A FRUITLESS HOPE THAT HIGH WATERS WILL GO AND STAY GONE

The Mississippi River, its tributaries and Mother Nature, after a summer of caprice and destruction throughout the Midwest, can't seem to loosen their considerable grip. At just the moment when waters were receding at a steady, optimistic pace and flood-weary Missourians were breathing sighs of relief, early autumn rains have washed through the middle portion of the country and bloated the waterways once again. Without betraying too much of the hospitality this area takes pride in, we would be pleased if the high waters would go and stay gone.

The Missouri General Assembly, meeting in special session to construct a relief plan for putting the state right after the waters go down, passed some necessary legislation but recognized the need not to adjourn too quickly in light of the new round of rains. Ironically, as the lawmakers were trying to wrap up their business in as efficient a manner as possible, the Missouri River was again on the rise at the base of the Capitol grounds and crews were again at work trying to limit the damage. Thankfully, leaders in Jefferson City put together a creative relief package that draws on new bonding authority, deferral of tax payments for flood victims, provision of state-backed flood insurance for certain businesses and use, appropriately, of the state Rainy Day Fund. The appropriations bill totaled $44 million and was achieved -- hallelujah! -- without requiring a tax increase.

Along the Missouri and Mississippi lowlands, though, scenes from the near past were playing themselves out again. Sandbags were going back in place in some locales. In Cape Girardeau, where the river has been at flood stage or above 179 of 271 days this year, the floodgates downtown are slammed shut and some streets are again closed to traffic. In East Cape Girardeau, where seepwater is the problem (unable to escape into the river until it drops), highway officials are continuing their fight to keep major roads open.

And none of this takes into account the damage already done. A report last week indicated that crop losses in Missouri stand at $248 million as a result of the summer's flooding. According to University of Missouri economists, about 1.5 million acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum were lost to high waters. That's just agriculture; total damage in Missouri is estimated at about $4 billion.

The recent rains make for an untidy ending to the story of the Flood of '93, a natural disaster that long ago wore out its welcome. It is the climatic equivalent of the guy who stays too long at a party, finally leaves to the relief of hosts, then comes back to retrieve his hat. The initial presence was bad enough; the encore is especially tiresome. Like the legislature, the relief agencies and, especially, the residents and business owners suffering from the high water, we remain at the mercy of this devastating and persistent natural occurrence. We add our hopes to those of others this will soon end, though all hopes hold equal (i.e, limited) influence with the forces at work.