The first disastrous floods came in 1858 and 1859, breaking many of the levees, the destruction of which was practically completed by the floods of 1865 and 1869.

There is an annual rise in the stream, but since 1874 this river system has fourteen times devastated large areas of this section with destructive floods.

The property in this district depreciated in value to the extent of about 400 millions in ten years.

Farmers from this section, therefore, have at times moved west with foreigners to take up public lands.
The other disturbing factor in this situation was the boll weevil, an interloper from Mexico in 1892.

The boll weevil is an insect about one fourth of an inch in length, varying from one eighth to one third of an inch with a breadth of about one third of the length.