Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-05-13
FLOODS IN THE WEST.
SEVERAL ILLINOIS TOWNS mum.
DATED.


On Sunday the Illinois. Texas, Kaukakee
and Ncrmlhon rivers were from 20 to -
feet above low water mark. while their cur
rents averaged fully IL miles per hour. This
immense mass of water does not include
one-tenth Of the terrific fall OF rain pre-
cipitatCd upon this area.
The danger from food save along the
Illinois river from Marscilcs to Peoria, is
past; but the damage to residences. factories
and farms in all the cities and townships in
the Illinois and adjoining valleys is so great
that 1t will never be accurately quoted, aud
| beautiful residences in the pretty cities and
villages of the valley are surrounded by
deserts OF mud and water.
Splendid farms In every town Of La Sale,
Bureau Peoria, VIII, Kendall Grundy and
all the counties OF the valleys were turned
into great ponds by the iioCd, and rs the
| earth was already filled with water to the
rock these farms will remain submerged for
perhaps n week Between 200 and COCO
acres Of land along the river banks which,
when the rivers arc normal, produce great
! crops, are also under many feet OF water,
and the prospects Of farmers along the
J rivers and for miles in all directions are
| most discouraging.
All along the Illinois river the factories
are hOpelessly inundated, and as the river
| had fallen but l. inches in 60 hours the
| IIpSItIl vi HNiIllllS ID NlN'bui ht
| Pioneer works, the electric light and street
| railway the rolling mills, the Labastic glass
works, the window glass works. and other
| fine industries are paralyZed. They may
not start for a week, and the great Labastie
| glass works cannot get in shape until after
| that.
Marseilles is safe, the water having de-
creased past the danger point. Utica is
still in deplorablC condition, and the i'm.
| ,F
| damaged to the extent OF crippliug them fol
weeks, for they still under water. As
these works are the principal industry Of the
| village, the citizens are discouraged, and all
era OF hard times is upon them.
La Sale and Peru are in more desperate
| condition than Mt any other time, for, whilC
the water is slightly lower at Ottawa, 1t had
risen at an alarming rate at those points, ant
the factories, water works, electric light and
gas plant, street railways and hundreds Of
fine residences are flooded so badly that de
spar has seized the people. The great vol.
ume Of water in the river struck the lowe
river towns, and at PeEin the situation Il
frightful. Every branch OF business Is sus
pended, and the people took their good
from their houses In boats and on RATS. TIVE
lives are reported lost, and the damage to
property is incalculable.
BY the breaking Of the Egyptian leve'
which skirts the Dcs Moines river, Alexan
dria, Mo, was flooded. The recent rail-
caused heavy rise in that turbulent stream
and despite all efforts to save it, the water
broke through and, rushing across tn,
wheat fields and meadows, did incalculab
damage. Reaching Alexandria, the town
was soon flooded, and people were driver
from their homes.
The st. Joseph river has reached dan
gerous height, and is doing great damage II
Indiana. Factories using water power arr
all idle, most of them being three feet unde
Bend was swept away.