The Harrison times., 1916-02-19
CREST HAS PASSED HELENA
AT STAGE OF 53.3 FEET-TEM.
PoRARY RELIEF SECURED.
BREAK CAUSE LOWER STAGE
Tents From the State Arsenal Are
Being Used and Camp PatroIed
BY Privates From Little
Rock Company.
Little Rock

Little Rock
The gauge reading at Arkansas City
was 56.4 feet, while the reading al
Helena was 53.3 feet.
The fact that the crest had reached
Helena was but a further instance VI
the vagary Of the great river as ex.
hibited throughout its length during
the present food.
The showing of the Helena gauge
was explained, in part. by engineers
at Memphis as due to the fall in the
White and Arkansas rivers. The less
ening of the volume of waters in those
streams made its effect felt up the
river as far as Helena.
A further fall of two-tenths of a
foot in the Mississippi River at Mem
phis was reported, the gauge standing
at 432 feet.
The return of government engi
neers from the lower end of the White
River Levee District, which is the
terminus Of the jurisdiction Of the To-
cal engineer once, brought no alarm
ing reports Of conditions there except
that the engineers, as they have stated
all along, regard the critical spot In
the leyee system as in that locality.
At many places the waters now are
above the level of the low line Of
levee, no enlargement work having
been done for practically a front Of
80 miles since the 1928 floods. The
sacking of this long stretch of line is
the sole reason the waters are not
now pouring over.
In many other places the water is at
level with the top Of the levee and
the sacks only are above the water.
Where dependence is placed entirely
on sacks on the top of the line there
consequently always is the possibility
of danger.
The remarkable strength of the low
levees in withstanding the strain is a
source of qualification to the govern
ment and state engineers.
With the crest at Helena and near
Arkansas City the outlook cannot but
be better for the low levee lines.
The points on the far lower river
still have their crisis to survive, but
telegraphic reports indicate that the
workers have been out in force and
hopes are high of holding back the
waters at all points.
The reports from the upper valleys
were favorable. The Ohio River was
falling at all points, decline of two.
tenths Of foot being reported from
Paducah, where the river was at a
stand Shawneetown also reported
the same amount Oh fall
The weather in the upper valleys
was cool and the skies were clear.
Obs ers of the situation believe
the crisis has passed unless unusual
conditions prevail between now and
the time the river gets back to it's
banks.
The fall at Memphis almost can be
seen. At least, by setting up a mark
on the wharf, a few hours will note
the recession Of the water therefrom.
Along the wharf for its full length
ragged line Of the fotsam and Jet
sam deposited by the river in its
fall was to be seen. The distance be-
tween the line. Of debris and the wa
ter's edge was more than a man could
span in a step. At this rate the hose
lines will be brought into action BY
the wharfmaster to clear away the
sediment which will be left exposed
as the waters depart within the week.
Without break in the levee line
from Cape Girardeau to the Head of
the Passes, the present food will set
record. Likewise the wisdom of at
once bringing every levee line to the
standard height set by government
engineers has been demonstrated and
there is no doubt but enlargement
work will be brought about every
where with this end in view.
The present food, coming as it has
with the National Congress in session
and the sending Of q survey party IF
House members down the river next
week, will be most decided impetus
for loosening OF the purse strings FOR
river improvement work. Also the
movement put on foot by the Missis.
sippi River Levee Association to have
the river placed under separate
commission and to have an appropria.
tion separate from the rivers and har-
bors act will be given q decided
boost.