The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-17
MORE WATER.
The River Still Rising at
Upper Points.
Effects of the Flood in this
Locality.


The rain fall which has been continuous
in this immediate vicinity for the past forty
eight hours, has been quite general to the
Mississippi valley. This fact, in connec-
ton with the swollen condition of the
smaller streerls tributary to the Mississippi
renders the future anything but bright as,d
promising. so far as the anticipated freshet
is concerned. The river is already higher
at this point than has ever been known.
save one exception, the June rise of 1881,
and is still more remarkable from the fact
that it occurs thus late in the season, when
low water is the general rule.
THE RISE
Within the past twentyfour hours the
river has risen four inches making the pres
ent water stage sixteen feet and six inches
above low water mark and less than two
feet of the stage made memorable during
the freshet of 1890. It is still on the rise
and with the advises which are received
from points above it becomes difficult to
predict what will be the ultimate result, as
the information is to the effect that the
river is booming and constantly increasing
in volume by reason of the rainfall and
swollen tributaries.
= LOCAL OVERFLOW.
The farms, both above and below this
city, located in the low lands are covered
lies, live stock and few household goods
are being removed to adjacent high ground.
The loss can not of course be estimated
but will of necessity prove very great.
The river roads leading from this city to
the upper and lower portions of the county
are inundated, and bid fair to place an
embargo on trade in the agricultural dis
tricts.- This will result in great disadvan-
tage to grocery and provision stores, and
will also entail considerable loss to the
farmers. In case Rock river suffers any
additional overflow the city of Rock Is
land will be totally shut off from the rest
of the county. The river extends over
vast territory on either side of its natural
channel, and it is stated that at places it is
over twelve miles wide, especially where
low lands adjoin it and the bluffs are dis
tant from the stream.
THE CITY,
Rock Island is slowly beginning to feel
the Inconvenience incident to general
flood. The cellars in the lower part of the
city are filing up, and in some places three
feet of water cover the cellar floor. The
sewers are filed with surface water, and in
some instances overflow and fill the adjoin-
ing property. This is the case with the
10th street sewer, as it is now overlooking
and flooding all the low ground in the i'm
mediate vicinity. A portion of 10Th street,
near Sd avenue, is under water, and the
lower part of Union park is inundated,
In the lower part of the city the flood is
more pronounced, as all the property south
under water, and the water is slowly
making its way towards Seventh street.
The slough is becoming filed to an alarm
ing extent, and families residing in that
district are making preparations to move at
once.
THE EMBANKMENT
continues firm although it is feared that it
cannot long withstand, the effect of the
rain and the soaking produced by the high
water caving the banks.
A meeting of the street and alley COM
mittee was called this morning to take &C
ton looking to the strengthening of that
protection. The meeting attracted Mayor
Carse Alderman Warnock and Asst. Supt.
Sudlow, of the r. I. d P. 1t was decided
to place sand bags along the embankment
during the day and to take such other steps
to prevent break as the emergency of
the case might demand. The embankment
is now partrolled by number of men day
and night and every precaution will be Ia
ken to prevent any serious inundation from
the breaking of that protection.
RAILROADS.
The trains on the c. M s. ST. P. are
still abandoned and there will be no effort
made to send out a train until the water
abates. The G. B. & O. report the water
very high on their track between
this city and Port Byron junction. The
officials Claim that they can stand small
rise, but in case the rise exceeds q foot
their trains viii also be abandoned. On
the Sterling branch the same report is made
as to the high water and unless there is
decided increase they will run trains as
usual
The r. I. & P. and the Mercer county
have so far been able to run their regular
trains, but in case any accident should hap
pen to the embankment which supports
their track and at the same time protects
the slough, they would be obliged to stop
their trains. as
The c., r. /. 81 P. has experienced little
or no trouble from high water and there is
every reason to suppose that the water viii
not interfere with their road bed.
REPORTS.
MIR butcher, of the Chicago, Milwaukee
6 st. Paul railway, reports that the river
raised seven inches last night at Dubuque
Captain Lamont, of the Diamond 10
line, reports that their boats run through
a five foot rise above Dubuque. The Chip
pewa has rised fifteen feet.