New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-04-03
Children CRY
FOR FLETchER'S
9 a 8 TO RIA
RIVER PROSPECTS.

| We have reached that time of the year.
spring, when warmer weather thaws and
melts the snow and ice in the high coun-
try and mountains above us, and tends to
swell the rivers-it is, in fine, the time
of the April flood, when we are called on
to watch the stage of our rivers to see
what we can expect and prepare accord
ingly. It was a momentous time of old,
before we had completed our full levee
systems. That there will be freshets in
some of the interior streams is possible,
but as far the great river itself is con-
cerned the situation is satisfactory. The
winter saw an excessive snowfall, but if
was mainly in the East, with New York
! as its center. Throughout that section
the winter has been the worst known
for years, temperature records have been
well below zero for prolonged periods.
and snow has fallen far in excess of any,
thing even before known. The February
blizzard in New York showed that city
under for over five weeks, tied up busi-
ness and cost the city millions of dollars
to get rid of it.
When the winter finally broke up some
weeks ago the Atlantic section was badly
AAAJuASo ty tAe lSC D4OCAdQGS anu Jams
caused in nearly. all the rivers They
reached an acute state in the Susque-
hama, Schuylkill and other rivers and
caused destructive freshets, floods and
heavy loss of property. But the Miss
issippi valley escaped most of this
tempestuous weather and will for that
reason, escape a severe spring rise. The
weather bureau, which keeps an accurate
record of river conditions, predicts con-
tinued rise during the month, and April
will, as usual, see full river We can
estimate now very closely when the flooi
stage will reach every point along the
Mississippi and its tributaries and to
what height it will 60.
{ The encouraging feature of the situa-
tion is that the April rise always to be
expected about this time is restricted
this spring to few tributary streams
The upDer Mississippi is rising and so are
the Arkansa and Red, but, on the other
hand. the Ohio is falling--and it is from
that stream we have always the greatest
danger TO fear. because the drainage is Sc
good throughout the Ohio valley that the
stream discharges its volume in the short
est time-and the Missouri, Cumberland
and Ouachita are also on the down grade
The flood stage will reach Baton Rouge
by April 10, and in the Atchafalaya at
Melville on the same day. Some lands
outside the levees may be flooded; but ne
levees are rportd by both state and fed
eral authorities as in excellent condition.
There is no more water in sight to swell
the flood as the heavy SHOWS and ice at
the heads of the streams have melted and
are discharging themselves. Only pro-
longed season of heavy rains can change
the outlook unfavorably.
It has been very bad winter for the
country as a whole in the matter Of
freezes, storms and freshets; but fort
nately most Of the, Mississippi valley has
escaped these disturbances, and the people
living along the lower river will in con-
sequence escape. the disasters and losses
that visited those living along the At
lantic streams. Even if the river flood
was higher this spring than now seems
possible. the splendid condition Of cur
levees, and the long time allowed for
strengthening them, would give us as
surance against any flood that might
D.