Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-08
FLOODS OF THE PAST.
Tho Present Seuson sut n Recur-
renee of conditions THAT Prevail
Every StXry Yeara.


Editor of the Gdztitr: In looking over
some old diaries OF Calico Kirk / came
across an account of some OF the prominent
floods OF the Brandywine. In August, 1853,
there WAS very high flond, but on Sep.
TENDER Sd, 1775, occurred the highest nood
then known to the oldest inhabitant.
August 5th, 1875, the food was two feet
higher than the food OF August Sd, 1915,
and on the 18th Of August, seven days after,
there was another iood about equal to the
lone OF 1875. In 1865 another very high
| flood, equal to the one oil ITS, occurred and
| was very destructive. In February, 1872,
the ground was frozen hard and the creek
covered with lea, when u heavy, cold rain
set in on Sunday, the l7th, the creek
raised and the ice went cut on Monday.
II began raining and then showing, and
the ground was covered with heavy coat OF
snow. On the Both it cleared OF aud the
sun, came out warm and melted the snow
/ until 1t run down the hills In torrents into
the creek and raised the food about 10 feet
above the common level. Thedamage was
then considered terrible. A record OF the
estimated damage will show that all tue
bridges foe some miles up were carried
away. Among them were Wistar's, 10
Chester County, Smiths 10 Delaware, aud
the chain bridge at the Brandywipe mills.
None OF them we're very costly structures,
but very mandy at that time.
The estimated loss was as follows
Smiths bridge and mill. $500; Kinks mill
and bridge, Sl,50D; Young'e, opposite
Kinks, $1,000; duPonts, both sides oil
creek, 5000; Gordon's factory, 5000; Nc
Lane q Oarter's, $3.50; Siddell's at slmms'
Vile, 81 900; Gilpin's paper mills, $4,000
Jones' snuff mill, 33l0; Bringhurst's fac
tory, Rockburn, $2O0; Old Barley Mill
$500; Brandywine mill and chain bridge
800.
Since that time the most destructive floot
ever known took place on the 29.h OF Jan
uary, 1889. 1t was a heavy ice Hood. 4
deep snow was melted by a heavy all da,
rain and raised the creek higher than l
had ever been known TO be betore. IN
water and Ice came down and brough
everything that was loose, sweeping ava!
all the bridges except tho new or hiel
bridge and the p, W. & B. r. II. bridge
: Giipin's paper mill and Jones' snuff mil
were ruined. AT other places along IN
creek the destruction was terrible and til
loss was great.
Since that time there have been some YER
heavy floods, both winter and summer, o
Saturday, August 81, 1913. very hiR
Hood with ons days rain, supposed to hAv
been cloud burst or a water spout. cause
much damage on Chester creek, but tn
lower Brandywine WAS only partly affected
: In October, 1863, there was flood abor
equal to the present che. But 1t did YER
LITTLE damage. Many .opls are thinRin
very seriously Of the continual rains mo-
prevailing, but by observations have take
fini thai these unusually rainy season
n come about every 80 years. Tho years l76
1928 and the present year, 1889, all hay
. been very wet Seasons. The cycles OF II
sun occur every % years and the cycles I
the moon every 10 years, and why not 4
! cycles OF rainy season every 81 years! wi
. some OF our scleltic men please answel
a A q. BR1NToS,
q WILMINGTON, August 81, 1859.