The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-18

the city But on this subject there are wide diff
ferences of opinion.
The Chamber of Commerce has already ap
pointed a committee to investigate and report on
that subject. They have encountered vigorous
protests from Covington and Newport, who say
1--WE will enjoin you through the United States
courts if you undertake a remedy by filling
which would heap the floods upon us" An archi-
tectural protection has been suggested, which in
wolves the building of the lower stories of mass
i've stone and using cement mortar, The idea OF
abandoning the bottoms does not for moment
enter the head of any man, and it is not believed
that the value of the property there will be de
preciated. There is no doubt that business that
cannot stand water will. move up higher, and
that buildings hereafter put in exposed places
will be constructed with reference to great floods.
Architects say that they have been consulted by
a great many men for plans for business houses
on Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and even Seventh
street. Longworth street and George street
also talked of as suitable places for business
in both of which the tendency TO rise for bust
ness has already set in
Lessons from the last flood have been learned
not exclusively in the cities The villages and
towns outside of Cincinnati are already applying
the knowledge they acquired Here is a commu
nieation reporting a meeting held to-day at
California, ruined village at the mouth of the
Little Miami, which illustrates the busness-like
manner in which people go about distributing
relief funds furnished them:
At meeting of the citizens of California, O.,
held this day the following named persons were
elected committee to assess the damages sus-
tanned by the residents along the Ohio river,
from the Miami to the mouth of Four-mile creek,
and to recommend to HenryJ. Disque, chairman
of the California relief committee, what proper
ton of any financial aid that may be received
shall be paid to Individual sufferers taking into
.,3,,,, v. only the extent of their loss,
but their ability to staY. u; hVooeTt BAKER heHry
Faherkamp, Charles H. Scott, y Sg!atso atson Parker ParKer
and George Thompson. The committee appt.El9. 10
agenerous public in behalf of the sufferers who
for the second time within one year have been
driven from their homes. careful estimate
shows the losses sustained by the citizens of this
district to houses barns, crops, etc. to be not
less than $4,000. Our losses last year were
nearly, if not quite as heavy, and while we were
then provided with an abundance of provisions
and some have been this year, we need a very
small sum of money to help replace the wrecked
houses, etc. Many of our working and farm
people had not recovered from their heavy losses
of last year when the present flood came upon
us. For more than a week past over 100 houses
have been entirely demolished or carried away
and score of others damaged to such an extent
that they cannot be inhabited until they are re
paired No less than fifty families will be home
less until their houses can be repaired rebuilt
Those people whose houses have been utterly
destroyed or carried away the least able to
help themselves. and it is for them especially,
that the committee appeals for assistance. Some
of our farmers whose farms were rented land
have lost their crops two years in succession; in
fact, nine-tenths of our people have suffered so
severely that many are in deep despair, not
knowing how they can provide for their families
after the flood subsidies and repair their homes.
feT dollars given to each of those who can
not afford their losses will go a great way to-
ward helping them repair their homes, replace
slsef ETC., and the committee assures the public
that not one dollar will be spent until it has
thoroughly examined the loss and circumstances
OF every individual loser who asks help. and re
ports the same to Henry j. Disque chairman of
the relief committee, who will take a receipt
from every such person helped, and render
statement to this committee and the public
WATSON PARKER Chairman.
CHAs. H SCOTT,
Secretary of Appraisement Committee.
The above is given, with all the names, as an
example of the pluck and business spirit of men
in village of four hundred inhabitants, which
has been almost annihilated by the flood Re
member, this business was transacted in the
second story of house, which was reached by
a boat and entered through window, and amid
a scene in which most of the village was out of
sight. Similar methods will no doubt be adopt
ed by all the villages along the river, but bust
ness men who have seen this pronounce it a
model. The secretary brought the report down
here himself in a skiff riding over housetops in
Pendleton and Columbia. He was a journalist
once upon time, and knows how it is himself
A Decline of Six Feet.