The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-25
FLOOD INUNDATES
 2,756,2OO ACRES
Wartime Crops Loss Is Mounting Into Millions in
 Midwestern States
(By United PresS)

The greatest flood to sweep the midwest in a quarter of century has inundated 2,756,200 acres of land in five states with the loss of wartime crops mounting steadily into the millions of dollars, the Red Cross reported Tuesday.
 In it's first official flood report since the Illinois, Missouri, Arkan- sas, Wabash and Mississippi rivers began their steady rise early this month, the Red Cross headquarters at St. Louis estimated that 154 ,248 persons had been driven from their homes.
 The report covered Illinois, Mis- souh, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. It did not include Indiana where unofficial sources estimated an additional 10000 persons had been forced to flee high waters which flooded about 50,000 acres. The crop loss in Indiana alone was estimated at $5,0oo,000.
 The Red Cross said 1,392600 acres of valuable crops were under water. In Illinois and Missouri the two states hardest hit, the Red Cross reported 100000 acres inundated in Illinois, half of the mdeyoted to crops, and 556,000 acres under water in Missouri of which all but 5000 acres consisted of farm land.
 In Illinois, 80,000 persons have been forced to abandon their homes, and in Missouri 24200 have fled, the Red Cross said.
 In the flVe-state area, the Red Cross has erected l07 shelters to house 24,70l destitute and Is feed- ing 25482 persons.
 The flood threat centered Tues day at Beardstown, III, on the Illi- nois river, and in southern Illinois and Missouri where the Mississippi, swollen by It's tributaries, burst sev- eral more levees and spilled over farmlands.
 At St. Louis, the Mississippi rose to It's highest crest since l844 as thousands of workers fought 10 bol- ster straining leyees north of the city, where the danger was great est.
 Or the Illinois side Of the river, Dupo and Granite City were threat ened, but authorities believed the levecs would hold unless the 1lli- nois and Missouri tributaries con- tinuc their rise.
 A break in the leyee at Granite City would flood vital war industries in the East St. Louis area, but the danger was believed avcrted, tempo rarily at least, when the Mississippi began to fall after cresting at 38.94 feet, the highest level in 99 years The river, however, spilled through breaks in the levees at a dozen points between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Mo, inundating 45,000 acres of farmlandS.
 At Beardstown, situated in south western Illinois on the Illinois river authorities ordered complete evacua- ton of the town last night. Women children and invalids had been re- moved earlier. and only about 1000 men remained. The Illinois reached an all-time high of 29375 feet, and threatened to break through 80,000 sandbags placed atop $3ooOo con- crete seawall protecting the town.
 Authorities said if the seawall failed to hold, the highest point in Beardstown would be under five feet of water.
 At Fort Smith, Ark. on the Ar kansas river, railroads and highways were flooded. Red Cross officials estimated a new crest, following Sundays level of 39 feet, would raise crop damage in Arkansas, where crops were planted early, to $3O,OOO The principal water main burst at Fort Smith, cutting of water to laundries and barbershops. Each resident was limited to five gallons per day.