The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-25
THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.
Losses Not Near so Large as at
First Expected.
damage to Streets and Sewers Amounts to
Very Little-Many Streets Actually
Benefited by the Doluge Can be
Repaired for Less Than sa,OOo-The
Work of Cleaning up Goes. Braveiv
Forward-Roanoko is Almost Herself
Again.

The wealth er yesterday remained cloudv snd
gloomy, and q fine mist, interspersed with an
occasional shower, fell all day. but the work or
cleaning up and Strengthening out was in no wsv
aoated. AS stated in THE TINES yesterday thers
was at first, owing to the excitement and demon
aiization OF things, tendency to overestimate
losses. This statement proved perfectly truo.
Parties. who at first supposed that their losses
were very heavy found upon close examination
that they were in reality small. To illustrate.
The brunswick hotel and cafe supposed at nrst
that their losses were very heavy indeed, but
matter they had lost comparatively little Of tbrtr
fine champagne and brandies and $500 would
Cover cover, the H amount Of the damages. The Hobbie
Music Company ut first was thought to be a
heavy loser, hut after having experts 10 examine
the pianos It was ascertained that the water had
not penetrated the mechanism, and no damage
at all was done them. The only loss was on m,
Orgars, and this was very small
just as In these two instances so In most othera
1t Is true that In few instances the dams ee was
heavier than at fret supposed, but these are ex-
es Gee rare. The Roanoke Grocery and Mil
Ing Company probably lost $4,000 Instead OF
Sl,0OO and Lylc's drug store was probably a heay.
Ter loser than was at rst supposed. but these arc
derestimated. In arriving 1t the actual losses am
other factor must be taken into Consideration
aged, and ST the time that tho owners gave ont
ther losses they too often looked upon everything
Injured as lost. whereas the truth is that few ar.
tlcics arc appreciated beyond - per cent OF their
valve. - '
Everything considered, the damage is consid-
erably lcss than was supposed. and the pfobabiii-
ties arc that when everything is again placed in
order that 1t will be even less than It appears at
present. ~
The damage to streets and sewers. like that to
personal property, is also much s'than esti-
mated. II required no stretch OF the Imagination
70 come TO the conclusion that things were in a
bad condition when the city was filtered with
boxes, barrels, timbers; with the little street
bridges aDd the plank sidewalks washed out and
scattered over the city. But this damage was
rather rather apparcnt than real In fact, this catas.
stead of injuring 1t has actually benefited many
OF the streets.
On Campbell, Park and Jefferson etreets, tho
macauam Is Tor the first time visible and IL the
city Will incur but slight expense In repairing
and rcrollng, they will be In far better condie
diem than they were before
Franklin road was the most damaged Int nm
THIS street very little time and an expen-
diture Of small sum O. money will suifce tn
to render 1t more serviceable than ever II the
pinnK Sidewalks arc replaced IL can be done Mt a
smal COST but II would be very much better that
they should be replaced by brick stone or some
other durable material. ,---9
The sewers, as . matter OF fact. sustaineh 40
little damage thnt 1t scarcely deserves to be dese-
na,ed by that term: Taking everything iuto con-
sdsration II IL probable that oil damage to sewers
anu streets can be repaired, so as to render them
lar more servicesble at a cost considerably under
81 OO0. The work OF cleaning up the city went
forward all day yesterday and every hand that
could be had was placed at work on IT, The eut.
tiers on many OF the streets were cleared the mud
removed from sidewalks and the debris that was
scattered around gaths red up and removed
the disa-ranged water pipes placed In order and
the pumps started by the contractors 80 as TO
clear the excavation OF water for work to pro-
coed. The nrc engines were husy nearly all day
pumping water out or the cellars, and where this
was not resorted to the people used other means
20 remove II. On the whole the city presents s
little more work is required to make Roanoke
herself again.