The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-31
The Rise Here Has Ceased
fBx the Associated Press

New Orleans, March 2S-Though 7
great torrent is pouring through the
levee at Hymelia plantation the river
here shows little tendency to decline.
Much consolation however, is derived
from the fact that since the crevasse &C.
Cured the rise has practically ceased.
The early morning reading was 201. BY
night fall it was 202 the difference of a
tenth being attributed to wind and eddy
conditions. In explanation of the Slight
effect the break has had, the fact is
pointed out that the current pouring into
Hymelia has not yet cut a channel in
the batture, and only surface flow is
going through the break If the efforts
to- close the crevasse is abandoned, the
levee, built of river sand will doubtless
melt rapidly and produce crevasse rival
ing that of Davis in 1884 when the river
here fell with considerably rapidity.
Work at the crevasse progressed stead
lily during the day. Early in the morning
some of the scrlbbing at the lower end
yielded to the force of the current but the
line was recommended and good head
way made. The lower end of the broken
Ievee is washing badly and the crevasse
is said to be over 300 feet in width, but
it is hoped to arrest the Crumbling as
soon as it is felt safe to begin sacking
One hundred thousand feet of lumber and
sc, 600 sacks went to the scene early by
barge.
General Manager Thorne, of tie
Texas and Pacific Railway, reached
there early this morning following expert
bridge gangs and carpenters, whom he
4 L; IN,
expressed the opinion that the break can
be mended The area of overfowed land
was largely increased today. No lives or
stock have been lost, however, for there
was ample warning and the water spread
slowly.
Today the Texas and Pacific was forced
TO suspend traffic over its own line in the
vicinity of the break However, freight
and through trains are being operated
over the Southern Pacific rails to Chen
eyVille, where connection with the main
line of the Texas and Pacific is again
made The traffic over the Mississippi
Valley has been cut off by the La Grange
break in Mississippi. The service be-
tween this city and Vicksburg has not,
however, been interrupted The Illinois
Central is arranging to handle it's valley
business over its main line via Jack
son.
There is a reasonable hope that the
levees in the fifth district will pull safely
through.
The problem is the duration of the flood
now that the levees at Greenville have
given away.
The location of that crevasse means a
return wave through the Yazoo. In 1897
when there were seven breaks OH the
Mississippi the return wave increased the
flood height three feet in the fifth dis
trict. Nothing like this height is expect
ed to be attained if the remainder # the
Mississippi line stands fast.
The fact that the river has been prac-
tically at a standstill for three days has
enabled the forces employed to improve
| the temporary embankment and to ac-
emulate material at various points to
be in readiness for use at a moment s
notice.
No danger attends a back water over.
| flow in these sections, but consider1 DE
damage and great hardship have accom-
panied it in the past
| Local cotton men as a rule don't take a
pessimistlc view of the situation - the
Yazoo Delta from a crop standpoint
| They believe that if the flood passes
quickly there will be ample time to re.
coup the losses resulting from the pres.
ent overflow.