The record-union., 1891-02-22
FLOODS IN ARIZONA.
MUCH DAMAGE DONE AT TEMPE
AND PHOENIX.
The Poorer Classes Suffer From Loss
of Houses and Personal
Property.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

special to the RECoRD-UNION.
SAN Francisco, Feb. ola Chronicle
special from Tempe, AriZ., says: Salt
River Valley has just been visited by the
greatest flood on record. The storm so
general over the country also swept over
Arizona with deluge of rain, raising the
mountain streams to torrents and the
rivers to far above flood levels. Thurs
day morning early Salt River had risen
seventeen feet above the ordinary level
at point twenty-eight miles above
Phoenix.
At Tempe, on the south side of the
river, the railroad bridge was swept en-
tlrely away, cutting off communication
with Phoenix. A little south of Phoenix
the river left the channel and overfiowed
number Of farms, cutting out the rail-
road track. Many farm buildings built
of adobe crumbled away and other frame
structures floated off.
The northern edge of this flood, which
was about mile wide, and three feet
deep, entered the City of Phoenix, flood
ing ont many of the poorer families. The
Territorial Insane Asylum had a narrow
escape, the water being banked off. The
electrical works We're flooded and the
| town left in darkness. About hundred
| adobe houses fell in as soon as the water
soaked, and large amount of personal
| property was thus lost. The water did
not penetrate to the business part of
town, which is on high land.
! Measures for relief of the needy have
| been taken. The churches and public
| buildings have been thrown open to the
shelterless, and a subscription started for
| their benefit, but many families are still
without protection.
The river began to fall Friday after
noon, and has nearly reached its normal
point. The loss is not less than SI25, 600,
| of which one-third falls TO the railroad
company. About five miles OF track
was washed out and bridge destroyed.
They will be at once replaced.
The first boat crossed the river to
Tempe this morning, and the ferry will
soon be running. A telegraph wire is
now being stretched across the river and
Will be working tomorrow.
The damage to canals in the valleys is
not great and they will soon be working
again.
Five Pima Indians living near Lehi,
twenty miles east of Phoenix, are the only
ones known to be drowned, though it is
believed white man and his family liv-
ing on an island north of Phoenix also
perished.
Much damage is feared on the Gils
| River, as Salt, Aqua Fria and Hassa-
yampa Rivers all empty into it, and all
are very high. ella Valley is surely
flooded.
4 Acting on the suggestion of Governor
Irwin, the Legislature appointed COM
nnittee in each house to take action for
the relief of the. destitute.
HIGH WATER AT YUMA.
/ YUMA, Feb. 2l.-The weather is
stormy. Twenty miles of track east OF
Yuma is under water. The Colorado and
ella Rivers are rapidly rising at Yuma
There is danger of disastrous inunda-
! ton.
| FLOOD AT HoLBRooK.
HoLBRooK (Ariz.), Feb. 2l.-A disas-
trious flood is prevailing here. The Lit
tie Colorado is very high, overlooking its
banks in places and changing its channel
| The railroad is washed out in several
places, causing the tracks to be moved,
and trains are delayed.
All the streams south of here are un-
fordable. The stages are unable to make
their trips, and mails are accumulating
| here for points south. Gila River Is
higher than ever known to be.
| at San Carlos the telegraph line is in
the river, and communication cut OF
from the south.
! A flood at Globe City destroyed several
dwelling houses. William Middleton, an
old and respected resident of Globe City,
was drowned in Pinal Creek, which flows
through the town.