Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-21
SWOLLEN RIVERS
Have Already Caused Damage
Amounting to Many Millions.
Mississippi Out of Bounds -Hundreds
of Square Miles Flooded.
The Illinois Still Rising and DAMAGE
Hourly Increasing.

Keokuk. Iowa, July 20.-Exploration
OF the flooded districts of the Msss-
sippi river from Keol1uk south, shows
conditions beyond the appreciation Of
any but those of long experience with
the Father of Waters N it's most de-
structive mood. The situation is grow
ing worse hourly and great conflagra-
ton in a great city would not be more
rapidly destructive of values. There is
absolutely not the slightest chance of
stopping this most costly flood in the
history of the great river above st.
Louis.
a correspondent Of The Associated
Press went all over the most damaged
area in the steamer Silver Crescent
and found everywhere the greatest
crops ever known under water deep
enough to float a steamboat. People
At The cities give accounts of losses ag-
sregating many millions of dollars.
Hundreds of farmers rich 10 days ago
are penniless and homeless.
Careful estimates gathered from the
statements of best-informed people in
dictate the loss up to today is about
s6.G0Q.000. with every prospect of 81
1000 or 100000 additional by the
rise above not yet reaching the lower
stretches of the river. Most of this
loss is on the Missouri side of the river
between Keokuk and Hannibal
The chief flood thus far is on the
Missouri side from keol<uk to Louisi-
ana. with Canton and West Quincy as
centers of the country hurt worst. On
the Illinois side are three continuous
leveeS for 40 miles from Warsaw to
Quincy above the water, which are
thus far safe. but farmers are afraid
of 4 crevasse from Muskrat hollow and
every rod of the redoubt is watched
day and night.
The breaking of these levees would
flood 1I5 square miles in Illinois and
destroy S2,0OO,000 to $3,000.000 worth of
corn. The levees below Quincy are in
the same situation. except that they
are lower and less firm.
Opposite Quincy in Missouri is still
another center of special devastation
which is appalling. North II miles to
Lagrange and south to Holton, large
prairies are well under water, reaching
from the Illinois bluffs to the Missouri
bluffs. at least 10 miles. Levees hastily
thrown around farms are disappearing
in a fierce current rushing from above
through the draw of the Burlington
bridge. carrying everything before it.
Lone Tree prairie, 10 miles square, is
deserted. the population having fled to
Quincy and the bluffs on the Missouri
side. from which they watch the COM
plete destruction. Fabius river. Is
miles above Hannibal, is high and fur
nishes a route for the Mississippi to
flank the levee, as the Fox river does
40 miles up the Mississippi. This flank
ing movement makes even the highest
Missouri levees ineffective.
Around La Monte, Silverton, Bush
Station. Clemens and Ashburn, north
of Hannibal. there is more wheat than
at other places and all in the shook is
washed away. The chief crop there is
corn. however, and there is the same
ruin as at other places.
Levees protecting the Missouri bot
tom between Keokuk and Quincy, stood
the strain of today's flood which failed
to overflow them. The Egyptian levee
is still several inches above the Des
Moines river. which is now stationary
here at its mouth. Reports from OF
tumwa show a fall of two feet
The only threatening Indications, to-
night, are heavy clouds at Oskaloosa. \
Unless heavy rains shall come, the Des
Moines will begin to fall here, tomor-
row. The situation is much brighter.
The Mississippi here shows stage
Of 15.4 feet. the highest since 1897. and
is still rising, but not as fast as it was,
this morning. The crest of the Missis-
sippi rise will probably pass here. to-
morrow. Great damage has already
been done. but the worst is probably
over. 4