Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-18
GOVERNMENT SENDS
WARNING Of FLOOD !
To CENTRAL VALLEY
Mississippi at Highest Stage
in History at Some Points
Thousands. Made Homeless
as Levees Break

Heavy rains in the water sheds of
the upper tributaries Of the Missis.
sippi during the past So hours, Satur.
day caused United States weather
bureau officials to issue warnings
that third stage of high water in
the central and lower reaches of
the Mississippi river must be ex.
pected, and that the flood period
would be prolonged into May in, the
central portions, and until the latter
part of next month in the lower
river.
The certainty that long fight to
hold back the flood waters was fac.
ing them spurred United States and
levee board engineers to renewed eff.
forts to strengthen the embank-
ments on both sides Of the water.
way from Cairo southwark. Reports
tonight say that the levees at all
points south of Cairo are holding
safely, but extra forces of workmen
have been set to work repairing and
reinforcing weak points and top.
ping low places with sand bags and
barricades of heavy timbers in an
ticipation of the rise, the first swell
of which reached Memphis today.
Heavy Rains
Reports from all points south of
st. Louis say the river is rising
slowly, and third rise is now com.
ing down both the Ohio and Mis-,
souri,, with heavy rains reported in
the watersheds of the Cumberland
and Tennessee rivers.
The leVee below Hickman, KY,
which gave considerable trouble on
the first crest stages, has been re.
paired, and engineers declare it will
hold back the water now in sight
above that point.
In the st. Francis district, ex-
tending from the Missouri statHs'ine
to the mouth of the st. FL
river, no serious trouble has devei-
oped, although statement issued
tonight by Harry N. Pharr, CHEZ
engineer of the district, says that
the incline toward the river has been
cut by wave.wash at number or
places, and repairs are being rushed.
He expresses satisfaction with the
outlook.
At Old Town, Ark, repair work
is going forward, the sub-leVees be-
ing extended far beyond the threat
ened sections where caving has oc.
Cured for several weeks.
Greenville, Miss, tonight reports
a stage of 81 feet, the highest ever
recorded on the gauge there. En-
gineers say that the levees In that
section will stand stage Of 90 feet
without trouble occurring. The MIS-
sissippi river commission spent the
dav at Greenville, and gave near
ing on complaints Of the state Rvee
officials that certain levee work con-
structed under governments super
vision was not up to specifications.
Official Warning
The weather bureau in Washing
ton tonight issued the following r1V-
er bulletin: -.
"The frequent rains over the
drainage areas of the Mississippi
river proper, and it's large tributaries
have so accumulated the flood condi-
lions in the Mississippi river from
Cane Girardeau, Mo-, southwark
that stages higher than any pre-"
viGSls record have already been
reached at Cape Girardeau, Mos
Arkansas City, Ark, and GreenVnle,
Miss. and present indications point
toward occurrence Of similar condi-
lions at most other places along the
river, except between Cairo and the
mouth of the st. Frances riVers
where previous high records Will
not be equalied unless more heavyf
rains fall in the near future. How
ever, the present rise will contnue
over this latter section as the upper
Mississippi and the upper Ohio nv
ers are again rising, and more rains
are indicated by Monday.
1.-THE effect Of these later rises and
the coming rains will probably De
APPARENT not so much IN any great
increase in stages over those pre-"
viously forecast as in a prolongat1on
of the flood period by as much az
several weeks, and it is strongly
urged that all necessary prepare
tions be made against stages some.
what higher than those previously
forecast and the continuance OF aD'
normally high water for weeks TO
come.
lowing to uncertainty as to fu-
ture rain, it is impossible at TINS
time to definitely forecast the crest
stages below Cairo. Above Cairo
the Mississippi river will probably
crest on Monday at st. Louis at
about 1928 feet, at Chester, ILL.,, on
Tuesday at about little above 80
Ci1,or
at between 81 and 375 feet by Mon
day or Tuesday. The Illinois river
at Beardstown should crest about
Wednesday at 24.S feet, which stage
will be 2.3 feet above the previous
high water stage Of June, 1874"
Engineers Optimistic
Doctor I. M. Cline, district fore.
caster of the United States weather
bureau renewed his prediction to-
day of a stage of % to 22.6 feet, by
April 25, the former figure being
the record for high water here.
Major r. T. Coiner, engineer in
charge Of the government opera
tons in the Fourth Mississippi river
district, returned here tonight from
Plaquemine, where he inspected the
Medora levee which had shown signs
of weakening a few days ago. He
reported that the work Of repair
ing the embankment was well in
hand and declared the force en-
ployed there was capable Of coping
with any situation that might arise.
Major Coiner reported that he saw
nothing alarming along the stretch
of embankments this side of Plaque
mine. Levees are being repaired at
months whore thew have hppn waVps
washed and sand bags have been
placed along them at several Sec
tons.
II firmly believe there is no dan
ger of any serious break at any
point, although unceasing vigilance
will be maintained twenty-four hours
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