Evening star., 1927-05-14
In the Final Stage.

LII .IlS cOIlCluulnS stage, the MlSStS-
sippi Valley flood continues to take
heavy toll as it moves southwark,
making new breaks in the barriers
and spreading out over fresh terri
tory. After a desperate fight Of sew
eral days to save the embankments
barring the waters from the great
Sugar Bowl of Louisiana, the rich
est cane and rice field in the United
States, the waters have won their
way through and now are sweeping
out to form an immense lake, esti-
more than a million acres, 225 miles
long and from SO to 100 miles wide.
This new break will add at least $10.-
900, 900 to the losses in Louisiana alone
and will drive fully 100000 more peo-
pie from their homes.
In one respect the new breach in
the levee system is likely to prove a
blessing, for it will probably save New
Orleans from an inundation, which
would cause much greater property
loss than even that which will follow
the escape of the waters into the
Sugar Bowl" For this latest flood,
on the western side of the Mississippi,
is not likely to flow back into the
great stream in such volume as to
add dangerously to the mass of
water concentrating in the region inn
mediately above the Delta. Between
the intentional crevasse below the
city, at Poydras, and those made above
the city. under the force of the tor
rents, New Orleans apparently has
been saved from devastation.
AS the crest slowly approaches the
Gulf the gauges in the reaches above
Louisiana are showing recession of
the waters. Refugees are returning
to their homes in large numbers. Yes
terday more than 5000 were released
from the Yazoo, Miss, camp, and
others have already gone back from
more northerly points. They face the
heartbreaking task Of re-establish-
farms stripped of buildings. their live
stock swept away, their paintings all
secured out, their seasons work to
be started anew. Without funds, with
out stock, without shelter in great
many cases, theirs will be pitiable
plight. But they have in most cases
had such experiences before. Some of
them, indeed, were reluctant to leave
their homes when the water began to
rise dangerously. and had to be almost
forcibly removed.
Such aid as can be furnished will
be given to the sufferers. Seeds and
stock will be supplied to them out of
the funds that have been collected,
those Of the American. Red Cross in
part, and those raised by the various
States. OF course, not a tithe of the
loss can be thus restored. Only a
start can be given. The seasons crop
will be greatly shortened. 1t is esti-
mated that sixty per cent is the best
that the cotton planters of Mississippi
can expect.
AS the flood reaches its climax the
Red Cross fund for the immediate re-
lief of the sufferers passes the eleven
million mark, having gone more than
million beyond the limit of the
Presidents second call for aid. 1t will
keep on rising, for the country well
understands that the gravest work of
relief remains to be done, in the res
toration of the people to their homes
and farms and their new start in self.
support.
1t is gratifying that Washington,
called upon for quota first Of s45,000,
and, on the second summons, for $780,
600 in all, has gone far lover the top"
and at the latest reckoning, on the
conclusion of the reports of yester-
days giving, shows a total of more
than $118,000. 1t has more than main
tained its proportion Of the national
fund. This is a characteristic show
| ing for the Capital.
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