New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-12
FLOOD WATERS RECEDING.
AN ENCOURAGING REPORT FROM THE
MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

PLANTERS MAY YET RAISE FAIR CROP IN /.
THE ovERB1OwED COTTON I.ANDs--HIoH
WATER IN LOUISIANA.
Memphis, Tenn. April 1.-THE water in the
Mississippi Delta Is recedIng slowly. Reports re-
ceived here tonight from the overfiowed cotn-
try are most encouraging, The day has been
an ideal one, and every planter In the Delta IL
IN better spirits
At Greenvile the river. as well as the back
water surrounding the town. Is stationary to-
night. Everything is In readiness for the .
ce.pt and distribution OF provisions from the
Government. ana as soon as the Army officers ar.
rive the work VIII be entered into actively,
AT Lula, Miss. a decided improvement "a noted
There is still some suffering IN the back coun-
try bu; It is being allevlated by the planters
and to-day representative OF the Government
arrived and VIII assist the destitute at once
The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad has
been busy all day with rle-drlverp, replacing
wash-outs and bridges The road probably will
have trains running into Lula and Clarksda,e
On Tuesday.
It Is now believed the water will disappear by
May \, and sc this proves true. a fair crop can
be made. The overflow will leave a sediment or
deposit which greatly enriches the soil. and tho
planters yet may be able to balance their big ac-
count with the Father Of Waters.
The river Is falling at Memphis tonight At
vlcSsours and all points south a steady rise IS
aoted.
Major Dabney, chief engineer of the yazoo
revee Board, has arrived in the city from tho
scene Of the Flower Lake break, and has had a
consultation with Captain Fitch and the mem
bers Of the Levee Board, who are In the city,
Major Dabney said that Thursday he had
measured the crevasss by engineering instru-
ments and found that It was 1870 feet wide
Since then he thinks that the width has in
creased to no less than 1850 feet The upper
end Of the levee. the one that has been doing
most Of the cutting, has been tied but Major
Dabney says that he is not certain that 1t will
hold at that point He was asked for an est-
mate Of the volume OF water passing through
the crevasse into the delta, and. after making
some rough calculations. placed the amount at
lS0 OOO 900 cubic feet an hour
What Will be the chances for closing the OPEN
ing before the time for the June riser" was
asked.
1T will be absolutely impossible for levee of
full size and height &c be built around the OPEN
ing before that time. 1t Will take some 100000
yards Of dirt TO make standard levee there and
that will cost between $4,000 and $4,000 II
could not be finished in time for the June rise,
river goes down in time. we probably will make a
small levee along the line. to be followed later
by larger one that will be sufficient to keep
out a moderate rise in the river from the SHOWS
in the Rocky Mountains"
With the river falling all along the front in
this district. Major Dabney does not expect any
further trouble.
Washington, April 1.-THE following reports
have been received to-day from the Department
Of Agriculture Weather Bureau officials in
charge Of river districts
st. Louis. Mo.-Expect slow fall in rivers in
.his district for day or two; stage after that
lime depending on storm condition west On
Saturday, Wise Levee opposite Alton, broke
and number Of farms were flooded Portions
Of East ST. Louis lowlands flooded and water
at foot of American Bottom levee. Water also
backed into West Venice III. Little damage
done, and no danger with water now in sight
Cairo, nl.-River practically stationary at 4SS
although it shows slight rise since Saturday
morning.
Memphis, Tenn.-River stationary at this
place. In the northern portion of the Yazoo
Delta the situation is a little more hopeful and
in the White River Valley 1T is becoming hourly
more perilous.
New-Orleans.-River has passed the highest
known water by one-tenth Of foot. Water
running over banks in lower Plaquemines
Parish, but no damage except TO vegetable
farms Local levees continue being strength
ened. Hard work and the utmost vigilance have
thus far served to keep water within banks be-
low Vicksburg.
Vicksburg. Miss.-River situation unchanged
Light showers have fallen in the watersheds of
the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland Arkansas
Red, lower Missouri and central Mississippi riv-
ers. The Ohio from Cincinnati TO Cairo has
risen slightly. The Mississippi has fallen from
ST. Paul to Keokuk except at Davenport, and
has risen from ST. Louis TO the mouth except
that 1t continues stationary at Memphis. The
gauge reading at Vicksburg BOB feet is Id foot
above the highest water Of the 1890 food. The
river at New-Orleans is at Is feet. which is one
tenth Of foot above that of any previous food