Evening star., 1927-04-27
Extensive HardShipS About
Over, Secretary Declares
on Arrival in New Orleans
After Trip Down River.
ADMITS DEVELOPMENTS
MAY UPSET HIS THEORY
Troops Guard Levees in Two Louisi-
ana Parishes Preparatory to
Opening Them to Waters in
Final Effort to Assure Safety
of Metropolis of South,
By the Associated Press.

VI &GbAVpO1Ao Va AS1@A'
By the Associated Press.
NEW ORLEANS, April 27.--The
crisis probably has passed in the Mis-
sissippi River flood situation and no
more extensive hardship, suffering
and loss Of life and property is antici-
pated, in the opinion of Secretary OF
Commerce Hoover, President COOL
idge's observer in the inundated re-
s,on. He arrived here today, COM
III ting his tour of the area from Mem
pins to New Orleans.
In Mississippi and Arkansas, MI
Hoover said, he found no unsatisfac'
tory conditions and only the necessity
of continuing adequate relief meas
ures. He said, however, that his view
OF the end of the flood danger may be
upset by later developments.
The cabinet officer, whose rapid sur
vev of the flooded region was through
the trained eyes of a relief worker
the director OF the World War relief
in Belgium-expresse his opinion Oh
the flood situation briefly as follows:
II believe the flood dead will not
greatly exceed zoo.
Puts Homeless at 100000.
'sThe homeless will probably be not
much greater than 10000.
''The World War training has
taught us to handle a erisis. Our war
organiza tions-the National Guard,
the American Legion and the Red
Cross--and the men and women OF the
South did not become hysrerlcat ana
lose control of the situation, but I'M
81 Aasasaf hi "a
of assistance This is the great les
son of the flood.
tsOlr greatest problem is the re-
habilitation Of the homeless persons in
their former habitations and the re-
establishment of agricultural produc-
tio1 in the stricken regions.
The Commerce Secretary said he felt
confident that the return to normal
agricultural production in the mum
dated regions will be only the malter
of few weeks after the water runs
off the land.
Mr.. Hoover conferred with New Or
leans committees in charge of the
food situation and during the after
noon viii inspect the Poydras section,
where the proposed emergency leVee
break viii be made.
Engineers Still Pessimistic.
The Army engineers were said to
feel that the danger had not passed,
as there is considerable overflow water
speeding into the Mississippi River
from the Yazoo and the Red Rivers,
which probably viii meet the Missis
sinni flood crest. The combined high
waters win be a grave menace to the
levees between Vicksburg and New
Orleans. in the engineers opinion,
and even with the Poydras levee break
the flood crest might not possibly be
reduced materially enough to dlsslpate
the danger to the Louisiana leVees and
the embankments guarding New Or
leans.
Secretary Hoover indicated that he
TOO. somewhat shares the opinion that
the flood still is a threat by engaging
In lengthy conferences with Gov. Sinp
son Of Louisiana, Mai. Cen edgar
.Iadwin, chief of Army Engineers, and
the New Orleans flood committee.
Troops Guard Levees.
The tramp of National Guardsmer
echoed along levees today as two
southern Louisiana parishes were be
ing evacuated preparatory to sur
rendering them to the waters of the
Mississippi, that the Souths largest
city might be saved from the on
slaught of the flood.
Vigorous protest on the part of citi
zens of the two parishes st. Bernard
and Plaquemines, which often have
witnessed the withering fire of guns il
the perennial trapper's warfare, was
registered as the residents continued
TO patrol the levees.
Assurance that the property owners
eS the PoydTas area would be rem
bursed for damages came from o.
leading fnanciers and business meT
Of New Orleans, who Joined Gov Q
II. Simpson, Mayor Arthur o. Keef'
and President Guy L. Deano of th'
New Orleans ICVee Board IN sighlns
"a resolution TO this effect.
Meanwhile, officers of the two par
ishes were warning inhabitants to fie'
after the issuance Of a proclamation
p by Gov. Simpson setting noon Frida!
ns the time for the creyasse to be cut
Approximately 4.000 persons mus
he moved out of the area before tn
rrevasse is made and reparations viii
he settled upon by a committee 0
five persons, constituted by two ap
pointees OF Gov. Simpson. two person
named by the New Orleans. Cit,
Council and one member designate,
bv the board of levee commissioner
Of the Lake Borgne district.
Evacuation Is Begun.
Hundreds of persons formed tn
seemingly endless caravan whic
streamed out of the doomed area
BATTERED automobiles, trucks, wagon
and even pushcarts trundled throug
the gravel toward New Orleans, wher
thev will be cared for until the water
recede from their homes. All movabl
belongings were included in the mi'
ceIlaneous bundles which freighte
the vehicles.
Many Of the refugees were person
who had been driven from their home
in the poydras area by the 1872
break, But in the previous flood the
had but the briefest notice and j
many cases were forced to abando
their belongings.
The waters from the Poydras brea
will inundate about 10000 acres,
was estimated by engineers. Th
crevasse of 1922 flooded about tha
much territory. No towns of any sig
are likely to be touched by the waters
The village of st. Bernard is periousl
close to the path the water Is expecte