Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-26
IS THERE DANGER AHEAD :,
The Proba bilities OF an Ice Freshet on tn
Kennebec The Thre atensd Danger.

Through the Journal, attention has been called
to the state Of river, to its liability to sudden
rise Of water in case of violent rains. The call is
highly proper and necessary. We have seen
numerous accounts Of freshets west Of US. In
various places bridges, villages, and much valu-
as il were and railroad communication suspended.
And the query arises, are safe or above dan
ger, even imminent danger, at the present mo,
ment? 1t is now almost the last OF March, and
though ordinarily, the ice goes out by the first or
middle Of April, yet this time, the average thick
ness of it is unprecedented. No such body OF ice
was ever known to be in the river at this season
of the year. Only in the channel does it float, it
is SO thick. The long drouth would cause us to
expect heavy rains soon especially as tire rainy
season is so near. What will be the consequences
arising from heavy floods 1t will be well for us
if nothing happens There are grave fears by
many whose ideas are worth entertaining, that we
shall be in danger, at least it will be we'll for us
to be on the "qui vive." One of the proprietors
of the new steamboat route told an acquaintance
few days ago, that one Of the principal reasons
their company did net build their steamer in the
Farmingdae ship yard, was the fear this year OF
a heavy freshet. There is not so much danger IN
Farmingdae, however above and below. The
great corporation boom at Bro WINS island, with its
5000 logs O.. Il ore, piled end ways and every
other way, and probably jammed clear to the bot
tom Of the river, bound by the island and immense
piers to the shore, and occupying three-fifths of
the river for over half mile, all frozen together
forms a gigantic "cheyaux de-frise," which will
present formidable, almost impossible, barrier to
the foes from above, where lies one of the largest
ice fields on the river. When that field moves,
where is it going to? There are three four
ways to answer that question. Either it will break
up and 60 down the gorge on the east side OF the
island, (Which is the safe way or, dam up across
the narrow channel, or, if the water rises high
enough, raise the submerged logs, either tear
away or overlcap the piers and precipitate itself
on to the knckerbockers piers, then on to the
Gardiner and Pittston bridge. If it dams up and
stops the "interval" opposite Loudon Hill will
be Immediately inundated, then Shepherds Point
with lis mills, and all tke lower part of Hallowell,
and so on to Augusta. If such gorge should
then burst, and ice, logs and everything be hurled
on to the bridge below, and the piers be strong
enough to hold the mass, then Gardiner and Pitts
ton would be apt TO be swept with the very ''be-
som of destruction"
member when the water stood in their streets, and
was rising at the rate of four feet in fifteen min
utes-when very few moments more would have
destroyed Water street and sweptthe Point. And
the Gardiner folks ought to know that very few
feet more of water would have carried Browns
island boom right into the best part of their city
And why may this not all happen again: 1t is no
fancy picture. We hope nothing of the kind will
occur We would offer no needless alarm. Per-
haps there will be no rain, and there is not much
snow, and foltnight's warm will melt the
whole thing out. In the meantime let US watch
and wait, but remember now is the time. The
east winds already whistling mischief, and ITO
be forewarned is to be forearmed.' H.