The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-19

5lSI instant lnlS IS very snOrL space of time in which to complete formalities In Washington and have the treaty acted upon by the Cuban congress. If there Is any failure on this point. a new treaty will have to be drawn or have additional articles in the initial protocol adopted, which would require fresh action of the legislative branches of both governments and involve as much work as drawing new treaty.
 -~~-&%-A%-~-4->->-s-4-SA-< The water pouring through the crevasse at Bougere, La. has filled the swamp lands in the lower end of Concordia par ish and is backing up the bayous. Black river at Jonesville, Ia., reached 1 the danger line a8 feet, today. and Is rising at the rate of 9 day.
 There Is big demand for wheel bar rows for levee work but there is not an extra one to be had.
 The three local packets are making ex- tra trips for the benefit of refugees who wish to move to higher ground.
 Very Grave at Helena.
 Helena, Ark, March 1S-The ffood situ- ation here Is still of the gravest charac- ter. The river has risen 8 in the past twenty-four hours and now stands at 4S.7 feet. A large force of workmen have been engaged today in trying to repair the North Helena levee, but a small break occurred there today before noon The break was eight feet wide when dis covered, but was kept from growing larger and was soon stopped with sacks of dirt and billings of lumber. though the water Is still going through into the all ready flooded district in dozens of places. There Is very little hope of holding this small levee unless the rise by tomorrow night Is sufficient to send the water over the top of the levee and fill up the en- tire valley. North Helena is separate and distinct from the city proper. which is in absolutely no danger from the food be- ing protected thoroughly by the Walker street levee. The residents of the over flowed section largely negroes, though there are many white families owning homes now under water.
 The most disturbing feature of the situation today was the receipt of tele- grams this afternoon by the three resi- dent directors of the St. Francis levee board from President O. N. Killough, stating that the entire St. Francis levee system was in a critical condition but that he hoped to be able to hold them without another break if the wind and water conditions were favorable.
 Working Hard on Levees.
 Lake Providence, La, March 1S-Levee Commissioners Hawley and Benjamin of the parish board have both been very ac- tive in the past few days In inspecting the 1evees raising low places and getting material here in case of emergency. They have at this landing a barge of lumber sacks and barrels and quarter-boat fur nished them by the government to be shipped to any leyee that would show signs of weakening, and they also have lumber and sacks at Pitchers Point and Goodrich Landing for the same purpose, but are confident that the 1evees In this parish will stand all the water in sight. The guage here reads today 43.s with a rise of 45 in the past twenty-rour hours It is six-tenths below the high water of 1897.
 River Rising.
 Plaquemine, La. May 1s.-The river at this point rose four-tenths during the past twenty-four hours. The gauge this even ing reads s. The backwater on Bayou Plaquemine and lower Grand river is higher at this time than 1897. A number of arrests have been made by 1evee inspec- tors of parties riding on the levees. The levees are in splendid condition. The weather for the past three days has been clear and the sugar planters are busy planting cane.
 Officials Taking No Chances.
 Rosedale, Miss. March 1S.-The river continues to rise at this point, the crest of the last rise not yet having reached here. A large force of men have been at work all day at Terrene, about five miles north of here, and also at the Hunt ington short line twenty miles south of here Both of these places were lower than the rest of the levee, but 1t is not thought to be at all dangerous. The levee officials, however, prefer to take no chances and have taken every precaution A force has repaired low place in the levee immediately opposite Rosedale. The water now only lacks few inches of reaching the mark of 1897.
 Morgan Sea Levee lmpregnabIe.
 Baton Rouge, La., March Ex-Governor Heard returned from trip to Morgan sea levee, which he took with the Atcha- falaya board and State Engineer PeriIl at 2 p. m. today. He rode on horseback
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