Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-13
FLOODS IN THE SoM1H-WssT.
Water Higher Than 10 HAS Iieen
for 30 Years.

FLOODS IN THE NORKH- WEST.
Water Higher Than 10 HRs Been
for 30 Years.
PORTLAND, ORE, Feb. 6.-This morn
ing the river at this point ia at stand
still aud il ia hoped that no further rise
will occur. At Corvallis and Oregon
City the river is reported falling at the
rate of one inch per houg. Tho water in
the city OF Portland 10 the highest known
since 1876, but so far it has been confined
to comparatively small district and
although causing much inconvenience
has occasioned no serious damage,
Tho water last night WAS IS feet above
high water mark and extended four
sG5Eces back from the river front 10 Third
street. The flood has been caused by the
Simultaneous rising Of the Willamette
Gnd Columbia rivers, which are usueiiy
al the high stpge several months apart.
The main food has boon in the Wills
mette, but the usual stage Of water in the
Columbia prevented the former riverrun-
ming OF a. it usually does. More serious
damage has BEEN accustomed throughout
the Willamette valley than here. Bridges
were carried away at Salem and Oregon
City and many small houses hatlt near
the river washed away. Communication
with these points is very uncertain, and
the full extent OF the domage is matter
OF conjecture.
a largo part of the territory flooded in
Portland il IoI ground not occupied by
buildings baE in tho business streetg sub.
merged, whore the lower stories Of .
number OF blocks are flooded the subsi-
| fey,nn nF tlIa urpfap Y,,p.- rnynnl
pec;ed damage TO the structures as Il
strong current Is sunniug. rhe sre1taqt
| danger unprecedented il tdat opn or both
Of the bridges crossing the Willamette
river-woodsn straetursH-mGy be oar
ried away By the high water aud DRIFT
4 wood. Should this happen IL is feared
that the steal railroad bridge be-
| low would 90 out, rs tho gtago O. the
water is too high 20 permit of any DRIFT
passing under d. aside from thoBe con
| tingencies tue real damage 10 tbs oity
will DO triiiing.
The isolation Of Portland FROM thocnst
for the past three days was not GnUsnt by
foods but by lnudsliaes along tue %
lumbiR rivsr obeirucung the trscFa md
destroying polss aud Eirss or the Ore
gon RailWAy and aayisation OompanY's
limos. No trains have run out Of hare
except to 'raauma. Iha only ether travel
Inns been b. !ha Columbia river.
TGE FL7oD Ar TACOMA.
TACOMA WASH, Feb G.--Tha Villa
mette Iirer ID higher than for ~ yeass
past. Many bridges ss3 threatened AID
tiers bas haen gsaai damage done in the
entire valley. INs revenue cattar,
kicharl Rush Win the northarD meil
frla Son Francisco was unGbls 10 csCss
the Columbia river bar; came back %
yReomn md LAS taLoa the matl4 back 10
San Francisco.
PORTLAND, ONE, Feb. 6.-rha food IL
this city cane with uaeXu6rted rapiiIty.
Up 10 noon yesterday the inuaGGticn or
Front street war from midway between
Morrison aud Alder down 70 y sttest Un
Sacord street tn water reAched from
Washington a0wn 10 A street. However.
. M pi4es excspting in few isolated
sp1ta was its depth beyond fD6t.
All the stores ia First street in The
flooded district have theif paiishabls
goods ra4sed few inches above the
floors The to pofGturs is exceedingly
mild. F,oDl Morrison TO A street not /
ainala first floor in Front street il fret
rom the food. The street ia full o
@ater from Yam Hill 20 tho general Office
Of TIE Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pauy.
The Morrison street bridge and the
stesl bridge continue TO be the Rll-absorb
ing points OF interest. At noon rop
WAS stre chcd acyoRs tho foot OF MorriAol
street preventing any one walking uYoi
the approaches.
Early this morning another bdildinl
from POwtra' iuFniture factory was swe p
down the current and lodged against tn
west end y era Of the bridge. Soon afte
q lot OF framework cana along anC
loGgsd or the top of it. The p15asut
was Tremendous. The factory huiidinj
with all contents crowded under tue tim
bers end threatened 10 lift tlR structure
off iss piers.
At ll.25 the mnn in charge OF the stee
bridge suddenly cried out for all hand
to get OF it. Ills warning was preceda,
by two short clicking sounds. III
throng, numbering hundreds, immt ii
, at ~ dispersed. Tie east end o lii
draw hsd lost its bearings aud the roilsf
, had slipped out Of plsre. The water la
!, rison TO scch height that the cent?
, caiasona cannot be eeen and very aligh
, rise viii carry the water up 10 the Lurj
, zontal works.
Dfittwsod in large qusntitias hEa col
lsetad about the central pier and tho ma
, , chiuery OF the new draw 10 completed!
, blocked.
, EuEo trees with their limbs ana root
q protru ling high N the cir, pass unlo
/ the bridge ana are broken ike 10 lran,
pipe stems.
About O'clock this morning war,
. honss cAmo floating down the river Rn
/. rassed under both bridges. The roo
hsd been taken on hlld plies Of treigl
!, Ing expuged. The warehouse was Rbor
4 800 feet long and IL guppos9d to nav
come fr0m Oregon Cify.
/ iatps ia tie day barn FLIED with ha
/ came floating down.
Msa: Of the doess are safe enough eve
for higher rise, Lut Roma of them al
J. GomaahHt ahakg.
II Tie sAips 10 the hsrboF Hra all seoursl
Q mootea, ahd nothing except too great
o collection Of 6ri,twaoi can breax thci
!. Loose. The Pacific FoFtal Coupon
i GeaErcG eastern wires this morning. br
I could not ger any news from this sout
o further than Corvallis.
AsmIkSD, OGs, Fab. 7.--The extent
! tie dNrIsga BY lie late ra.as 10 h
Z Oreroa and California railroad bgtwel
= hora aud R0seburs l50 miles north
y her cEnnot b6 os.iinst q sVo1 approS
! meteiy but is very heavy. Tao t4iiEaa
!. from Grants Pasa to Roseuburg il r
otted Gao continuation Of slidGs. III
!, etrGams uil ever Southern Oregon arr 1
y ported ga hi;rh il not higher thnn IN lSG