Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-05
THE SWELLING FLOODS.
The GRAND RIVER OVERLOOKING.
Many Easements Flooded and Consid-
srable Damage Dons-Merchznts
Compelled 10 Remove Goods.

High water IN January-and 81 last tns re-
collections Of the oldest inhabitant must
give way 10 an event of the present. All
day yesterday IL was told about town ''ths
river Is fising," and from early Ia the morn
ing until late IN the evening the bridges
were occupied with an anxious, curious
crowd, all asking questions and comparing
the water-mark with that Of the great food
ia So which is still fresh ia the memories Of
the residents of this city. The river was
noticed 10 DO unusually high on Saturday,
bat the weather being cold no alarm was felt
until yesterday morning, when the ice began
to jam and form barrier to the current.
The jam commences just above the dam,
and extends down within eight miles of
Grand Haven. IL is tightly wedged in
between the banks of the stream
and the quantity was increased by
additions from up the river which kept NOV
ing down all day long. Mayor Belknap was
out early and the river received his uncsas-
ing attention until he was forced TO retire
early in the evening completely tired out,
but leaving instructions that he be awakened
at midnight and informed what had oc-
Cured during his retirement from the scene.
He drove 10 the l.. s. Il M. s. Railroad
bridge Just before dinner and found the ice
TO be clogged about the bridge to depth of
eight feet. 1t had overfowed the lowlands
in that vicinity and there was no perceptible
movement from that point down the stream.
From the observations made there was
every evidence TO indicate that there was
possibility of great damage being done, and
every conceivable precaution was at once
utilized 10 avert il. The booms along the
river were frightened with guy ropes, and
every article in the way Of lumber, wood,
etc, close to the water, was moved to place
of safety. The Mayor had several loads of
stone placed in the frame building
near the guard gates on the
West Side as precaution against its being
swept away. The residents of the Seventh
ward, good many of whom two years ago
were driven out of their homes and forced to
the second story or the roof, by the high
water early saw the shadow of possible re-
currence of the event and began to make
preparations to move out in case the water
TELEGRAM traversed that ward pretty
thoroughly, particularly the scene of the last
flood, between and o'clock last evening but
saw nothing To indicate any occasion for
alarm, though the absence of any water
there can, no doubt, in some degree be at
tributed to the frozen condition of the earth.
The bridges, not withstanding the pressure
of ice. were all safe, though some apprehension
is felt for the Swing" bridge down the
river, and the c. Il w. NJ. bridge The lat
ter was reported at 10 o'clock as having
given away about four inches. The G. r. Il
|. bridge stands about four feet above the
ice, and as the abutments and piers are very
solid and strong, no fears are entertained
for its safety, while Pearl street bridge,
though 1t may be weakened some, will un-
dOubtedly be standing when the ice goes
down. The Easements on the west side of
Canal street all contained from to II
inches of water at the time of the reporters
last tour. Merchants were busy during the
afternoon and evening IN getting their
goods up in the stores or
on the sidewalks. The damage has not been
mach above the expense of removing them.
The rise in the river was entirely unexpected
at this time of the year, and though the
damage SO far is slight there is no telling but
that there may yet be serious loss of prop
erty as there is no indication Mt the time of
this writing that the rise has reached its
limit, though it fell several times during
the night, but only to recover again. by
some unseen pressure. Citizens are thor
oughly on the alert and no means will be
spared to prevent damage and loss.
DRIFr-woOD.
Over three hundred bushels of potatoes in
the Jail cellar were deluged.
The cellars of the Strahan block, corner of
West Fulton and Mt. Vernon streets, are
flooded.
At 2:30 o'clock this morning the water in
the river was still rising at the rate of an
inch an hour.
The Crescent mill employees were kept busy
for time removing barrels of -four stored
ia basement rooms.
One or two artists were ION the spot"
early yesterday afternoon taking pictures of
the ace Jam from different points.
All the barber-shop fixtures and Office
furniture in the several basement depart
ments 10 Sweets Hotei roasted high.
Many property owners, whose cellars are
flooded, apprehend damage to foundation
walls and consequent injury to buildings.
At O'Clock this morning the wat or
bursted mp the floor in the basement of
Houseman. May 4 CO. : store. but most of
their goods had been secured previously.
just at dusk boy crept quietly down the
banks near Pearl street bridge and captured
two ducks apparently asleep in a small ice
cove.
Nelson. Matter h Co. had a force OF men
engaged in removing quantity of furni-
ture stored in the basement under the sales
room.
The basement Of Powers Opera house
building was flooded with about two inches
Of water. The occupants. however, rescued
the contents high and dry.
Some of the police officers found they
would have ~ wear stills. "a well "a high top
rubber boots, 20 make their rounds on the
waterfront beats last night.
The dodgers in The police station slept up-
stsirs IN the cells last night. The depart
ment was not disposed 20 include baths with
lodgings without extra charge.