Evening star., 1922-06-21
RIVER RISES FROM
IS IN TO e Fl.
Texas Flood Crest Expected
Tonight-Aviators to Drop
Food to Sufferers.
Rr the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex. June 21.-The
critical stage in the lower Rio Grande
valley food, which has Inundated
nearly $4,000 acres in Starr. Hidalgo
and Cameron counties, marooned
nearly 1000 Mexicans IN small border
west of Marcedes, is expected between
midnight tonight and dawn Thursday
west of Mercedes. is expected between
due to reach the edge of Starr county.
This flood. the result of a cloudhurst
in the hills of Terrell county. Tex.
last Saturday. is remarka BILE in the
history of the river. not only because
ii has exceeded all previous records.
but also because of its slow move
ment and sustained volume.
Rio Grnndc 52 Feet Deep.
From stream normally 200 to 300
yards wide and eighteen inches to six
feet deep, the Rio Grande has become
fifty feet deep at the food crest and
from three quarters to A mile wide
The volume of water is so great that
at Laredo. Tex, where an unofficial
stage of ffty-two feet was reached
at IL o'clock yesterday morning. the
river still was fifty feet deep at u
o'clock last night. At Eagle Pass. a
tifty-One-foot stage was reached at
midnight Sunday. and II had receded
TO six feet above normal at o'clock
Tuesday evening.
The flood crest appears to be NOV
ing at five miles an hour, which will
bring il to the lower valley after mid
night tonight.
Those familiar with the lower Rio
Grande valley. much OF which is barely
above sea level. fear that the upper
food will spread far peyound all previous
overflow marks.
Great Crop Damage Feared.
Great damage is feared for the grow
ing crops The section now is supply
ing many canteloupes TO northern mar
kets and in recent years has developed
into a large producer of early vege
tables. especially cabbages, onions,
cauliflower and tomatoes. The truck
farms are irrigated py canals supplied
by pumping from the Rio Grande. and
in time of food these canals become a
menace.
Areas inundated by districts, accord :
ing to estimate. follow:
Missions districts. 1900 acres;
McAllen. 4,5O0 acres; Parry, San Juan
and Alamo. $4,000 acres. Land near
Donna. Weslaco. Mercedes and Loferia
had escaped inundation thus far.
Red Cross Plans Relief.
Red Cross relief for the flood district
already is under way. Hundreds of
Mexicans living in Eagle Pass lowlands
have lost all belongings. while at Piedras
Negras. across the river, the food situ-
alton is admittedly serious.
Three aviators were dispatched from
! Kelly Field. San Antonio. yesterday. to
| the lower Rio Grande valley for flood
relief work. Their instructions are to
work from Camp McAllen and drop
bags of food to marooned farmers who
may be found in the flood areas. Eighth
Corps Area HEADQUARTERS was expected
this morning to dispatch company of
engineers with pontoons to Eagle Pass
and help restore communication there
with Piedras Negras, both railroad and
highway bridges having been washed
out.
No figures are available on loss of
life in the flood. 1t Is believed many
Mexicans living in the lowlands were
caught and swept away. One Mexican.
after riding down stream nearly 100
miles on roof, swan ashore at Laredo
yesterday.