unless something is done to prevent the overflows of which you speak?  —­A.  The lands that are now liable to overflow are almost entirely abandoned.

     Q. To how large an extent are they now abandoned? 
     —­A.  Taking in the whole of Mississippi Valley proper, from
     Memphis down.

Q. Has there been any computation or reasonable estimate that you know of the value of those lands affected by the overflow?  —­A.  I have never heard of it; but I will say that those lands which are liable to overflow now, if brought into cultivation, are just as valuable as any we are cultivating; probably more so, because they have the alluvial deposits upon them.  There is a deposit there from 3 to 4 inches.

     Q. You have no idea of the extent of those lands? 
     —­A.  I cannot give you the proportion.  I will simply say it
     is a very large proportion.

Q. A third, or a half, or a quarter?  —­A.  More than a half.  I saw it estimated some time ago, at least I will give it as a statement published in the Planters’ Journal, published in Vicksburgh, that there are thirteen counties on the Mississippi River which, if all cleared up and put into cultivation, are capable of producing the entire cotton crop of the United States, and I have heard the question discussed.

     Q. What prevents their being cleared up and put into
     cultivation? 
     —­A.  Simply the overflow.

Q. Have they ever been cleared as yet?  —­A.  A great portion of them; and now destroyed because the levee system is not complete.  On these lands all the negro labor which is not found profitable on the poorer lands in the older States, could be made extremely profitable, not only to the proprietors of the lands, but to the laborers themselves.

Q. Do you think it would be within limit to say that one half of the alluvial plantation lands, such as you have described in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is now practically destroyed by reason of this overflow occasioned by the destruction of the levee system?  —­A.  Yes, sir.

     Q. At least one half? 
     —­A.  At least one half of that which has been in
     cultivation, and which can be brought into cultivation.

Q. Of that which is thus useless now, what portion has been formerly under cultivation?  —­A.  It would be impossible for any one to form an estimate, because it is so varied.

Q. The amount of land that has been improved and which is now destroyed by reason of the overflow, you cannot state?  —­A.  I cannot state it accurately; I will state it approximately; I should say at least one third.

Q. One third of the entire amount that has been improved is now destroyed by reason of the overflow, resulting from imperfections in the levee system?  —­A.  Yes, sir; that is what I mean to say.

     Q. And of that which has not been improved but might be
     improved, how much? 
     —­A.  At least half.