The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-01-09
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Another Flood in tie Falls-How to Pre-
vent q Recurrence-The Pratt Free
Library-OtherM Matters of
Interest.
BALTIMORE. January 9th. 1886,

Interest.
BALTIMORE, January 9th, 1886.
Messrs. Editors We had very heavy rain all
day Yesterday which continued-except at slight
intervals-until rather late in the evening. 1t
was succeeded by another food in Jones's Falls,
which overrun the streets several feet in lower
places, and filled many Stores cellars, &C., in Har-
rson, Frederick, Holiday and some other streets,
doing much damage. Some of the goods, how
ever, were removed with much trouble and ex-
pense to the owners. The water in the falls rose
quite high. 1t seems that the late Improvements,
high walls on either side, &C., have done very
little good, so far as to prevent overlooking. The
water backs up through sewers inserted at various
places to let the water of the city out. This ap-
peared to be necessity, so we are pretty much as
we we're before during freshets. People were ter
ribly alarmed yesterday and were at work most OF
the day and evening, in districts liable to Hood
ing, to save themselves and things in their cellars
stores and houses. Now the only thing that re-
ally can be done to obviate this overlooking or
damming back of the water during heavy rains
into the low streets will be to have large pipes or
sewers made nearly all along the falls from where
thew first begin to down to the basin, en-
tirely detached from the main body OF the falls,
and construct gates that can be closely shut down
during heavy rains or freshets and prevent back
water coming through these sewers into the streets
Let the independent sewer sewers outside the
walls of the falls be large enough to carry OIL all
the water and offa of the city without the neces-
sity during storms) of running it into the main
falls at all. This done the sewers connecting the
stream with the city could, for the time being, be
shut down and no means left for water to back up
from the falls when up to the point of danger or
overlooking. The main thing will be to have the
sewer along the outside of the falls large enough
to contain all the water or drainage of the city
or nearly so-during heavy rains. He who can
introduce such fixture, effectually, will gain
high credit and possibly make his fortune. 1t
seems to be within the range of possibility 1t is
clear that our city must do something better than
it vet has to obviate the danger, horror and ex-
| pense to which persons are subjected 1t should
be known and fully realized that water, obedient
to natural laws will seek its level where 1t has the
means of so doing if it be even as high or higher
than the tops OF the Andes or the Rocky noun
tains This, it seems to me, is the only thing that
can be done to prove effectual. 1t will never do
to be continued henceforward as we hitherto have
in constant dread and apprehension during heavy
storms. If some of our artists or engineers will
eliminate these ideas of "Nestor, setforth through
The UNION, and put them into practice, he will
feel much obliged.
The formal opening of the Enoch Pratt Free
Library took place yesterday at the Academy of
| Music. Notwithstanding the Indictment weather
it was largely attended by our best known and
most distinguished citizens. The remarks of Mr..
Pratt were BRIEF to the point and perfect model.
| Remarks by Mayor Hodges were full and highly
| interesting; SO also those of ex-Mayor Brown,
| Hon. ]. Morrison Harris, ex Mayor Latrobe, DIR.
| Steiner and some others. 1t was throughout a
splendid affair." never to be forgotten, neither it
| nor Mr.. Pratt, the donor Having known Mr..
| Pratt intimately for many years. L would be glad
to say more of this splendid affair, but l have
| neither time nor space. Thus far 1t has met with
enthusiastic encouragement and must SO continue.
| 4 ,1a,t MI ri.
| buttons of its kind.
Last Friday being New Years it was appropri-
atey observed and most beautiful regarding the
| weather have seen. Not Il cloud to be seen
| in the heavens snow. no ice and mild atmos-
| phere 1t was almost ike spring. have lived
| in Baltimore many years and never before saw SO
beautiful an anniversary. The people generally
had good time.
The Legislature of Maryland will meet in bien
NAL session to morrow, and be an assemblage OF
much attention. Chief among its duties will be
| to authorize the assembling of q Constitutional
convention to improve and reform the State Con
stituton, and also elect for six years U. 5. Sen
| ator to succeed Hon. A. P. German. Tho general
| impression is that Mr.. Gorman will again be
chosen to the high Office. The question of annex
| ing the Belt to Baltimore will again be brought
| forward this session and cause much discussion
| pro and con. As it is matter that must be had
| in time, it might as well be annexed now.
The State Farmers Convention takes place in
our city next week, in Pythan Hail. There viii
| be a large attendance and its proceedings highly
| interesting. Ex-Gov. Hamilton and others great
| " distinguished are to be present.
The Electric Light Convention, which assem-
bles in our city next month, promises to be especi
ally interesting and useful.
Some one has been writing to the Baltimore
Sun, complaining bitterly, and L think justly, O
| the Johns Hopkins Hospital structure designed
to do so much good to really poor and INDECENT
| persons, being so much neglected and kept bach
in its opening from the public, whilst big salarie
are given to professors and others out of the sam
fund.
Not much has yet been done to facilitate tn
views of Postmaster Veazey. He, however, live
in full hope. He has gotten something but no
enough. The midnight collection of letters, &c.
works charmingly.
1t is hoped the contemplated new arrangement
| regarding the Maryland Central Railroad will adj
greatly to its business and other facilities thong
| it now does well.
Persons are foolish to kill dogs which bite an.
one until they find out Enthusiastically whethe
they are actually rabd or mad The ANIMAL
ought to be confined until this fact is known
otherwise how will they know whether cured o
not, as the dog may not have been mad?
People complain much of business-almos
every kind-being unusually dull Just now an
prices rather downward. The fact of India, acros
the water coming formidably into competition
with our country in the growing of wheat, is rathe
discouraging to our farmers. However, it is al
most one of the necessities. Such is the course o
events These things can't be stopped. If on
thing fails with agriculturalists they will try an
other. So the world wags. NEsToR.
|