The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-29
PEOPLE NEARLY ALWAYS
 GIVEN TIMELY WARNING
Most Destructive Floods Previous to the Present One Occurred In 1882, 1890 and 18e7-LeVees Have
 Done Great Good.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.

The United States weather bureau in 1873 began the collection of river guage readings by telegraph, and it is needless to say that the data under the present inn proved sources of information as to pre- cipitation and other meteorological sub jects is more complete now than it was then. The bureau from it's representa- lives along the rivers receive reports daily by telegraph. This data, together with local observations, enables the bu- reau at Washington to inform the public what may be expected in the way of floods and to give warnings when danger to life or property is impending.
 The big Mississippi river, with it's numerous large and small tributaries, draining vast basins, is ever closely watched by the weather bureau. All the data is carefully preserved and today rhe bureau has a record of practically all the important floods since the service embraced the reports of river stages.
 Loss of Life Is Light.
 While the rushing torrents that sweep down the great river have proved ex- tremely destructive of property. 1t IS rather remarkable that the loss of life in a Mississippi flood Is always light. One reason for this lies in the fact that the weather bureau gives warning before the crest of a rise reaches a certain point, and the people are enabled 10 make preparations for their safety. Along the Mississippi river, from Memphis to Cairo, are numerous Indian mounds, such as are found in many sections Of the south. These afford in many instances, haVehs of safety for both man and beast. u IS supposed by many that these mounds years ago were used by the Indians as means of avoiding the flood waters. Ihe people who live in the St. Francis basin, in Arkansas, opposite Memphis are used to floods and know what to do when the river rises high enough to threaten dan ger The women and children even are experts with the sIdff or dugout. 1t is rare that there is loss of life. Perhaps the greatest danger of death Is the sud- den breaking of a levee, when the people are taken unawares and the water rushes in upon them without warning.
 The sources of Mississippi river flood are traeeable to it's tributaries, that drain the various watersheds The great Mis- souri basin car send down a vast volume of water. while the Ohio river basin, aug mented by the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, perhaps is the greatest contrib utor to destruction bysa Mississippi flood. Into the lower rivers are poured the wat CTS of the St. Francis, White, Arkansas, Red, Yazoo and rivers of smaller volume.
 Ohio Basin the Source.
 The greatest source of river floods is the Ohio basin with It's steep slopes from the crest of the Alleghenies, upon which fall the heaviest rains of spring, a a time when the normal rise of the lower Mis- sissippi brings the river almost to the danger line from Cairo to the gulf. In the greatest floods it is also found that heavy rainfall over the great swamp re- zion that extends along the Mississippi from the mouth of the Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico is an important factor. Third in importance as q factor in producing floods is the upper Mississippi, which, while never discharging a volume snffi- cient of itself to produce flood, yet, ris- ing later than the Ohio river, serves te prolong the high water and thus to in- crease the overflow.
 The increase in the number of levees along the Mississippi river has naturally had the effect of making the official gauges show a higher reading than they did before the levees were constructed. The water is compressed in a narrower channel and consequently can not spread out over such vast areas as formerly. For example the weather bureau officials do not think that there Is as much water in the Mississippi river now as there was in the big flood of 1897. although the guage shows a higher reading now than 1t did then Since 1897 there has been quite an increase in the number and strength ot the levees. The levees during the present flood have held remarkably well.
 Of all the Mississippi floods for the past twenty-sx years the data collected by the weather bureau shows that the most serious and destructive occurred in 1882 1890 and 1s97 The flood of 1897 was particularly disastrous, and is treated more fully by the weather bureau than any previous overflow. In 1882 the river was in flood at Memphis from January 25 to March 30, a period of sixty-five days; at New Orleans ninety-one days, and at Vicksburg 162 days.
 Damage Estimates Are Inaccurate.
 It is difficult to estimate with any de- gree of accuracy the damage done by flood. Oftentimes 1t catches the farmers just as the crops are planted; sometimes after planting, and frequently before planting, so that the seeds cannot be placed in the ground until long after the usual time Fences arc swept away, houses float off and live stock is drowned. The statistician of the agricultural de- partment estimates that in 1897 there was in the flooded districts movable agricul- tural property to the value of S14, TOP, 40
 The maximum stages for some of the previous floods are as follows:
 Cairo. Memphis. Helena 1882 .. ... ......51.s 35.0 47.2 1899 522 BAR 4e a