The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-05-14

Needed
The recent food washed away great
quantities Of fencing IN the low lands
which 1t would b. impossible to replace
at this time and also cultivate crop.
Some way Of protecting the crops not
DESTROYED by the food from the raYages
Of stock must be formulated at once.
There IL but little likelihood that the
governor would call a special session 81
the legislature for the consideration Of
this question alone, a. The Venture
suggests. and IT will not do 20 walt for
anything Of this kind. 1t is suggested
by some to fence of a large section Of
the 0verfowed district In one body and
place gates at the location Of tbs roads.
and this IL no doubt the plan that will
have 10 be adopted. Rail fences Of
course wherever tbs water was Of any
depth were washed away and where the
current struck wire fences they are nov
worse than useless. being tangled In
ench a manner that nothing can be done
with them and in 80 far they are worse
than wood fences for fire will not
destroy them. While there has been
no loss Of life the condition In the low.
lands In deplorable one. Fences gone.
crops badly damaged or entirely
DESTROYED and but short time within
which 10 replant. Besides this CON
siderable stock has been lost. Much
corn in the crib In the Haroldton
neighborhood was carried away by the
food and many narrow escapes from
drowning are reported frofn that
section, the current through that part,
which ran through Rose and Nc
Laughlin lakes to the river, was no
strong that light shiffs were overturned
md In that way several persons nearly
drowned. The top soil In some places
was washed away several feet deep and
deposited In other places. II IL thought
that a channel has been washed from
Mclaughlin and Rose lakes to the river
and that these bodies Of water will
20 dry. In the bottoms i'm
nediately below town the water has
also caused many changes, having
washed deep holes along the river road
and deposited immense quantities Of
sand and soil nj other points. II will
take several weeks 10 get at definite
insight Of the damage done.
On the south side Of the river the
water cut through the bank at the bend
above town at the Bocquin place and
cnt deep channel through the farms
along the way until II was turned by
the Frisco embankment near the bridge
and the water returned 10 the old bed
at the point where the Van Buren, road
strikes the river bank. A number Of
houses were washed away along the
conrse Of this cut off.
The bottoms around Cherokee were
from ten 10 twenty feet under water,
and the loss In crops and fencing will
be heavy.
The river now Il fast returning 10 n
medium stage. and with fair weather a
crop can yet be planted IL some way IL
arranged for keeping stock away from
them after planting
Since the waters have receded suffi-
GENTLY 10 begin making some estimate
If the damage done by the overflow. a
deplorable condition is being manifest,
much. what was desirable residence
property In Riverside has been made
practically worthless by the overflow.
Lawns and gardens have been either
washed into gnllies or covered with
from few inches 10 three and four feet
of sand, In other places great holes
filed with stagnant water have been
left behind. and announcement can be
seen In the faces Of many who but two
weeks ago owned cory homes and de-
eifable farms.
The conditions throughout the bot
toms are Just NJ bad while the pools
are full of dead hogs and other stock
only waiting for a few days Of hot
weather 10 cause disease and death.
Truly the condition u deplorable. and
u will take some time for Crawford
county 10 recover from this blow. Some
concerted movement will be necessary
20 sucoor those who have lost their all
In the raging waters.
Since the above was In type we learn
that by an act of the legislature passed
in 1891 all That part Of Crawford county
living south of the Little Rock a. Fort
Smith Railway constitutes n fencing
district and we suppose that the law
can be enforced NJ once. Maxey town
ship, or a good portion Of II also consti-
futes q fencing district and II has been
observed there for n number of years.
In the first named district the railroad
however, by recent decision Of the
supreme court Is exempt from paying
rs pro rata share,
Also by petition Of two thirds OF the
Tax payers OF a township the county
Judge il authorized 10 declare such
township a fencing district and assess
tbe expense pro rata among the property
GHarls