The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-02-25

Bridge connecting Washington with Virr
GINA soil rs for tho most part causeway
which has mado it a dam for the Potoma,
during the last few days. The warn
weather had flooded the river, and the ic,
gorge above and below Long Bridge ha,
helped to swell the volume until carIv thi,
morning when the ice began to break up
The swollen waters of the Potomac poured
etgaist the wall of masonry forming the
bridge across the Potomac, backing the
river around the point to where the Wash
ington Monument stands, and thence across
tho White House lot, filing up the lower
ground between Pennsylvania avenue and
=, south Washington, for the distance of q
h,iie and half
- seENNsyAyANLA, ADMINISTRATORS. :.
The result has been that all day long the
lower portion of the broad avenue from,
tenth street west to the Capitol gate has
literally been canal, in which row boats,
nat boats aud all kinds of small water craft
have been used to ferry people from their
dwellings, places of business, and to and
from some OF the smaller hotels located on
the south side of the avenue Fully one
halt Of this great business thoroughfare has
been submerged and is likely to be sub
merged for several days. AN day long
tho streets leading to the cvenue have
been thronged with pedestrians and vehi-
clcs.
VENICE IN WASHINGTON
Senators and Representatives crowded
the balcony in front of the Congressional
library, watching the wonderful scene wit.
messed from this favorable position. One
part OF Warrington had become a new We.
NICE Along the streets where the pave.
m'nts were known to be good horses were
driven, and in some localities it required an
effort more than fording q stream to get
safely across. The broad space covered by
the Botanical Garden at the foot of the
Capitol had become an artificial lake. The
site of the Baltimore and Potomac depot
was sourrounded with water, the food
causing all busn ess to be suspended. Street
cars that were driven for awhile were aban-
doned on the track. The great market
house was isolated by the flood, and even
the few dealers who attempted to open up
business on the open sidewalk were finally
compelled to abandon theirs temporary
quarters.
THEATRE CLOSED BY WATER
Think of theatre in the heart of Wash
ington closed because it was impossible to
get to it except in boats. And yet there
were members of Congress who had the
mcanness to say that this great damaging
overflow of the banks Of the Potomac was
q job got up by the advocates Of a large ap
preparation for the Mississippi River, for
whilo the Potomac was rising the House
was engaged in discussing the river and har-
Dor bill.
DAMAGE.
The damage caused by the food is at
present pure conjecture The government
will be heavy loser. The fish pond and
;all the apparatus used by the Smithsonian
Institute has been destroyed and the carp
sc,ttcred to destruction. The basement Of
thc main bu;idins occupied by the census
bureau is flied with water, though most of
the papers aud records stored there were 70.
anoVed tn anticipation Of just what has
happened. The steam fro engines worked
all day trying to keep down tho deluge in
this building, but gave it up aftor hours of
service as bad Job, it being discovered that
1t was practically throwing water over q rail
fence.
BROKEN BRIDGES.
The principal loss to the government will
be the damage done to the bridges oat of
the city. The frame work of the Long
Bridge at,the draw having been swept away
railroad communication aud postal counec.
tions South will be delayed for some time
on this account Tonight the only means
of communication with Alexandria is via
Aqueduct Bridge, above Georgetown, by
couriers, who have to take the summit Road
on the Virginia side to reach that place, and
from thence there is telegraphic and rail
communication.
1t would seem almost incredible to those
acquainted with the topography Of Wash
ington that the scenes described are real,
aad the damage dono here and in George.
town will aggregate hundreds of thous--
ands of dollars. The sight of the un6n-
ishcd monument on little island, the wa
ters almost laving its very base, was one oi
the attactions from the south front Of the
treasury building, from which position 4
strong boy could easily have thrown ston,
into the water.