The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-07
THE WATER SUBSID|NG
The Floods at Portland Reported to
be at a Standstill, and the
Danger Over,
The Damage in the Country Dis
tricts Much Greater Than
in the City.


PORTLAND, Ore, Feb s.--rho water Ii ap
parentlv at standstIll this afternoon. but
is still up to the waist in front Of the Postal
Telegraph Office. The water reached the
highest point, twenty-eight feet four inches.
at O'Clock this morning. Since then IL has
fallen four inches in the channel This is
the highest water in the history of the city.
The water falls slowly in the streets and ia
not percepiibly lower, but is running
through the streets with less rapid cur
rent and is free from heavy driftwood in
the channel. The bridgosare believed to be-
safe, and there is no evidence OF any serions
damage 20 buildings. The only loss in the
business district would he from the presence
of water on the ground floors OF the build
ings which will he tritling
Reports from points on the Willamette
river indicate the river il falling very rap
idly. Detailed reports of the damage above
will be slow To como in on account of tho
interruption of Geographic communication.
The most serious loss will be the destruc.
tion of bridges which seem To- have been
swept awny everywhere. The largest towns
in the valley are well above high water, and
only small and unimportant buildings have
been carried away.
fhe interruption OF travel still continues,
hut the Oregon Railroad a Navigation COM
pany has established steamer service
lo Cascade locks, above which trains
are running. Between Cascade locks
SION of andslidcs, entirely obliterntinc
trick in some places. The southern Pacific
sent out n trilin on "A branch line west Of
there. bnt got no further than McMinnvillc,
iifty miles from here. No trains have been
sent out on the main line. The Northern
Pacific il running to Incomn and carrying
the mails. II II expected the railroad block
AIDE at Cascade Locks will continue some
DAYS, and that between here and Snn Frnu-
cisco for weeks, as the track and roadway
has been entirely DESTROYED n considctahie
distance. Meugre adyices from Ashland
sny the southern Pacific railroad bridge
across the lmpQun river hns bccn washed
out, aud IN Cow Creek canyon the
railroad track has been virtually
wiped out. Many smaller railroad
bridges between here and Ashland Ate
wished away aud the company does not NJ
tempt Ia send out amy trains
| Dii the west side ot he willamette river
trains are running as far M MoMinnville.
The Onion Pncitic Is blockaded by heavy
slides between this city and The Dalles. and
no trains nre expected 90 he running for
several days. The Northern Pacific is still
running.
AZ Salem sixty houses hhve been swept
away and many persons driven from their
homes. though ~ far M known no lives
have been lost. Along the river bottoms
considerable stock live has been 2 iWned AM
large quantities of grain aud hay destroyed.
Tho damage IN tins cny VIII not bc ~
great Hs NJ first anticipated. The docks
and whnryes, while submerged have all
stood the strain OF the current und now the
winter il decreasing. II il thonght the dan
ger il over he Columbia river NJ VIM
co1yer is falling. AZ Eugene, Oru., the
large wagon bridge nenr Springfield went
over to-day; also n part of the bridge
near that city, causlnp n loss of about
! $1,000 A few small buildings aud large
amount of cord wood. fencing aud other
materials were washed away. and the ag-
grcgnte losses will foot up many thousand
dollars. Az Roseburg, Oregon, no trains
/ have arrived since Friday. aud shortage
/ in provisions Is feared unless cummunca-
/ tion is restored. The bridge across Green
creek. and the woolon mills have been
totally destroyed by lhe Hood.