The St. Louis Republic., 1900-06-26
WORK OF THE STORMS.
Destruction Heavy in Many South
ern States.

Atlanta, Ga. June ,5.-Reports received
here from many points In Georgia and por-
tions of Alabama and South Carolina show
that the recent heavy rains have inunda-
ted vast territory and caused enormous
damage 10 bridges and farming proper
ties.
Crops including cotton, corn. and espe-
cially fruit which was nearing maturity
when the wet season began have been
greatly injured and d vast amount has
been lost to the farmers Of the Southeast
ern States.
The rainfall has been unprecedented All
the streams are out OF their banks and
carrying away bridges ard ferries in large
numbers. The substructure Of the hand
some new bridge over Ochmulgee River at
Macon was carried away to-day. Reports
feet at noon. and rising inches an hour.
The mills there are closed down on account
of backwater In the canal
AT Rome Ga. the river is eighteen feet
above low water mark and rising one inch
an hour. At West Point the Chattahoochee
reached twenty feet above low water to-
day.
severe storm was reported near Hunts
vile. Ala. sweeping the country, but no
loss of life is known.
The low lands have been devastated, and
only the higher farming lands are un-
touched. Indications are for a cessation of
the rain, which will cause the streams to
fail rapidly.
CROPS GREATLY RETARDED.
REPUgILc SPECIAL
Texarkana. Tex. June &-Secretary J. II.
Buckley OF the Red River Planting Com
pany at this place has just completed a
thorough tour OF Investigation of the con-
North Louisiana and Mississippi He report
the retarded work of the planters TO
be so great that In many Instances it Will
be Necessary for them TO abandon some of
their lands in order to catch UP on the
other.
Along tho valleys of Red River and the
Arlr.. rair, hnS f,lt ri hat
very few OF the farmers have been able TO
hoe cotton for four weeks. Secretary Bick-
ley estimated the crop in the bottom lands
point. with what 1t was during last year
from drought. and he predicts that the ef-
feet Of the wet weather upon the produc-
tion of the staple will be equally as telling
as was the dry spell of 1893.
DAMAGE IN ILLINOIS.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Alto Pass. ILL.,. June .5.-According to late
tops. the recent hood WAS more damaging
than any overflow of recent years II Is re-
ported that on one farm the water Is
TO fioSt a steamboat. ST. % Much J growing C corn
Is completely covered with mud and prob
ably ruined. Wheat Is badly damaged. but II
Is thought that the abundant yield VIII
er still prevails. and there Is much anxiety
among farmers.
ELECTRIC STORM AT MARSHALL
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Marshall. Mo-: June 2s.-During the severe
electric storm last evening the large barn
belonging to Peter Wlnsiow, near Shackel-
ford was struck by lightning and burned
with contents. The loss IL heavy. During
the same storm a fne steer was killed. The
country Is flooded with rain. and the. i'm
mense wheat crop still IN the shock Is in
danger Of injury.
FLOODS IN MISSISSIPPI.
REPCRI.IC SPECIAL
Columbus. Miss June S-The river here
has been rapidly rising for the last twenty
four hours and some Of the finest farming
land IN this section Is completely inundated
been entirely destroyed and prospects for
a crop are exceedingly discouraging.
PLANTATIONS OYERFL0WED.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Port Gibson. Miss. June 25.-Cotton pros
poets In this entire section badly blighted
The tremendous rains for the last four
weeks have overfiiowed many crops and
plantations. and those not overfiowed are
lost from sight by grass and weeds Should
we get good weather from this out, II will
require hercuiean efforts to produce half a
crop here. Farmers are demoralzed.
WHEAT CROP INJURED.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
the last week have done considerable dam
age to the wheat crop. which Is being har-
vested. Much OF II has been blown down
SO that II IL Difficult; to save, and the
ground is too wet to operate machinery I'm
saving It.
SEVERAL BUILDINGS WRECKED.
Montgomery. Ala. June 25.-A etvere
and did great damage. The Baptist Church
was demolished. and the Presbyterian
Church and the Female Academy were
badly wrecked.