River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-09-18
WRECKED BY THE FLOODS.
The Causes and Effects Of the Inundation at
Fan Claire Fairly Con-
sidered.
No Business Firms Are Seriously Affected by
the Disaster-Additional List
of Losses.
Relief Work at Home and Abroad Drowning
Of Mr.. David Cover Of saltwater
Minor Mishaps.
Causes and Enects OF dine wood.

From the st Paul Pioneer Press, Sept Is.
Eau Claire is recovering from the disnay
which overwhelmed her last week; and her
people on looking over the situation, find
that their loss, great as it is, is not irretriev
able, and are taking heart of grace to repair
the damage done by the flood 1t taught
them some Iessons-dearly, it is true; but the
cost of which will be well covered If they are
needed. Mr. f. p. Putnam, cashier of the
Chippewa Valley bank, interested in many
large commercial establishments in the city,
says to-day, the reason of the great damage
is that the people made the mistake of build
ing ON low ground next to the river. They
might have gone to the bluff to build just as
we'll and escaped the disaster. If the city
had spent one-tenth of the money in making
streets on the bluff that 1t has in fixing roads
near the river, the population would have
stretched farther back.
What will be the permanent effect of the
flood on the interests of the city2" was asked.
"A good one We have learned lessons as to
where and how to build bridges and how to
make foundations. Private citizens have not
paid so much attention they ought to the
eitys public affairs and as result these numer-
Gus low and fiimsy bridges have been built and
swept away. They will probably now take hold
and advise the council to see to it that bridges
shall 20 fewer. higher, and of better construc-
ton, and the people encouraged to build farther
away from the river. One good result of the
freshet Is that It has demonstrated the strength
of the dam and reservoir of Dells Improvement
company, of which we feel very proud. 1t has
been shown that they can hold all the logs that
come down, the only place on the river where
thay can be held, in fact, since the Chippewa
Falls dam fell ont This will give lumbermen
and manufacturers confidence in the eligibility
of Eau Claire location for their business"
LOSSES TO LUMBERMEN,
while they are heavy are pretty evenly distrib-
uted and none of them are crippled, as am in
a position to know, for our bank carries num-
Der of them. 1t is the same way with the gen.
eral business of the city While there is no in
surance ON damages, the loss in almost every case
is not total, and the stability Of the houses will
not be affected"
DO you expect much suffering among the
poor this winter on account of the calamity?
No. The present necessities of those made
houseless are being provided for The repairs
which the food makes necessary will furnish
work for everybody. The mills, too. will start
up in a couple Of weeks"
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
Speaking of the cause of the disaster, Mr.
Putnam said:
understand that the men In charge of the
dams up the river were not at their posts when
the flood came, and neglected to open the gates,
so the water, instead of being let out easily and
gently, was penned up until 1t burst the bounds
and came down destructive Hood. If this
charge is true, it shows very serious derelictfon
on their part.