The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-07-24
HEAVY RAINS IN IOWA THE CAIy
THREE HUNDRED SQUARE MIR.
OF LAND CERTAIN To BE
FLOODED,
LOSS MAY REACH FOUR MILLION
GREATEST DAMAGE EVER KNOW
FROM FLOOD Is PRE-
DICTED.

Keokuk, Iowa, July 20.-Heayy rain,
In Central Iowa Thursday and yes,sy.
day are sending a food down mo,
prosperous Missouri farmers which win
ruin many of them and cause loss.
| sggregating at conservative estim.,a
two and half million dollars Thar.
seems TO be no hope for the country
between the Mississippi River and n,
Missouri bluffs between Keokuk and
Hannibal, 300 square miles, mostly corn
| land, with some thousands of acres n,
wheat in the shock. The water had
touched the danger line the first Of
the week, and had begun to recelA
when heavy floods started again in The
Des Moines, Skunk and Iowa rivers
With stage In the Des Moines rive,
only three feet below the tops Of IN.
great levees. the river began 10 rise
three inches an hour at its mouth here
yesterday, continuing until the factor
Of safety was wiped out last evening
A rise of one and half feet in a shor,
time at Ottumwa, and
Further Rise
throughout it's length below the capI..,,
city was prevented from running on,
freely by a rise of a foot and half al
Davenport Thursday night, increasing
and coming down rapidly.
Yesterday afternoon the observer q
the weather bureau at Keokuk, IN
charge of this district, sent telegraphis
warning to all points south to prepare
for danger. The crest is expected here
to-day or tomorrow. The Egyptian
levee which stood the flood preceding
after strenuous efforts TO hold II. IN.
Guiding the destruction OF farm houses
to secure lumber for strengthening The
dixie, Is only slightly above the water
now, and the coming flood in the Da
Moines will TOP it certainly. This lets
miles, including the town of AlexaB /
dria, Mo. The inhabitants there are
preparing for an overflow of the entire
town to depth of several feet.
The Worst Feature
Is the time of the year. The corn crop
Is all made and wheat is in the shock \
entailing a total loss of the years work
Crops were never finer and the yield \
promised immense. Grain men say
the estimate OF value is too low and
put the figures OF the loss nearer four
millions between Keokuk and Hannibal 4
1t is believed the Illinois levees VIII
hold and the damage there Is likely 70
be only 900 to $40.0 900 between Keo.
kuk and Quincy. Heavy rains are re-
ported in Southeastern Iowa and this
indicates still higher water. LOwland 4
farmers. river men and the weather
bureau observer alike predict me
greatest damage ever known from
flood on the upper river.
Reports late last evening show ire
mendous rains along the Des Moines
river and tributaries. Late reports
show half the country for a distanes
n thirty miles between La Grange ana
Hannibal was already under water
long before the crest of the flood ar
rived.
Dam Goes Out.
burlington, Iowa, July 20.-Adyces
lust received report the breaking OF the
Yellow Springs dam north Of here
Fifteen hundred acres have been SUD
merged. The water is the highest ID
years. AT Columbus Junction the re-
vent rains sent the Iowa and Ceoal
ivers up again, running oats that were
being harvested, and hundreds OF acfe'
II corn. 4
Entire Island Submerged.
Hannibal. Mo-. July 20. - The hooa
on Bay Island and the oos
ON lands between Hannibal and Wes'
quincy are alarming. Bay island con.
aims about 10000 acres Of cuirvauu
and, upon which were the fineot erops
u wheat and corn, but the entire islah.
8 now submerged except few e'evatea
Z OTIS, to the depth OF from one 10 ~
Get. 1t is believed that the ehan
rop of corn is ruined and the Whede
which wa G In ehnrlr IL a tntnl loss.