The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-04
GONIPERS DECLARES LABOR FAVORS MODIFICATION VOLSTEAD
ACT ADVOCATES BILL PERMITTING LIGHT WINES AND BEER
ACRES ESINUNDATEDT TO
LARGE DEPTH BY RIVER FLOOD
Congressional Delegation Gets
Vivid Picture of Tragedy
From Train Windows.
lsy The AssoeIated Pressl

YICKSBURG, Miss, May 3-One million
aeres-25 percent under cultivation-in-
undated to depth of from three to ff-
teen feet, water covered and rapidly dis
integrating farm buildings. refugees
housed in box cars, tents and railroad
stations and here and there a more per-
sistent householder sticking to his dwell
ing despite the tapping of the water
against the thresholds, viewed from the
windows of special train which ploughed
its way through more than two feet of
back water for distance of % miles
from Carey to Vicksburg. gave the con-
gressional delegation surveying the raw
ages of the swollen Mississippi vivid in
sight today into the tragedy of the river
Hood.
Todays Journey the third day of the
tour began at Memphis Monday, was
through the "backwater'' spreading over
the Yazoo basin from Brunswick Cap
an uncompleted stretch of the Mississippi
river levee system north of Vicksburg
and through the Yazoo river.
From Carey, at present the north linz
it's Of the inland overfiow--to Vicksburg
it was much the same sight-abandoned
farm houses, here and there a knoll of
high ground crowded with corralled live
'stock, a raft moving to the neighboring
hills or railroad right of way with piled
UP household goods and refugees and at
intervals house built on stills" with
the occupants holding their ground max
ing the best of the situation and appar-
emily determined to stick it out.
Box cars, top floors of cotton gins, rail-
road stations and loading platforms and
tents pitched on the ridges which dot
the generally fiat lowlands now are hous-
ing several thousand refugees with the
number expected to appreciably increase
as the waters rise and spread further.
Approximately 1000 are being cared
for in box cars, 300 of which have been
distributed on sidings at central points
along the line of the Yazoo and Missis-
sippi valley in the overfiowed area.
Members of the congressional party
left the river commission steamer Missis
sippi, aboard which the greater part OF
the tour is being made, at Greenville
early today and, after an automobile ride
to Leland for a view of neighboring
plantations, curtailed by heavy rain
storm, boarded special train at the
latter town for The rail trip through the
flooded sections to Eicksburg.
After visit to the national park here
and a luncheon, the party re-boarded the
Mississippi for continuation of the
southwark journey.
Natchez, the next stop in the itinerary,
is expected to be reached late tomorrow.
In its spread over the farm lands in
the Yazoo basin, in which the water uiti-
mately will inundate sections If FIVE
counties-Issaquena. Sharkey, Yazoo
Humphreys and the northern part Of
Warren. In many parts of the area, al
ready overflowed, seed was planted sew
eral weeks ago.
Joseph G. Logan, red cross representa-
tive, who is directing relief work in con-
junction with state and local officials.
issued a statement today indicating that
approximately 10000 persons, mostly ne
gro tenant farmers, already have been
reported as in need of relief in IaZoo
basin and several other counties of the
south.
Rationing began a week ago in some
sections. Thus far, subsistence for 5000
persons for week has been distributed
1t was estimated from reports male by
held agents to the Yicksburg Red Cross
headquarters, that upwards of 10000 per
sons ultimately win be in need of aid to
tide them over until the water subsidies
and food crops can be raised.
In addition to farm damage. monetary
losses to the railroads operating through
the overflowed section is expected to be
heavy, Il. l.. Dubbs,, superintendent OF
the Yazoo and Mssiss, a9i Valley, esti-
mated today that the cost of keeping
traffic open through the ''backwater'' he
tween this city and Carey was appro2i-
rnately SO, 900 a day.