Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-24
S GROWING WORSE HOURLY
The MISSISSIPPI BELOW KEoKUK
SWOLLEN TO a LAKE TEN
MILES WIDE.
FARMS NOW RAGING TORRENTS
MUST COSTLY FLOOD IN THE HIS
TORY OF THE UPPER
RIVER.

heokuck, Iowa, July 22.-Exploration
OF the flooded districts of the Missis-
slppl river from keokuk south shows
conditions beyond the appreciation or
realization of any but people of long
experience with the Father Of Waters
IN us most destructive mood.
Thehe situation is growing worse
hourly and a great confagration In a
great city would not be more rapidly
destructive of values. There Is abso-
Iutely not the slightest chance of stop
ping this most costly flood in the his
tory of the great river above st. Louis.
People at the river cities give accounts
or losses a~ggregating many millions of
dollars, Hundreds of farmers rich ten
days age are penniless and homeless.
Careful estimates of the territory
covered by the statements OF those
lest informed indicate the loss so far
to be about six million dollars, with
every prospect of two or three mil
lions additional by the rise above, not
yet reaching the lower stretches of the
river.
Under Raging Torrents.
Most of this loss is on the Missouri
side of the river, between Keokuk and
Hannibal. Passing the lumber yards
Of Keokuk the mouth of the Des
Moine river is nearly two miles wide.
Normally there are two mouths, and
a delta covered with farms. which are
now under raging torrents.
Alexandria was protected to the last
by the Egyption levee. the breaking Of
which yXrp,yll cnr1 fp,,r foot re vUa fer
over all the town. Gregory is sub
merged. except the white church, In
which services were held yesterday,
the congregation from the country
reaching the church by the railroad
track, which Is still above the flood In
a waste of waters miles wide. Other
towns and cities on the island are be-
yond the danger line.
Immense fields are great lakes with
the shore visible only with a glass;
where the higs bluffs bound the bot
toms. Islands dotting The river at its
normal stage
Have Disappeared
except for the tops of trees or fringe
Of willows slightly protruding like a
circular green coral reef. Occasionally
q house on piles or stills Is seen, but
generally only roofs protrude to mark
the center of farms of corn.
On the edge of the flooded river corn
gradually rises On a slope, tassels, tops
ears. stalks appearing in order In the
middle of the present river the tracks
Of the st. Louis, Keokuk & Northwest
ern railroad. normally the Missouri
u 800 A,,N n fayv inphpG a II1VA the
water. and under 1t in some stretches.
Shore lights for pilots are standing IN
the midst Of a waste of waters, Where
steamboats, can u over them. n
river is five to ten miles wide and an
other great lake is added to the
geography.
Ali this territory was practically COW
cred with corn a fortnight ago, es1-
mated to make seventy-tive TO a num-
bred bushels to the acre. Previous es-
Inmates OF the loss have been greatly
increased by the prospective yield De-
ing found much greater than ever be-
fore experts telling of many farms
that were good for 100 bushels OF corn
to the acre before the flood.
The LOss Is Total.
The river Is rising all the time, ON
inches during the day in the immense
area of 700 square miles and the worst
Is 70 come by the extension OF the
flooded area by the waters passing
.ieyees. which it is now topping.
The chief food thus far is on the
Missouri side from Keokuk 10 Louisi
ana. with Canton and West Quincy as
canters of the country most injured.
On the Illinois side are three continuous
lavees for forty miles from Warsaw 10
or,ncv, above tho waters, which are
thus far safe, but farmers are afraid
~ from muskrat holes, n
every rod of the redoubt is watched day
and night. ,,,
The breaking Of these Ievees wouid
eood 175 square miles In Illinois ana
destroy 50. 900. 900 to 3d. 900, 900 worth OF
corn. The levees below Quincy are In
the same situation except that they are
tower and less firm. Opposite Quincy
IN Missouri is stiIl another center OF
snecial devastation which is appalling.
North twelve miles to La Grange. and
south 10 Rolton, large prairies are wen
under water, reaching from the Illinois
bluffs to the Missouri bluffs, at least
ten miles.