Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-05

tbs FLooDs.-The Baltimore Sun of to-day
sums up the disasters by the foods in the West
as follows:
The rain fall in the Ohio and Mississippi val.
legs during the past three weeks seems to have
been heavy almost beyond precedent 1t is es.
timsted that in the lower valley of the Ohio and
the area drained By its tributaries the rainfall
for the month Of July was greater than that of
the entire year in 1878. The same rains have
prevailed throughout the Mississippi and the
Missouri river regions as far north as line from
chicago to Sioux City. AS consequence the
floods are out all over the districts indicated
and the damage already doneis beyond estimate,
while it is only too probable worse results still
may yet be reported
he destruction among the half harvested
grain In the central and southern portions of H.
llnois and Indiana is said to have been fearful
One account tells OF sorry sight ndeed-a
swollen river with its surface completely dotted
with wheat sheaves washed from the fields In
Indiana and Missouri the dismal spectacle of
crops carried of by the rivers has been seen.
In Southern Illinois the corn has been beaten
down and washed out of the hill by the storms
and the or suing overflow. In Ohio crops in the
held, still standing or IN the stack, have been
badly injured, and in many cases swept away
The loss In grain must be immense, and the
waste, coming at this season of the year. ire
parable. Accounts from the lower Mississippi,
reporting the passage Of these great foods to.
ward the Cult are looked for with anxiety.
Inc damage By the atorms to the railroads in
west Virginia, Southern Ohio, Indiana and
LIMOS has been very serious. The Ps:kers
burg branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio road
was considerably damaged BY high Water, sew
era bridges were carried away, and the track
IN the heavy cuts obstructed by slips and the
washing OF entertainments A large force of la
borers are at work night and uay repairing
damages, and tonight travel will be resumed
lrrSttOQ Tho
and Marietta road also suffered to some extent.
The Ohio and Mississippi, the Vandalis and the
Indianapolis and St Louis roads, being all the
roads leading from Cincinnati to St. Louis, have
been compelled to suspend running their trains
On account OF the unprecedented rise in the Wa
bash, White and other rivers, and the destruc.
ton of bridges and culyers. The Wabash is re-
ported to be from three TO FIVE miles wide a,
some places Travel being cut OF by these lines,
the only route open yesterday between Cincin-
nsl and st. Louis was by way of Chicago re-
curing travellers TO travel 59U miles, occupying
tWenty-tour hours TO make the trip while the
average distance by the usual routes is about
ooO miles, which Is accomplished in Is hours.
Inc telegraph has also suffered largely, and
unl! the waters subside, so the telegraph can be
repaired, it will be difficult to ascertain the ex-
tent of the damage. The storm has been prob
soly more oestrucuve IN Its aggregate results
than any which has ever visited the West
An old Point letter of the 3lst says: Yes
terday afternoon, as the schooner Tom vii
liams Was loading on three ten-inch guns to be
transported to West Point, New York, the
crane broke, letting one Of them, weighing
over eleven tons, fall distance of ten feet into
the vessels hold. 1t struck on the kelson,
crushing 1t very muchsand injuriDg the vessel
TO the extent OF some FIVE or six hundred dol
lars.