Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-06
THE SPRING FREsHET.
A Three Days. StOrm-MOderate Rise in
the Kennebec -Apprehensions.

think the octogenarians will tell you that their
record is not prolific with disasters by spring
freshets on this river. When trouble comes it is
most generally in mid-winter; then, when the old
river gets booty by taking little too much, she
rises and shakes herself, crash ensues, and
trouble begins. The apprehensions of disastrous
freshet this year have been founded upon the COM
pact mass Of ice formed In the river at its extra
ordinary low state, during the extreme Arctic
weather of the last winter.
A northeast rain storm begun here on Friday
noon, and closed on yesterday noon. The rain
fall was not severe except during the afternoon
and evening Of Sunday. On Monday noon it
cleared off quite cool, the wind still lingering at
the northeast. The river has risen six or seven
feet but it lacks several feet yet before getting to
to the altitude of respectabysized spring fresh
ct. The wind being at the northeast indicated
that the storm did not reach back very far or pow
erfully up among the lakes, in the vicinity Of
Moosehead, in the Sandy River valley, and the
other immense lava beds of spring floods. No
damage is reported as yet. The very fact that the
ice remains strong and compact may be the saliva
ton of the property on the river Should the
masses near the headwaters rise on the waters CT
flood sufficient to break them from their moor
ings, and send them crushing and whirlng below,
then there would be an item or two of interest to
publish. A little "side show might possibly take
place by the breaking up of the ice between this
place and Gardinerand crowding it down to Brown
island boom, the much dreaded barrier. But at
the present the old Kennebec is behaving itself
handsomely; celebrating in quiet way the lber-
alton from the bonds of slavery imposed by the
cruel and relentless winter it has license per-
haps to get little "high;" but let us hope that
the great body Of ice is yet to quietly dissolve un
der the influence Of an April sun and April show
ers. Our dispatches from down-river and else
where may throw additional light on the subject
The noon train from Bangor was half an hour
late, in consequence of a washout that took place
about mile this side Of Skowhegan, at the sum
nit" which prevented the train from that place
gong any farther, and necesstatng transfer Of
passengers another train that was sent up from
Wateryille. The damage by this washout was
quickly repaired, and by o'clock in the afternoon
trains were running again with regularity.
In the afternoon the weather cleared off, the
wind backing round into the northwest. Those
who went up to the kennebec dam report some
three feet of water running over that structure,
which is about one-haf the usual amount in our
ordinary spring freshets. Between the dam and
the kennebec bridge it was mostly open water in
the evening, with large cakes Of ice accommodating
below the bridge, grinding and pulverizing each
other into progmentary mass.
Above the dam the ice remained intact solid
and compact field.
-,
cotton factory.
As we go to press this morning we find the wa
ter has covered the wharves and nearly reached
the basement Of some Of the stores but the ice still
remains stationary.
How IT WAS LAST YEAR.
Last year the ice in the Kennebec commenced
breaking up about The Dist Of March, nearly all
along the line, below Augusta dam, but it remain
ed in the river, not taking its final departure un-
til the 30th 1t was broken up considerably be-
tween this city and IIallowel On the 2lst
the ice parted just above the Gardiner bridge and
went down two miles. There it hung until the
30th when it went out, clearing the river below.
On the Sd of April the ice broke up above the dam,
and came down, The first arrival at this port, was
on Saturday morning, April llth. The steamer
''Star of the East made her first trip up the river
on the Goth of April.
st. Marks Home.
The annual meeting Of the corporation of st.
Marks Home for Aged and INDECENT Women in
this city, was held yesterday afternoon. The
following officers were elected:
President-Samuel Upjohn.
Vice President-Allen Lambard.
Clerk-R. w. Black.
Treasurer-Samuel W. Lane.
The following Board of Lady Managers were
elected
Mrs Allen Lambard, Mrs Daniel Williams,
Mrs j. w. Bradbury, Mrs. X. d. Rice Mrs. Thos.
Lambard, Mrs. II. A. Dewitt, Mrs. Z. Rowse,
Mrs. James NJ. Whittemore, Mrs. J. W. North,
Mrs Chas W. Stafford Mrs. Benz. G.. Davis, Miss
II. NJ Stanley. Mrs VIM. 5. Badger, Mrs. A. ID.
Locke, Mrs. II H. Hill.
Samuel W. Lane Esq, Treasurer, made his
annual report
Total receipts for the past year, in
Guiding cash on hand at the
beginning OF year, Sl362.30
Expenditures for the year, l253.95
Leaving cash in the treasury. Sl0S.35
Average monthly expenditures l0S.l4
Average weekly 24.95
The board Of Lady Managers made their
port. They mention their regrets at the resigna-
ton of and removal from the State of one of their
number, Mrs. T. S. Lang also the resignation of
Mrs. Alexander Ransom, Matron since the incor-
poration of the Home. Her valuable services are
highly spoken Of. She has been succeeded by
Mrs. Rutherford. The family now consists of II
persons, eight of whom arc inmates. The health
of the inmates has been good. There have been
many and generous donations to the home on
which it is difficult to fix cash value. One item
alone, that of WOOD is contributed by Allen Lam
bard valued at 5000. The amount paid for board
by the inmates, covers q little more than half o.
the actual expenses of sustaining the home. The
Managers acknowledge from the Kennebec Jour-
nal the receipt of their Daily paper, besides the
publication ofthe monthly Acknowledgements; from
the Maine Farmer and the Maine Standard the re-
ceipt of their respective weekly editions; and
from DIR. II. H. Hill, valued services rendered gra-
tuitously during the year in cases Of sickness.
Personal.
Hon. Joseph Baker goes to IIoulton, by the
Pullman train this morning.
VIM. p. Whtehouse, Esq, left for Washington,
d. c., yesterday, on professional business.