Graham guardian., 1901-01-25
THE TEXAS VALLEYS.
After Recent foundations They Are
Blooming Again.
Great Destruction Caused by Ovsx-
flowing Rivers-Stupendous Task
That Confronted the People
of That Section.

The valleys of the Brazos and Col
orado rivers, which were inundated
by overhows of those streams in July,
1899, have been reclaimed and will this
year yield an immense crop of cotton.
1t was conservatively estimated, re-
ports the New York Sun, that the
floods of last year destroyed growing
cotton in the valley of the Brazos
river that would have yielded fully
100000 bales, while the loss in the val
ley of the Colorado amounted to an
other 100000 bales. Not only was this
growing crop swept to destruction,
| but the plantations along the rivers
were denuded of all their buildings,
fence and other improvements. The
humble homes of thousands of negro
families who were employed on the
plantations were washed away and
the terrified inhabitants had to seek
refuge on higher ground along the
surging rivers.
When the waters subsided the full
effect of the destructive inundations
was to be seen. The overflow extend
ed along the Brazos river from it's
mouth to Velasco, on the Gulf of Mex
leo, to the northern part of the state,
a distance of probably 400 miles by
course of the river. The width of the
overfowed valley was from one mile
to fifteen miles. Along the Colorado
river the inundation extended from
the Gulf of Mexico to Austin, dis
tance of probably 300 miles. When
the news Of the disaster reached the
people of Texas and the outside world
| contributions began to pour in from
all over the country in aid of the suf
fering colored people. Several hun
| dred thousand dollars were expended
through relief committees for sup
plies. 1t was probably six weeks from
the time the overhows were at their
height before the waters had subsided
and the ground was again in condi-
tion TO be worked.
The task before the planters was
stupendous one, but they met the diff
fculties with an indomitable will and
courage that soon accomplished won
ders. The negroes were at first loath
to return to the bottoms. They had
been faring so well through the gem
erous charity of n sympathetic peo-
pie that they had no desire to make
a change. When the planters could
not induce them to return to their la
bors the free food supplies were cut off
by the relief committees of the sew
eral communities and the refugees
were informed that they would either
have to work or starve. They pre-
ferred to work. Upon their return
| to the plantations the work of re-
| habilitation was carried on with vigor
A rich silt covered the valleys of the
two rivers to a great depth Owing
to the .atcness of the season no gem
eral effort was made to raise another
plantation live stock. The next sew
eral mcnths were devoted to re-
building fences, buildings, and get
ting the plantations in condition for
this seasons crop.
When the cotton-planting season ar
rived this year the inundated district
had been reclaimed and a full acre
age was put in along both rivers The
soil had rCcolle so greatly enriched
by the Gycrtlows that the cotton plant
has grown like magic. 1t is the opn-
ion of many planters that the inunda-
tion YVES really a blessing in disguise;
that thc salt which was deposited
throughout the valleys of the two
rivers has added more to the value
of the soil than the amount of loss
sustained by the destruction wrought
by the floods.