Then came the great flood of 1927. which excited more popular interest than any other flood in the lower valley. It was scores of miles in width and hundreds of miles in length. The records show that $200.000.000 of property was destroyed. over a hundred lives were lost. and 700.000 people placed in refugee camps. not only for days. not only for weeks. but for months. The national conscience was aroused. and the then President--Coolidgecalled into requisition his Army Engineers and the Mississippi River Commission. -He sent down into the valley Herbert Hoover. then Secretary of Commerce. and himself a great engineer. They studied this question for almost a year.