Places which
have heretofore been Ravens of refuge
for live stock and human beings will
now have to be abandoned, and
in few days there will scarcely
he dry spot in all the country
south of this break and between the
levees and the Yazoo rizer. Whether
there will be life lost in the region at
fected depends upon the question,
whether the people are provided with
boats. In addition to the disastrous
local consequences it will also have the
effect of raising the water in Yazoo
river and keeping that stream up at
its mouth to such an extent as to re.
tard the outflow of flood water in the
upper delta country.
FLOOD LOSSES ENORMOUS.
WASHINGTON, April ss.-The agricul-
tural department has issued state
ment concerning the overfowed dis
tricts along the Mississippi. 1t shows
that the total area submerged at this
date is over 10000 square miles. 1t
contained at the last census 46,035
farms, with a total area Of 1904, 46O
acres, nearly one-half Of which was
improved, and total population, agri-
cultural and other, OF 462,O4l. If, to
the value of its farms, farm buildings
and farm machinery, according to the
census Of 1890, there be added the
value of its live stock on January
last $50, 74636), and Of Its products
OF last season still on hand on March
last ga, 595, 179), the total Of 500, 1885,
IN will represent the approximate
value Of the agricultural property OF
the submerged region. Among the
products of this region last year were
466, O56 bales Of cotton, worth sl6,Sl2,-
$50; 12,525,64 bushels Of corn, worth
81, 905, 27S, and 9,O3S, S7S pounds OF sugar,
worth Ss7l, Ol6 The total production,
including minor crops, represents q
value of S21, 1852, 1870 on the plantation.
WATCHING THE WEAK SPOTS.
New ORLEANS, April 2s-The work
Of the past is as nothing to that going
on now Planters and farmers, labor
ers and merchants have abandoned
everything else and are camping on
the weak spots, nursing them with
tender care and holding them against
weight and mass Of water which
is almost inconceivable. More
material is going out now than
ever before and the activity is super
human. Miles of new work of box
levees, of piles Of filed sacks and earth
have sprung up in every section. Rail
roads are carrying men and material
free and no money has been spared by
the levee board or the people. Still,
the new work is but temporary, 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 rebuild
ing
PlrlFuL CONDITION OF BOTTOM FARMERS.
Quincy, ILL.,, April 22.-The Missis-
sippi river at this point is steadily
rising The steamer Harry Hook
rescued six families whose homes in
the bottoms north of the city were
surrounded by water. At War
saw, Ill.,, the Mississippi has passed the
lS-foot mark, and people are now leav-
ing portions of the districts protected
by the levee, At Keithsburg, H., the
river is now at its highest point for
several years and the condition Of the
bottom and island farmers is pitiful.