Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-25
4GREENv|LLE PLANS
| RAPID COMEBACK
Flooded Mississippi Town
Prepares for Big Tourist
Trade This Year.
Dy the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press
GREENVILLE, Miss, June 20
sGreenville. with half its city streets
and the broad acres of fertile cotton
land surrounding it still under water,
is ready for a comeback, and is get
ting its house in order, not only in
nrenaration for the lonE-delayeu
Spring planting, but to take care OF
the thousands of tourists expected
5 this Summer to view the havoc
wrought by the Mississippi River
flood.
Closely following the receding waters
are workmen with hammers and saws,
repairing the damage and getting
things in shape for what is expected
to be a big tourist season. The State
convention of the American Legion,
which opens June %, will bring more
than 1000 delegates, who are to be
quartered in the refugee camp. King
Cotton, ruler over Washington County
from time immemorial, has been de-
throned this year. OF the 100000
bales of long staple that usually is
produced each year there will be only
about $4,000 this season
Quick Cash Needed.
Instead the planters will raise a
quick money crop, for quick cash is
needed here-and attention is being
given to sagrain, a combination of
sorghum and grain which is used as
a stock and chicken feed. Planting
will start in about a week, by which
time the back waters will have re-
coded.
While the city has lost between 10
and Is per cent of its population due
to closing down of industrial plants,
those who have remained intend to
stay. Ernest Smith, editor of the
Greenville Democrat-Times, summar-
lied their loyalty in these words: we
realize we have the best country in
the world and we're going to stay
here"
While there is scarcely any bust
ness--for money is not plentiful
there is plenty to do in repairing
houses and lawns. Plans also are I'M
der way for rebuilding all county
roads, and a contract has just been let
for a 22-car ferry across the river. to
connect with the State highway sys-
tenn in Arkansas.
The city's newspaper, the Democrat
Times, is enjoying its largest clrcula-
ton in history. Families that for
merly took one copy now get two or
mOre-One for those members remain
ing here and the others for those who
have sought shelter elsewhere. Also
the 5000 refugees in the camp here
make heavy inroads into the carriers
stacks. Mr.. Smith estimated his street
sales had increased 500 per cent.
Trains to Resume July 10.
Greenville, without sight of train
for two months, is looking forward
hopefully to July 10, when the first
one is expected. Trains are unable to
come closer than six miles of the city
because of break in the main levee
and passengers are transported in
boats.
The city has been without picture
show since the flood and with no place
of amusement available, the popula-
ton devotes its spare time to craw-
fishing. Crawfish, prepared after the
fashion of shrimp, have become
table delicacy after one has lived on
canned goods for several weeks.
Streets are deserted by $50 o'clock at
night.
The protection levee, built around
the greater part of Greenville 50
years ago, has withstood the back
waters resulting from the June rise"
of the river. The city was flooded two
months ago when the main levee up
the river broke and the protectloE
leyee gave way in several places.