New-York tribune., 1890-01-27
HEAVY FLOODS IN CALIFORNIA.
BRIDGES HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY AND RAIL
ROAD TRAFFIC HAS BEEN IMPEDED-THE
BLOCKADE on TIE UNION PA.
CIFIC RAISED.

San Francisco, Jan. 26-Jhe warm rains that
have fallen in Northern California for the last
few days have melted large amount of snow in
the Sierra Nevada and Sisl,iyou Mountains and
caused the streams and rivers TO overflow their
banks. The damage will not be great was
feared. The quick rise of the waters has washed
out many of the railroad bridges. filed the cuts
and caused landslides. and the railroad traffic on
all the lines in the northern portion of the State
will be impeded for several days. From num-
Der of flooded places came report that while the
individual loss will be great the overfiowine OF
fhe lands, by which several inches of rich sedi-
ment are left on the farms, will add greatly 10
their value. At the city of San Jose the water
is higher than ever before known.
At Santa Clara the principal thoroughfares are
covered with water for half mile The district
north and south of San Jose is flooded. Although
three lines of railroad operate between San Fran
cisco and San Jose, no trains were able 10 move
yesterday, owing TO the washouts at Santa Cruz.
This morning twenty feet of the approach 70 the
upper bridge across the San Lorenzo River gave
way, rendering the bridge impossible. At the
same hour 90 feet of the approach TO the railroad
bridge on the Southern Pacific, at the mouth OF
the river, fell in. The water reached the highest
point ever known, and overfiowed a portion OF the
city. The Western Union hnemen report that
the deepest is in the vicinity of IamaracR
Fer mon than a mile not a telegraph pole is in
view and IL was necessary 10 dig trench through
the more than twenty feet deep in order TO
free the wires. Provisions very scarce al Eml-
grant Gap, and if the road is not opened soon IL
will be necessary 10 bring up supplies on snow
shoes.
At Chico in the Sacramento Valley, the Sacra-
mento River is over its bank, and 1t IS noodlhs
the entire country lying near it. 1t is estimated
;o Iioba il
the last food. At Redding and at Red Bluh,
near the headwaters OF the Sacramento River The
water began 10 subsde yesterday. The water
stood from five TO six feet deep over 10000 acres
Of land in the Russian River Valley. From Gey-
serville 10 Healdsburg, distance Of eight miles,
it was a vast sea. Several sections Of Alexander
Valley Bridge, the largest bridge in the country,
have been swept away. The river spread over an
area OF five miles in width. Al point on Dry
Creek IL Joins the Russian River. Three miles
south OF Healdsburg it became a torrent flooding
the Dry Creek Valley for many miles.
Relief parties were out III boats all day yesleT-
day rescuing people from their homes. Inc
houses Of Joseph Fitch and j. {. kcanc near the
river bank. were swept away, the former breaking
10 pieces as il struck the railroad bridge, while
The latter a twO-stOry building, is lodged against
the railroad bridge. This morning near the cen
ire of the river a family was rescued from a build
ing. At Knights Ferry, on Stanlshus RIVER
forty miles south of Stockton, the people yester-
day began moving out OF their houses IN the lower
portion of the town.
The windstorm on the divide which blew
the Rio Grande and Santa Fe passenger tram
from the track at Monument late yesterday after
noon, has subsided. The wind was 50 strong
that the coaches We're lifted from the tracks,
carried ten or fifteen feet away and thrown upon
their sides. Several passengers were shgh'IY
bruised and cut with glass. but none were scrl-
ously hurt Considerable damage was done 10
many towns in the southern part Of the State,
the roofs Of houses being blown of, but up 10
the present time no has been reported hurt
tlpNpUuP
tain, near Colorado Springs, last evening. and
Threatened to burn the grove of Helen Hunt
Jackson, has been eXtingushed.
The snow blockade on the Central Pacific and
the California and Oregon railways still exists.
In general. the rain and storms in the north
pOrt<On OF California have CEASED, but
whether not the pleasant weather will last
until the blockade is raised cannot be foTc'od.
The warm rain that has fallen in northern parts
of the State is shifting southwark. but the storm
is much less violent. and the amount Of snow
meltcd on the mountains is therefore less Rain
has fallen in the San Joaquin Valley
but 50 far as now known little damage has re-
suited The rainfall in the nclehbOrhood of this
city the past two DAYS was 50 l9aoy heaNy '1at small
washouts are reported on all sides No trains
are running on the Southern Pacific Coast Road.
The three lines to Sacramento by way Of
Benecia, Martinez and Niles are cieScd No
trains are running from Vallejo 10 CalistOga and
Santa Rosa. on the Northern DlVlslon OF the
Southern Pacific trains are runnlng only as Tar
south as san Jose. Iht flaceIVlHe anu zone
Portland. ore. Jan. 26.-The blockade on the
Union Paclfc is again virtually IdIse" IN. c'1oC
bound trains started from La Uran2e Yesterday
afternoon A snow-plough VIII reach Baker ol'y
to-day, and four delayed trains VIII then start Tor
Portland, and expect 10 gel through on 'ime.
chinook" is blowing and the snow meithg rap
idly. Superintendent johnson says the Unlon
Pacific has no fear OF landsidcs or washOuts, alid
barring snowsdcs, no fear is felt OF further IN
terruptiOn the line
Owing 10 the wires being down there is no
news from the blockade on the southern racine
There have been some heavy snowslldes IN Clow
Creek Canon, and two bcntS OF the prldge do
Rosebnrg have been washed out
ColfaX, Cal, Jan. 26.-Ihe eastbound ovcrIahn
train which has been snowbound az Shany nun
since January Is was released yesterday ana
returned TO Sacramento. The consolidated east
bound overland trains which have been wing
at this place since the 10th also returned 10