New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-07
FLOODS RECEDE IN OREGON.
THE DANGER OVER TO BUILDINGS,
wHARvES AND BRIDGES AT. PORTLAND.
RAILROAD COMMUNICATION RECOVERED -
DAMAGE DONE BY LANDSLIDES IN
NOI-NTNNS.
THE MOU NTAINS.


THE MOUNTAINS.
PortIand. Orc Feb. 6.-The water apparently
reached il, highest this afternoon 1t was sun up 10
a mans waist in front Of the Pacific Postal Ieiegraph
Office. The water IS the highest known since l7'o'
but far it has been confined to compaFauVcH
small district and has occasoned serious damage
Last night it was twenty eight feet above mghWaUr
mark and extended four squares back from the river
front 10 Thl st. The flood has been caused by the stimuli
taneous rising OF the willamette and Columbia RIVERS
which are usually at the high stage several months
apart The main food has been in the Willamette
but the unusual Of water In the Columbia pre-
vented The former river running or it usually does.
More serious damage has been OccaSiOned through
out the willamette Valley than here. Bridges were
carried away at salem and oregon City, and many
small houses built near the river washed away
Communication with these points is uncertain and the
full extent Of the damage is a matter OF conjecture.
A large part # the territory flooded in Portland Is
low ground not occupied by buildings, but in the
business street, submerged. where the lower stories
Of q number ~ blocks are flooded the sub>ldence Ot
the water may reveal un,u'pcctcd damage to the
structure. because Of the strong current The great
ct danger apprhcnGcd IS that ono or both OF tho
bridges crossing the willamette River, wooden strut
urcs. may be- carried away 10y the high water ana
drftvood The isolation Of Portland from the East for
the la-t three day, wa, not caused By floods, but by
land Slide, along the Columbia River, obstmctlng the
tracks and destroying pole, and wires on the oregon
hallway and Navigation Compauys lines.
At noon a rope was stretched across the loot OF
Mor-sou-,t preventing any walking upon Inc
npproaclc, to the bridge. Early ti, morning another
building from Powers furniture factory was swept
down the current and lodged against the wc'tchd
piers OF the bridge. soon aitcr|1id lot OF frame
work came along and lodged on the top OF 1t. Inc
pres sure Wa, tremendous. The factory budIng with
an its contcut, crowded under the timbcrs and threat
ttiar -
H. IN the man In charge of the steel bridge suddenly
cred out t. all hand, to get of il. His warning was
preceded by two short clicking sounds The throhS'
numbering hundreds. immediately dispersed. Inc
east end oi thc draw had lost Its
bearings and the rollers had slipped
out of place. The water rosc TO such height that
the centre cal,,on could not be seen and a slight
rise would carry the water Up to the horizontal works
Drnwood stood In larec quantities col. cung about
TIC contra, pier and tho machinery Of the dra" was
completely blocked. HIsc trees. With their limbs ana
root, protrudius high iu the air. passed under the
bridge AID wc,, broken lihc 80 many pipe sicna
Most of the docA, safe enough even for a hlHicr
re. lI.t SOME of them are somewhat ehahy. The
.h.p, In the har1or are an securely moorcd and moth
nc except too great collection Of Grfi~ood' could
break them loose.
Late tls afternoon TIE river fell perccpiibly' and
an fear, ~ .ce.uus local damage from Tie hFd j.
u,.l The w..,r reached the highest point twenty
n n.bf fcct four inches al O'Clock tai, morning sIh'e
u..9 Il la, fallen fur inches 600 the channel Tho
lf-e- u.~, NOT harIcd ard there i, NO evidence 81
al,v -o-Ya, damage 10 buildings. Tie goods ia u'
-.,r, un thc lower street, were all removed beyond
tic r,a,h Il damage. Ih" only loss h the business
district VIII Dee from t,c presence OF the water on inc
ground n11r- 90 tac building, which VIII Dee uIhhS.
Report, from point. thc Willamette River indicate
i.,t the river j, falling rapidly. Detailed reports Of
trc faa.i., above VIII rc -lov 10 come IN, on account
,f flo .rtcrrtrIlou to Geographic cpmuui!' alton.