The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-12
FEARFUL COST OF THE FLOOD.
THE TOTAL AREA UNDER WATER
15,SOO SQUARE MILES.

/ rCaentSu-Ahetr IOtni Nnluo with
Their improvements and Farm I'm
pIcments Close Upon S65,OOO,oOO.
Washington, April ia statement rel
ative to the agricultural interests of the
submerged districts of the Mississippi val
ley, south of Cairo, ILL.,, has been Issued
by the department of agriculture. 1t Is
based upon a chart prepared under the
direction of the chief OF the weather bu-
reau, showing the extent of the lood 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
the crops of 1897 now in jeopardy.
The statistics of population, Of the num-
Der and acreage of the farms and of the
value of the farms and farm implements
are those of the census. and the statistics
of live stock are the departments own
figures for Jan. l. 1897.
The total area under water on April
was about 1880 square miles, of which
1900 square miles was in Mississippi, 4,5O0
square miles in Arkansas, 175o square
miles in Missouri, 100 in Tennessee and
450 in Louisiana.
This region contained In 1890, so far as
can be determined in view of the somewhat
| difficult boundary lines of the flood,
| population of 375, $50, OF which about one
! half was in Mississippi, 100, 235 in Arkansas
| and the remainder almost equally divided
between Missouri and Tennessee. Taking
| the entire region, the colored population
outnumbered the whites In the proportion
of II to 7. the colored predominating In
| the flooded district Of Mississippi In the
| ratio of more than to !, and In Arkansas
| i'm that of 2 to /. In Missouri and Tennes-
see the population of the flooded districts
is largely white in the former state In
! the proportion of 10 TO !, ana III the ldtter'
| in that of 2 to l.
The flooded districts contain, 1t is estl-
mated about 80 500 farms, of which about
| Is, 500 are in Mississippi, nearly 10000 in
Arkansas and like number about equally
| divided between Missouri and tennessee.
/ These farms contain total area OF about
| g. coo acres, one-half Of which is in Mis-
sissippi and rather over one-fourth la
/ Arkansas, the proportions In Missouri and
| Tennessee being about the same as in the
case of the number OF farms. The total
value Of these farms, with their improve
| ments, farm implements, etc, Is close up
on 5000, coo. and here also the proportions
In the different states are about the same
as above noted
The total number of acres improved at
the taking OF the last census was about
100000 and about 100000 acres were last
year devoted to cotton and corn, to which
| crops nearly % per cent. Of the entire
acreage cultivated Is devoted
The live stock on hand Jan. ! Of the
! present year was valued at over %,5OO,OOO
| divided In very much the same proportion
as other farm property II Is estimated
that of the crops Of last year over $780,
coo worth remained on hand in the sub
4 aayf,r On tha "a
representing about two-thirds Of this
amount and corn practically all the re-
| mainder.
The largest interests at stake so far are
those OF Mississippi, whose flooded districts
represent an invested capital In agricul-
ture alone of close upon $42W0,000. over
| 1900 farms. containing 100000 acres Of
land OF an average value OF about Sl8
an acre, are under water in the country
| lying between the Mississippi and Yazoo
rivers, including some OF the most pro-
| ductive lands of the state. Their live
stock. even at the present low prices. Is
worth nearly $3,5O00OO and the farmers
and planters are estimated to have about
| 100000 worth Of the crops of last year
still on hand.
Arkansas stands next in the extent OF
It's imperiled interests, nearly 10000 farms,
containing 100000 acres Of land, worth
over $14,OO9O0O. being submerged. These
farms contain live stock to the value Of
over 81 10000, and crops unsold and un~
consumed to the value OF nearly $500 900,
the entire agricultural interests OF these
| lands representing a value not far short
Of 100000.
The agricultural interests affected in
! Missouri represent a total capital OF over
100000 the $500 submerged farms con-
tanning an area of about 10000 acres,
worth about $3.50 900, the live stock rep
resenting nearly $l,50OoO0 more, and the
crops on hand another $4,000.
Tennessee is not far behind Missouri In
the extent of its mperilled interests, the
number and acreage Of the submerged
forms being very nearly the same. The
entire value. including $i,25O.O0 for live
stock and $4,000 on crops on hand, Is
over $4,000.
What effect the food will have upon the
crops of the preseat season depends upon
the length Of its continuance and the prac-
| tieabiity Of wheat planting after the sub
sidence Of the food. The entire region Of
the flood on April 10 produced last year
about $1,000 bales Of cotton, valued close
10 ga O00OO0; over 1,2j0O 900 bushels OF corn,
worth $4,000, and potatoes. wheat and
! hav worth over $4,000 more.
| THE most valuable portion Of these crops
was raised in Mississippi, whose region
now submerged produced nearly 10000
| balos OF cotton, besides other products,
| mostly for local consumption.
merged are among the largest cotton pro-
duoing counties I'm the United States. va
roo county. which alone has produced over
| s0ooo hale. in season, Is one-haf under
water. while Bolivar, Coahama, Issaquena,
| washington with n productive capacity
| ~ 1OOOOO bales) and other famous coun-
Ties IRE partially submerged.
The weather bureau predicts further
extension OF the flooded area, but no at
| tempt. OF course. has been made 10 esti-
mate the serious possibilities OF such ex-
| tension.
the country flooded on April 10, and says:
"rhe flood water now In Western Missls-
slnnl Is beginning 20 return 20 the Mis-
sissippi river through the Yazoo at a point
tnst north OF Vicksburg. IL Is expected
| tbst this flood will pass into the Missls-
| slnpi between the mouth OF the Yazoo and
| Niilkens Landing. a few miles to the
| north The gradually increasing strain
| ovpected during the ncxt few days on the
| Louisiana side. opposite the place where
| tbo Ynzoo floods return 20 the Mississippi
renders II possible that the levees may
| treak and the flood pour through and