The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-04

and without any further neavy rain the Mississippi river below Vicksburg will rise until the early part of May and if the levees hold the river will reach about 52 feet at Natchez, 42 feet at Baton Rouge, 33.5 feet at Donaldsville and 2l 5 feet at New Orleans. These figures are from 1 to 1.5 feet higher than any previous record.
 The warning issued Tuesday for at least fl feet at Memphis by SaturGay or Sun day if the levees hold is repeated and preparations should be made accordingly.
 At Vicksburg the 50 foot stage will be passed by Saturday or Sunday and If the levees hold stage of between 53.5 and 5f feet is likely to occur later. The highest known water at Vicksburg is 52.5 feet, which occurred on April Is, 1897.
 Helena, Ark, will pass the 30 foot stage some time tomorrow and continue to rise but the greatest stage cannot be fore cast at this time, owing to the uncertain ty as to the overflow water above
 At Cairo the stage of 56 feet which was forecast yesterday to occur within three or four days will not be reached because of the breaking of the levees below the city, and it is probable that the greatest stage will be reached within two days, but not much over 54 feet.
 Danger Almost Passed
 Memphis, April 3.-Man claimed the advantage in today's battle with the Mississippi river floods. Twelve hours Of warm sunshine has aided in the ilght and tonight government engi- neers declare with the stage of Mem phis not exceeding 45 feet, the latest estimate, the water will be held with in the federal leves.
 The river, however, is rising slowly but steadily and at o'clock tonight showed stage of 42y feet, a margin or a rise of six-tenths for 24 hours and three-tenths since o'clock rnls morning
 ;. C. Emery, in charge of the local weather bureau, is not so optimistic as the government engineers. He ex presses grave doubts as to the ability of the banks to hold the yellow tor rent raging down the waterway and today urged the local managers of tha various railroads entering Memphis from the west to warn the inhabitants of the territory along their lines back of the levees 10 move immediately to higher grounds as precautionary measure.
 No New Breaks
 Except for the collapse of the De Gognia and Fountain Bluff leyee Tn Illinois, no breaks occurred today and toEights dispatches from the points re- Sdrued as dangerous are fedSSuf1ns. West of Hickman the main levee, winch protects Reel Foot lake and sev- eral populous counties. the levee ts holding at Linda, Mo. where the bank began to cave yesterday, an auxiliary levee has been completed and along the White river iron, m Arkansas the work of bolstering up the embankment Is progressing satisfactorily.
 This much pertains to territory pro- tected by levees maintained by the government In the flooded lowlands outside the levees and where private embankments have gwen way condi tons are serious Hickman, Ky, New Madrid. Mo, and Columbus, Ky, are flooded; train service is crippled and with refugees pouring Into these and other eenters the question of caring for them with a limited amount of shel- ter and provisions is a grave problem. Aid is en route from other points and by tomorrow it is promised that train service will be resumed partially at least.
 In the flooded northern section of Mem-
 tCONTINUI-D ON PAGE l2l