The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-02-07
FLOOD DAMAGE In OREGON.
Portland Suffers Little, but other Towns Lose
Observation-Disclosures DISTRACTED.

PORTLAND. Ore, Feb. 6.-The river is
falling slowly to-day. and all fears of seri-
Gus local damage from the food are past.
The water reached the highest points,
feet 4 inches-at 6 o'clock this morning.
Since then it has fallen four inches in the
channel This is the highest water in the
history of the city. The bridges are be-
lieved to be safe, and there is no evidence
of any serious damage to buildings. The
goods in the stores on the lower streets
were all removed beyond the reach of dam
age. The only loss in the business district
will be from the presence Of water on the
ground floors of the buildings. which will
be trifling. Reports from points on
the Willamette river indicate that
the rivir is falling very rapidly.
Detailed reports of the damage above will
be slow to come in, on account of the inter-
ruption to telegraphIc communication.
The most serious loss will be- from the
destruction of bridges. which seem to have
been swept away everywhere. The largest
towns In the valley are well above high
water, and only the small and unimportant
buildings have been carried away.
Interruption To travel still continues. but
the Oregon Railway q Navigation Com
pany has established steamer service to
the Cascade locks, above which trains are
Iuuuluk. ttWct OdSCdQ6 locks dnC mere
there Is q succession of landslides. obliter-
ating the track in some places. The
Southern Pacific sent out a train on
the branch line, west of here, but
it got no further than Meanwhile, fifty
miles from here. No trains have been
sent out on the main line. The Northern
Pacific is running to Tacoma and is carry
ing the mails. The Eastern mails accum-
ulated at Cascade Locks are expected to
reach here by steamer tonight. Advices
&c.. A-11.-I eA&n 41ck Al SN---- n
cific railroad bridge across the Umpquia
river has been washed out. and in Cow
creek n the tracks have been wiped
out, many more smaller railroad bridges
between here and Ashland lave been
washed away and the company, does not
attempt to send out trains. The Union
Pacific is blockaded by heavy slides be-
tween this city and The Dalles. and no
trains are expected to he running for sew
eral days.
At Salem about sixty houses have been
swept away and many persons were driven
from their homes. though, so far as learned,
no lives have been lost. Along the river
bottoms considerable live stock has been
drowned and large quantities of grain and
hay destroyed.
At Eugene, Ore, a large wagon-bridge,
near Springfield, went out Monday, also q
part of the bridge near that city. caus-
ing a loss of about $4,000. A few
small buildings and large amounts
OF wood. fencing and other material
were washed away. and the aggregate loss
will foot up to many thousand dollars. At
Roseburg, Ore. no trains have arrived
since Friday, and a shortage of provisions
is feared unless communication is restored.
The bridge across Breek creek has gone,
and ~wOoien-mills have been destroyed by
the flood.
The town of Wheatland has been almost
swept away. much stock drowned, and a
large amount of grain destroyed. Bridges
rave been carried away at Oregon City.
and many small houses built near the river
were washed away. Communication with
Salem and Oregon City is very uncertain,
and the full extent of the damage done at
those points is q matter of conjecture.