The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-06
FLOODS FOLLOW SNOW.
Warm Weather and Heavy Rains
Causing High Water in Oregon
and Washington,
Portland Reported Under Water
and About Cut OF from Out
side Communication.
Great Damage in the Country Districts
The Union Pacific ulockcd Again, but
Northern Routcs All Right.

CmcAGo, Feb. 5.-FOr several days the
city of Portland and other points in Ore
gou have been practically cut Oh from tel
ographic communication. From telegram
received this afternoon by tho Postal tele-
graph company at Montreal, from c. H..
llosmer, of the Canadian Pacific, forwarded
by him to the Associated Press, IL would
seem that Portland is.in danger from Hood
The message is as follows; The water
now flooding First street is three feet deep;
all traffic in the streets is suspended and
the only means of communication is by 4
small boat. The Pacific Postal telegraph
Office is covered with water. The river is
still rising"
The situation at Portland is undoubtedly
due 10 the rapid rise of the Willamette
river 10 flows into the Columbia just
below Portland. For nearly month past
the hills and mountains of Oregon through
which the river flows have been piled with
continually falling snow, the drifts in
some places being fifteen 20 twenty feet
high. During the past few days, however,
warm winds have melted this and the Will
lamette river has become a torrent. On the
Northern Pacific between Noxen and Trout
Creek there have been several serious slides
since Saturday and telegraph lines have
also been interrupted.
SAN FRAScIsco. Feb. IA dispatch from
Jacksonville, Ore, says a phenomenal rain
storm has prevailed in southern Oregon
since Friday, which in connection with the
melting SHOWS in the mountains has caused
the greatest flood known since the country
was settled. The damage TO southern Ore
gOn cannot be estimated, MS communication
is SO uncertain and limited that only sur
misses can he made of the ravagts of the
water. Many small ranches have been
badly damaged if not ruined, miles of fem
eng swept away, much of the fin, 81,
soil IN the lower Wiley wished
down TO gravel and bed
rock and the spectacle Of fields flooded,
roads washed out. bridges and culyerts de-
molshed Is common. The fertile Bear
Creek region has not escaped the visitation.
The heart of the valley presented the ap-
pearance of n turbid sea for days, and COM
munication between its many towns Is al
most suspended by the swollen fooihill
strpl ns. Bear creek itself has borne along
great deal VI wreckage. besides fences,
outbuildings and even barns and houses.
and rUught much destruction in under
mining and sluicing of the deep alluvium
that composes its banks.
In the Applegate region there are a few
bridges left. Many people were Obliged to
leave their homes for safety. Great dam
age was done mining interests by the burst
ing of dams and reservoirs. breaking and
filling of bitches, and the loss of llume boxes
and machinery. The Oregon 4 California
railroad track IN southern Oregon hns been
swept away for miles Wnd the roadbed
seriously damaged along the whole line
l lllre has not been u mail from either tho
north or south for several weeks. and no es-
innate can be made of the loss 10 the county
in bridges and private property. Hundreds
Of ihousands of dollars viii moi cover II.