Evening star., 1927-04-28
Costly Flood Relief Measures.


Some time tomorrow blast of dyna,
mite will destroy one of the levees on
the east bank OF the Mississippi River
south Of New Orleans. The waters of
the river, already swollen to the dan.
ger point. with higher levels coming as
the crest of the food advances south
ward. will thea flow out over an area
Of about 700 , acres. of which 10000
acres are uni r cultivation and $4,000
acres are in swamp. Within this area
live about 10000 people and they are
now making their way to safety, in ad
vance of the inundation.
This deliberate breaking of a great
levee, built to confine the waters of the
river to its channel, is the first act of
its kind since the protective works
were reared along the shores of the
mighty stream. The authorities of
New Orleans, anticipating the rise of
the waters above the barriers at that
city, requested permission of the Gov
ernment to blast a crevasse. After a
careful survey assent was given, on
the condition that New Orleans guar
antee a reimbursement to those who
suffered loss from the flooding of their
lands. Guarantees to this effect have
been given and in addition the banks
OF that city have provided a loan fund
of $2,000,0 900 to relieve any financial
shortage among the refugees.
This emergency measure. which will
prove very costly but will probably,
though not certainly, prevent much
greater loss at New Orleans, gives
point to the admonition of Secretary
Hoover and Gen. Jadwin, who are now
surveying the flooded areas and direct
ing the relief works, that a complete
+ revision of the levee system in the Mis-
Sissippi Valley is necessary. This great
freshet is due in large measure to the
denudation of the hills in the water
shed. The cutting of trees has pro-
gressed to the point where there is
little checking of the rainfall. That
condition is not likely to be cured by
replanting, for many years at least.
Greater floods than this one are there.
fore likely to occur For fraction of
the losses that have been suffered al
ready in this flood the levee system
could be strengthened and made more
secure against heavy pressure and
high levels.
The losses from this food will prob
ably never be fully counted. They
cover not merely the destruction of
buildings and crops and the losses Of
life, but the dislocation of business,
ramifying far beyond the flooded area.
The personal suffering Of thousands of
people cannot be expressed in money
terms. The distress of mind endured
by refugees and those Ynenaced by the
rising waters cannot be stated f1nan-
cially. And to emphasize this point
comes the word that in the fourteen
refugee camps in Arkansas epidenics
are breaking out and requiring the
services of emergency medical stats.
Measles, mumps, whooping cough, pei
lagra and malaria are prevalent. 1t
will be a great mercy If heavy death
toll does not resalt from this condi-
ton.
Money for the relief of these unfor-
tunate people is pouring in, but it
must continue to come. The $5,000,000
mark set by the first call for contri-
buttons is now being rapidly ap.
preached. A second call may be neces-
shelter and medical supplies increases,
even as the crest of the flood passes.
Let there be no slackening in the pub
lie bounty in this great emergency.