Evening journal., 1889-07-31
CONTINUOUS RAIN FALL.
HEAVY RAINS YESTERDAY AND THIS
MORNING.


the Streets and Sewers, But No Damage
Has Yet Been Reported.
It began to rain last evening and con-
tinued with few intermissicns until IL
o'clock this morning The rain fell in
torrents and filled the cutters and streets
and sidewalks with water From
8 o'clock last evening until s.
o'clock this morning 1.60 inches
rain fell in this city. From 8 o'clock
this morning until the cessation of the
rain about one half an inch fell Yester-
terday, II fell and on Saturday last 81,
making total of 2.e2 inches.
The Sewers and drains Of the city were
taxed to their utmost, but no breaks
have been reported. The sewers are
holding their own, much to the gratifica-
tion of the Street and Sewer Department.
The only sewer from which any
trouble was likely TO come is the
Shipley run sever, which starts near the
reservoir at Tenth and Broome streets
and runs by circuitous route down and
across Maryland avenue. through
the marshes into the Chris.
tiana. 1t drains all the
properties between Washington and
8roome streets which throw an immense
volume Of water into IT, No trouble from
this sewer has been reported.
Many of the streets were small canals
and the crossings were covered with
water. On Market street from Tenth to
the Christiana the water was not con
fined to the cutters. 1t ran down the
street car tracks making them slippery.
The excavations for paving and laying
street car tracks were filled with water
and the work will be prolonged by
the water. The water in the street had
clear passage down to the river. On the
left side it was yellow, on the right side
of the street the water was Of a dirty
brown color. The walking was very bad.
At Fifth street the underground gut
ter could not carry the water, conse
quently the water ran on top. At Fourth
street the branch railway tracks threw
the water on the pavement. The other
streets on the west side running parallel
with Market were covered and few pedes
trians were out. The surface water filled
Front street and barely missed flooding
the dwellings and stores.
On the east side the residents fareC
well. Those on Poplar street were in i'm
minent danger of being flooded during
the heavy rain fall. A great man,
streets throw the surface water dowl
Poplar and it WAS filled from curb to curb
resembling a small river. It was wors
at the lower end. Below FoIrth stree
! the water came up ON the sidewalk
, within few inches Of the houses. Nc
cellars were flooded, however. At From
, street the water entered the drains oi
each side OF the street. and passed ou
! into the Christians river.
! Large quantities Of water Horwed dow
} Fourth street, but without damage.
Fourth and Spruce streets the street ca
tracks were covered. In the heavieE
/ rain this morning one Of the down carr
t loaded with passenger jumped the trac
/. at the turn. Nearly everyone Q
S board had a market basket, but all hs
! to get of while the car was pulled on til
I track. The passengers were soake
s The driver of a car on the siding refuse
e to unhitch his horses and help pull Il
car on so that its passengers could ke'
inside.
On East Eleventh street buildin
operations blocked the cutters and ii
n water oyerfowed the side walk at Kirh
wood street. Beyond Eleventh sire
: bridge water covered the paw
: ment in many places. At I'll
railway turntable, Sixteenth and Cla
mont the streets were covered to q dept
q of several inches. The water from Val
dever avenue caused the foods. tt
water entered few cellars but cause
e little damage.
n Fortunately for manufacturers who
shops line the Brandywine and Chri
tiana, the water was 1t low tide whe
! the heavy rainfall began TO
y the banks of the streams, and the
was plenty Of room. The Brandywine
Z now rising. 1t was high water at O.
n O'Clock this afternoon, and the hesS
rains up country are swelling it to i
. highest point.
4 From Brandywine bridge the vie
partakes Of the picturesque as the watt
forms an almost unbroken torrent fro
3 beyond the first dam to Il
y bridge. Such a rain as that
last night and this morning in wint
. time, with the accumulation of thick ic
. would have created q freshet in Il
Brandywine that would have endanger,
Eleventh street and the P, w. & B. raj
road bridges The circumstances a
9 favorable to no damage, except possib
! the flooding Of the lower portion of Il
mills.
j, In the Christiana river the water
! low tide this morning was about up
It high water mark At the time of tn
writing no damage had been reported.
The heavy rains have as yet, caused l
! washout on the railroads that enter tn
> city, and trains are running without
lay.
WorkmeD have been engaged at Tent
J and Adams streets putting in inlets
7 throw the surface water in that vicinit
q into the Shipley run sewer. The heaV
rain has caused the street and curb
!. sink, and cave-in may be the result.