New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-21
HIGH WATERS IN THE WEST.

THE RIVERS BURSTING BOUNDS.
CHICAGO PARTIALLY suBMERGRD-GREAT DAMAGE
AT ELsN, STERLING, ROCKFORD AND OTHER
POINTS
CHICAGO, April 2O.-The Des PLANES River
(which flows southwark about IL miles west Of this city,
has been greatly sweed by the sudden meeting OF snow
and ce and has been pouring It's broad stream into the
canal and oyerfowng Its banks. As o result the canal
yesterday burst its BARRIERS making break nifty feet
wide, which IL likely TO become much larger and the
country along Archer and Blue IslandAves Is under
water In places the depth Of two feet The In
convenience is great and the apprehension OF future
damage widespread. The actual loss far is confined
TO flooding OF easements and lower floors OF houses
and the floating OF of certain light outdoor property
The Union Iron and Steel Min win be stopped by the
water and boom Ia being rgged upon the west forks
TO protect II and the lumberyards At Hverside and
Lyons suburbs OF this city, boats used TO get from
the houses 10 the depo and s impossible 70 get about
by ordinary methods.
At Juliet the food has broken In the Barbed
Wire Fence Manufacturing Company's barrier, and
compelled the erection OF dykes and dams as measure
OF precauton against untold damage. The Des PLANES
high now, and the excitement occasioned
by rapid and continued rise Is hourly the increase
McCoricks reaper factory OF the points in South
town where suspension OF labor may be necessary II
the food continues.
The water in the southwestern part OF the city still
ls47 the highest point ever reached The only addi'
tional damage reported IL the hoodinR OF Grimm &
Donnelley's icchouse, on the canal bank at Willow
sPrngs -. ,.,-. -, ..,ou. ,... .,o ,.u,oo,
track four ieet under war and ra the ns Sr, an S
dundee badly damaged. The aggregate damage
ssy to II The ESa Se sre tRe
OF the Elgn Hydraulic Company dam and race,banks
$4,000; and the Chicago Milwaukee and ST. Paul
Railroad bridge, 10000 ,,,,..,.
Wisconsin state that Is higher than ever before and Is
causing immense amount OF damage AT sterling, Ill,
ing For the past twenty -four hours the large manufac
turing interests Of Rock Falls Ill., nearly opposite ster-
S RaSs ofe6 Of mn snye Seen WORKING
and vigorously to protect the bukhsads and and TheeTay
would be enormous. The lower part OF Sterling
andy hooded The Fair Grounds bunSrd. ars SUBJ Of
head Of cattle, Island with the water crowding
in on all sides The Chicago ana Sortnweserh m kaaoaa
and much OF the road is washed away. The track be-
ia no communication with the outside world except by
telegmph The river between sterling ana Erle mas
n the river continues to the destruction will be fear
full Thousands of perrons line the rivers banks watch
INK Hood which at times In waves three or four
At Fort Atkinson Wisconsin, all the lowlands near
the river arr flooded the ice comes down In huge
cakes. crushing bridges. dams and every obstacle III
it, path The IS within few inches OF the top OF
the piers Of the city bridge ana tue lee nae nreas
moved the bridge over foot on iis foundation and
broken two stringers. The Chicago and NORTHEASTERN
Railroad bridge IL considerably damaged, and has been
pronounced dangerous To travel At Rockford all the
buildings on Loomi. Montague, Wall, Morgan and
/ knowltcr-sts flooded.
Some people have been forced 10 Nv, the water being
foot deep their houses In other houses the water Is
nearly high The water Is twenty-five Inches hlgner
than high mark Of 1877. The river IA two miles
wide at several places north and south, and many farm
es have large cd ot winter wheat submerged TO the
depth of five feet, while the meadows are equally Hooded
| been damaged to the extent OF 100000.
Al Hcoit there has been s6ine damage and grea
oDpr.heusion but the worst seems to be- over In h'
newspaper offices the hands work In water loot deep
Ldier-The river ut the Ashland Avenue bridge r"r'
! two and a half inches during the day ana the nOOt
sprrad considerably IN The southwestern part OF the cy
The food cNt,nded from Lincolnst. To the nyer Ne
tanc of over TWO iler and from Thirtythird5t t0 h'
river u distance ~ over mile tn" canal II "hchl-
IT. break and the food l. now rushing In atoieht int
! the canal about three miles east Of summit