Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-14

small fATmer6.
Menace 20 Sugar Lands.
NEW ORLEANS, March iS.-The absence
Of news up TO this time Indicates that the
Arlington levee has not given way. Presi-
dent Jeake Of the Pont ChArtrain levee
board said tsday that 10000 sacks Of ma
teriAl and men have been buried TO the
scene.
Arlington ia an old levee and acknovl-
edged 20 be unsafe. Contracts were let
some months ago for new levee behind It.
but owing to the long season Of rainy
weather the second levee has not been com
pieted. Work is being done upon fl with
great Vigor and In the meantime Governor
Heard, the lsvee board and planters arc
doing all in their power to maintain the old
embankment.
break at Arlington would food valuable
sugar lands and interfere with trAfne over
the railroads
There was q decrease in the rise Of the
river here In the last tventy-four hours.
the ofhcial gauge today reading 1s.4. q rise
OF one-tenth. The river Il now seven-tenths
Of foot below the record Of 1897.
The seriousness Of the situation is in
creased however. by the continuous rainy
weather. which is softening the levees along
the Louisiana lire. Large forces continue
TO sack the city front ana the engineers are
stiH hopeful that the local line OF embank-
nents will stand the strain imposed on
them.
Flying gangs we're dispatched TO different
points during the night on reports which
reached the engineers Of weakening spots,
but they we're in every instance found to be
exaggerated. Both bar8S OF the river above
the city are being guarded TO prevent the
cutting Of leveas
Rumors OF a break IN the levee in Ar
lington are untrue. Governor Heard was
in communication today with the forces In
charge OF the work there. They reported
that the levee was being heavily sacked
and that there was hope OF holding It,
Rain has been falling for twenty-four hours
At Baton Rouge and vicinity.
worst Over at Evansville.
EVANSVILLE. Ind. March 1s.-The river
marked ~ feet here today. This shows that
the water is falling. and as the weather has
cleared another serious rise is not expected.
Farmers are preparing 10 return 20 their
homes and the worst Is believed TO be over.
The damage 10 winter wheat Is heavy. The
lowlGnds along Pigeon and Potoka creek is
still under water. Dispatches from points
along the White ana Wabash rivers showed
an improved condition
vim obOENOs AAAEoss aaetNA Ao.-Nu u NdhH
have been reported In the levee system in
this vicinity and the foods conditions are
favorable.
PRINCETON, Ind, March 13.-The vast
sea Of water west and north Of this city
is at . standstill today. but the fall win
be 30 SLOW that hundreds OF acres OF whea.
will be almost a total loss. Unless there
should be further rains the Wabash, White
and PstOkA rivers win not rise further.
River Higher at Memphis.
MEMPHIS. Tenn. March lS-The river
rose nve-tenths OF a foot in the last
twenty-four hours. the gauge today mark =
ing Ss1 feet All indications still point 10
a stage OF thirty eight feet by Sunday or
Monday. report from Caruthsrsville, No.
this morning says the work on the new
levee is progressing night and day. The
immediate country around the town is Gov
cred with from three 10 Eve feet OF water.
All outward bound boats are loaded with
men and supplies for the flooded districts.
Advices from Mississippi state that many
people in Coahoma county are alarmed over
the situation. The engineers say. however
that the levees were never so strong and
claim there is no danger OF break.
The baekWater Is daily growing deeper
behind the lsyees. Business in the country
is practically al a stsndstill
In Arkansas the rivers are falling and all
danger is believed 10 be passed. The Red
river between Shreveport and Alexandria q
two feet above the danger line.
SHELTON. Neb-, March 13-tSpecial D.
The highest point ever reached By water
IN Wood river vas recorded yesterday wher
the ice broke md came down on the mill
dam. For a time II was thought the dan
would be taken out. but the water has
fallen twelve inches and nov viii prob
ably continue 10 fall Farmers living alons
the river are saving their small stock with
dimculty and many cellars are full
stream Of water caused by the overflow has
extended from Gibbon 10 Shelton. a dis
tanoe OF over six miles. Two sections O.
the large bridge across The south chAane
OF the Platte river have gone down AMI
Il is feared more viii be taken