Evening star., 1927-04-27

Inc IllSt view aHbiNEu TIE ptti ~
Of the flooded cities and towns lining
the muddy eXpanses of the river came
early in the evening as the Chisca
was passing the plantation centers Of
Bruens and Seyphel, Ark. Capt. ID, III.
Scott, skipper of the craft, pointed out
the upper half of both Of these viii
lages-the lower eXtremities being
hidden from view by the backwash
from broken leVees. The spire OF
church stood silent sentinel over the
roofs OF scores of flooded business
houses and residences. Only the tip
Of a chimney indicated occasionally
where some refugees home stands
submerged.
Helena, refugee center for 10000
destitute Arkansans and Mississip
plans, was reached at 8 O'Clock Mon
day night The boat tied up at the
town cotton wharf while the official
party went ashore for a few moments
to confer with local Red Cross au-
th0rities 1t was learned that steam
boats are bringing hundreds of vic
TINS there daily from down river
points. Helena itself is dry behind
we'll built leyees. The town is bending
all it's efforts to relief work. Most OF
the fugitives are quartered in several
hundred box ears donated by the Mis-
from Helena Monday night under
star-studded skies, the Hoover party
ventured into the real danger area
of the present. Gen. JadWIn points
out that south of the Red River
mouth are 10000 square miles Of
tl0odable territory-prOtected by dikes
of questionable security.
Area Is Big as Maryland.
A break in the and-bagged 1evees,
which now are straining under the on
slaughts Of the unruly Father Of
Waters, will inundate an area approx
imately the size of Maryland, and
will more than double the total
amount of land now under water.
Grave concern is entertained for the
levees south of Helena to RosedaIe,
Miss. Secretary Hoover was informed
that thousands of men are working
feverishly to strengthen weak spots
and cure sand bubbles which form
on the land side of the levee from
pressure of the water underneath the
embankment. The cure Of the ominous
bubbles consists in building around
the underground leak a 'silo" of sand
bags in which the escaping water may
rise and seek it's level, thus relieving
the pressure under the levee.
that under the direction Of Army engi-
neers 10000 refugees have been re-
moved to places of safety since the
start Of the flood, out of q total of
something over $50, 600 persons who
have been flooded out of home and
belongings. Before this thing is over
some 100000 more will have TO be
transported by motor boat, shiff.
barge and steamboat to the Red Cross
concentration camps, it was estimated.
Secretary Hoover issued a state
ment Monday night showing that the
coordination of Federal, State and
local relief forces is progressing rapid
ly, as desired by President Coolidge.
Steamers and boats already are be-
ing dispatched to newly threatened
areas SO as TO be on the ground for
possible new breaks, instead of wait
ing until after they have occurred,
MIR. Hoover annoupced.
Communication Set Up.
THE railway movement of Red
Cross supplies and refugees has been
placed under the direction of a san gle
experienced railroad official stationed
in Memphis. Regular communication
by wire and radio has been set up be-
tween Memphis and all refugee CEN
ters SO as ia meet the immediate de-
mands of local committees who are
everywhere looking after the refugees.
Start has been made in the assem-
bly, Of staffs to organize resettlement
Of the land at the moment the flood
apparently begins to recede, four TO
six weeks hence. The crest Of the
flood has passed Memphis. We believe
we know the worst that is combing in
those areas to the north. That con-
sri lJH,f 41F in sol
THE great question now is what
will happen to the leVees in the lower
river with the arrival of the crest
The whirlwind of events leading up
to the decision to break the Louisiana
levee started Monday evening with the
arrival in midstream several miles
out of Vicksburg, of boat bearing
members of the Mississippi River Com
mission. The delegation boarded the
Hoover relief ship and went into inn
mediate conference with the Commerce
Secretary, Gen. Jadwin. Red Cross
Chairman Fieser and Maj. j. c. II.
Lee, district engineer.
Officials Are on Board.
Members Of the boarding party in
cluded Col. Charles l.. Potter, presi
dent of the commissions James M.
Thompson, New Orleans publisher and
chairman of the safe river committee;
Senator Joseph Il. Ransdell of Louisi-
ana. Representatives James OConnor
and Riley j. Wilson, also Of Louisiana.
Gov. Murphree of Mississippi joined
this company in conference with the
Hoover party upon arrival of the ship
at Vicksburg.
The commission presented to Gen.
Jadwin the following resolutions: 'In
the opinion of the Mississippi River
Commission, serious breaks in the
levees below Red River landing are
imminent. and in order to avoid the
loss Of life and property incidental to
such an accidental break in the levee
line, the commission believes that it
is advisable to create break in the
lepee at a predetermined point or
points in the State of Louisiana select
ed by the Governor of the State or
his authorized agent.
1T is further of the opinion that
such action should be based upon
formal request Of the Governor of
Louisiana, accompanied by an as
sumption Of responsibility by the
State of Louisiana or by the city of
New Orleans or both, of all damages
resulting from the cutting of the IeVee
line. The commission win approve
such request and recommend ap-
proval by the chief Of Engineers and
Secretary of WAR
Governor Concurs In View
Cen. Jadwin also was given a copy
of a telegram addressed to him, Sec
retary of War Davis and members of
the commission by Gov. Simpson of
Louisiana and Mayor Arthur j.
O'Keefe of New Orleans. The message
read: II have before me a copy of
a resolution adopted by the Mississippi
River Commission at d meeting Of the
commission held at Niclzsburg today,
recommending that break be created
in the levee at some predetermined
point to be selected by me. After con-
Snlfafinn with my technical advisers