The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-12
Telegram Gives More Hopeful
View Of Situation al Ca
IutherSVi||e, Mo-
RIVER STILL RISING AND
WILL BREAK ALL RECORDS
Government, state and City Author
s.ss Itjes at New Orleans Are Pre-.
pairing for Emergencies and
strengthening Levee Lines

Memnhis. March ia telegram was
received tonight which gives more hope
ful view Of the Ievee situation at Caruth-
ersyille, Mo-, where a serious break In the
embanJxment is threatened by the caVlhs
in of the rivers bank, before the leVee
The telegram is to Captain Lucas Uni
ted States engineer in charge OF the nrst
and second levee districts of the Missis-
sippi river, and is from Assistant Eli
eineer Fitzpatrick, who is In personal
charge of the work at that point. The ter
egram SAYS that the caving of the river
bank, in front of the first levee, has me-
cessitated its abandonment, and that the
second levee is now relied upon alone. As
sistant Fitzpatrick says that the second
leyee will stand further rise of five feet,
IL no further caving of the river bank oc-
ours.
The river tonight registers 35.4 and is
rising. This is an advance of only two
tenths since this morning. The weather
bureau has issued a bulletin saying that
the stage at Memphis will reach 9S feet
by Sunday, and that stage of 80 feet
should be prepared for. All incoming
boats from both directions are bringing
numbers of refugees.
Reports from Mississippi county, Ar
kansas, say that large area behind the
levees is flooded by water which has es-
capped through and under the embank-
ment. The report says this flooded area
extends back seven miles from the en-
bankment and that 1t has been practically
abandoned by all families living In the
territory.
The stage of the Mississippi river to-
night at IL o'clock Is 35.6 feet, rise of
two-tenths since I o'clock p. m. and of
four and four-tenths since o'clock this
morning.
All Records Broken.
New Orleans, March 1.-THE govern
ment. state and city authorities are in
specting levee lines and preparing for
emergencies They all admit that the
river will likely break all records before
II quits rising, but the levee system Is
higher and stronger and they still cling
to the claim that it will Withstand the ex-
ira strain Large forces Of men are be-
Ing utilized to strengthen weak places ana
to guard the banks by night and day Ihe
guage here tonight reads 1875 rise or
one-tenth In the past twelve hours. The
high water record is 1875.
New England Rivers Rising.
Boston, Mass, March 1.-THE rivers of
eastern New England are beginning to
show the effects of the warm rains which
have prevailed for several days. They
are rapidly rising and threatening serious
damage.
Engineers Hold Conference.
Vicksburg, Miss, March 11.-A confer
ence of levee engineers and freight Of
ficials of the Valley road was held in this
city today. The levee men urged the
railroad men to give big shipment of
sacks and other materials the right of way
from New Orleans This material Is bad
ly needed for Strengthening the weak
places in the embankments along the
Louisiana side in the parishes of Con-
cordia. Tensas and East Carroll
z. c. Tollinger assistant general en-
gineer of the Yazoo, Miss, board, says
that all levees are holding splendidly,
the steady rains of the past few days
being the most serious cause of alarm.
The rains have greatly weakened new
work. However, he is confident that with
close watching, all danger points can
be held together. The Florence and Co.
lumbia. United States snagboats, The
Arthur Hider of the state levee board,
and the Colonel Potter have been placed
at the disposal ~ tiA lsvss boards for