Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-07-23
A MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.
The Loss Will Aggregate About
Six Million Dollars.
Thousands Of Shocks Of Wheat Wash.
ed to the GuIf-In One Place the
River Is From Five to Ten
Miles in Width.

Keokuk. Ia, July 21.-Exploration of
the flooded districts OF the Mississippi
river from Keokuk south shows condi-
lions beyond the appreciation OF ieali-
eaton OF any but people OF long ex-
perlence with the father OF waters in
Its most destructive mood
The situation is growing worse hour
~ and great conflagration in a great
city would not be more rapidlv de-
structive OF values than the antithesi5
hundred miles below Keokuk.
There is absolutely not the slightest
chance of stopping this dozen times
most costly food in the history OF the
great river above ST. Louis.
y correspondent went all over the
worst damaged area Sunday in the
steamer Silver Crescent and found
everywhere the greatest crops ever
known under water deep enough to float
steamboat. People at the river cities
give an immense mass OF details all
TO be generalized in losses aggregat-
ing many millions of dollars. hundreds
of farmers rich ten days ago penniless
| and homeless, hundreds watching and
praying that the great levees may
| hold. which are now their bulwarll
against additional millions OF loss and
many cases Of penury.
Careful estimates of the territory
covered and generalization OF the
statements of best informed people in
dicate the loss up to Sunday is about
six million dollars. with every pros
bect of two or three millions addi-
tional by the rise above not vet reach
ing the lower stretches of the river
Most OF this loss is on the Missouri
side of the river between Keol,uk and
Hannibal.
Passing the water-lapped lumber
yards of Keoliuk the mouths of the
Des Moines river seem to be nearly
two miles wide Normally there are
two mouths and an island delta COW
cred with farms which are now under
raging torrents
Gregory is submerged except the
white church in which service was
held Sunday. the praying congregation
from the country reaching the house OF
God by the railroad track which is
still above the food in a waste of wa.
ter miles wide.
| lake with the shore line. visible only
with glass, where the high bluffs
bound the bottoms. Islands dotting
the river at its normal stage have dis
appeared except for the tops of trees
or fringe of high shore willows slight
ly protruding like a circular green
coral reef. Occasionally a 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
food river corn gradually rises on a
slope, tassels, tops. ears, stalks APP
pearing in order. In few OF the half
submerged fields is shocked wheat in
the background, the remnants of many
more washed to the Gulf of Mexico.
In the middle of the present river the
tracks Of the st. Louis, Keolluk G.
Northwestern railroad, normally the
Missouri shore, are now a few inches
above the water. and under it in some
stretches. Shore lights for pilots arc
standing In the midst of a waste of wa
ter where steamboats, can run over
them. The river is five to ten miles
wide and 20 miles long and another
great lake is added to the geography.
All this territory was practically Gov
cred with water a fortnight ago esti.
mated to make 70 to 100 bushels to the
acre. Previous estimates of the loss
have been greatly increased by the
prospective yield being found much
greater than ever before, experts tell
ing OF many farms that were good for
100 bushels to the acre before the
food. The loss is total.