Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-12
SUFFERING CHARLESTON.
Floods Present, Past and Prospsc.
tivs---Kanawha's Water Shed.
Logs and Lumber Galore Rated Down the
Little Streams. Affording Lum-
bermen Great Loss.
s0oc.,, cOrrs,Dondeuos Of he Rsgiatsr.

Social Correspondence Of the RegiSte.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, April l0.-Whst
a world of water has surrounded this little
old town for over q week. Water, water,
everywhere and scarcely q bit fit to drink.
Kanswba and Elk rivers have held more
water between their narrow banks within
the past few days than for ONE years past.
The food has been the slL.sbsorbing sub
iect. Daring Monday. Tuesday and We'd
nesdsy little or no business was transacted
and a goodly portion Of the business pub
lie hung about the river bank discussing
the situation. Early Tuesday morning
people in the lower districts commenced
moving ont, and those who had SO far got
ten their submerged premises into
an inhsbitable state, after the food
of last week, were compelled to
seek other quart ers. Many have per
mspently abandoned their homes, having
secured temporary quarters in halls, stores
and other unoccupied buildings. The
homes OF many who resided along Elk and
in North Charleston will not be fit for oc'
cupsncy tor months, many having become
thoroughly water.soaked. Continued rain
caused the river to rise so rapidly 8 Sec
ond time that in numberless instances the
water never had an opportunity to leave
the premises.
Owing TO the lack of telegeaphic COM
muuicstiop, either on Gauley, Elk, Green
brier or even New rivers above Hinton, in
formation as to the volume of water to be
expected at Charleston Was rather meagre
and conflicting, and gave rise to great fear
on the part of the people. On the other
hand the same lack OF Information intro
duced the ~populace to q flood when
least expected. 1t was these conditions
which gave rise to q panic Tuesday
Nearly every available vehicle was employ,
ed IN moving families from the Inundated
districts. Quarters OF any sort were freely
accepted so long as they we're high and
dry, and from present indications the oc
cupants will not abandon them for SOM
dsys.
The coal famine was not the least incon
venience which attended the flood. Fol
some cause the coal dealers permitted
their supply to become almost exhausted
and when replenishipg time came the water
was too high to bring it to the wharf
Coal could hardly be bought at any price
though some did manage TO get it at one
half oyer the usual price. Qosl-more dir
than fuel-sold at twelve cents per bushel
and purchasers glad to get it.
THE~sUFFERERs.
A practical method looking to the relle
Of the food sufferers was Inaugural
ted Tuesday at O public meet
ing held at City Hall. Committees were
appointed for each ward to solicit funds
cio,hiug and foo1, and sub committees to
| distribute same. Col. Swami, Capt Nc
Wncrter, Capt. John s Blrdett and Coun'
cilmen Payne and McCorkle we're among
The committeeman, and have done excel
lent work in procuring supplies and funds,
Gov Wilson headed the contribution list
with 81, J. n. Hoffman. the lumbermsn,
so; K I. 0ney, $2j; Capt. Burdett, $50
aud many others dousted literally. The
suif-rers Aocked to City Hall ana received
their ratiops. The writer noticed one col.
oyed fellow Juggling of q sack o fprovisions,
aud before he had gone far, a chum me-
him and ruug ou': Hello Bill I'm
comm up 10 stay with you for two weeks.
The following letter was sent 10 Mayor
Huling by Col. Thos. Il Sharp, GsDeral
Manager OF the X & 0. railroad tod ~.
CHARLESTON, W. Va April 7, 1886.
Hon. Jas. II. HutiHH Mayor city o.
Charleston.
DEAR SIR:-I am directed by Mr.. Erwin
Davis, chairman, and Mr. John w.. Simp,
con, counsel OF the b~ondhclders' committee,
which purchased the Ohio Central railroad
OF the recent sale, to distribute 100 tons Of
coal as q donation TO the poor OF this city
who have been driven from their homes by
the recent tlcods.
On and after II noon Thursday, April
8, any persan presenting to Mr.. D.. b.
OrossIey, at tbs railway station, Charleston,
an order signed By you or any person desig.
Dated by you, will receive any specified
portion Of the 100 tors
Yours very respectfully.
THOs. K SHARP, Genl Mgr.
This was certainly a magnificent offer on
the part of the railroad company.
CONDITIONS WHICH BRING ABOUT FLoODs
Kanswha drains a large territory. Prob.
ably fifteen or sixteen counties ia our own
State, as we'll as as many more in Virginia
and North Carolina, comprise the great
watershed OF the Ksnswha. Even Elk
drains great portions OF Kanawha, Boone,
Clay, Braxton, Webster, Nicholas and Pc.
cahontas counties. When the rainfall
throughout this great section of country is
heavy and continuous a food ia inevitable.
TIE extent of the same depends up
on certain conditions. If the
rain or thRw ia general throughout the
watershed, and the Ohio river at Pr.
Pleasant ia high, a flood OF i'm mense pro.
portions at Charleston is inevitable. The
backwster from the Ohio keeps the Ks-
nawhs from running out, and therefore
the volume of water accumulstes above.
In '6l when Charleston was visited by a
memorable flood, the rains had not been
as general as during the recent food, but
the Ohio was at IN unusual stage, thus the
big water here. Turing last week, it is
said by the older people, We had more wa.
ter than in 81, but the Ohio was only at q
moderate stage. While the Ohio was up
during this week, the rainfall throughout
the watershed was not as heavy "a last
week. From the failure OF conditions and
circumstances which sometimes do occur,
NOT ottgn in q lifetime, Charleston escaped
from a succession Of disastrous foods.
THE LUNBER lSTEREsrs.
Although the immense rise proved q
disaster to many, it was q God send to the
log and lumber men, especially along the
KanAwhs. For three years such a sa,is.
lumber rise has not occurred in
Elk. Since the tresbet the Elk River
Boom Co. hsye caught upwards Of $4,000
logs Of all varieties, mostly poplar. Many
Of the logs have been cut for three years.
Besides the logs in the boom probably 90
900 came down in rats, to say nothing
Of the cross-ties and sawed lumber.
This being in the neighborhood of 5000.
300. The lumber interests are really of