The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-29


1t ralncd in Chicago last Thursday. Tho
rain was n mere episode in the monotony OF
discomfort which surrounds that upfortu-
nntc town. but its effects would strike dwell
crs In really habitabc places with terror.
Alargc number Of restaurants were flooded.
and the fire engines had to be called In to
pump out tho waters whose gracious reek is
still evident. That renowned Chicago In
stltution. tho Boston Oyster House. was
among the sufferers. There. and In many
othcr Of tho feeding holes OF the town. the
walters passed. customcrless day In sweep
ing out the wator. the dirty water. Of course.
None other falls or rises in that region.
Tho clouds run over with filthy torrents,
tho sewers carry the filthy torrents to every
mans kitchen and thront.
The stone quarrics and brickyards are
flooded and full. III 1t should not rain
again from now till Sept. !" says wealthy
brickmaker. " the brick market would not
be relieved before October" The rain OF
Thursday was only q strenuous spirit. a
watorspout in IN ocean. Long-con-
tlnued rain" says the Chicago Tribune.
has brought the building trades to
standstill. All over the city are thousands
OF basement excavations filed with water
and thousands OF hnlf-built structures
waiting for the weather to change for tho
better to enable work to proceed. This has
been tho condition for weeks and weeks.
and no improvement can be expected until
dry weather prevails. Operations OF brick
manufacturers and building contractors
are In fact paralyzed."
roil mil
terfcred with. "laid out" as the Tribune
frankly says. The railroad tracks were un-
der water: many trains had to be aban-
doned; the fires In the engines were put
out. The current in the harbor was so
strong that navigation was extremely dan
gerous. Tugs didn't dare to go to the as
sistance Of more helpless craft. The loss
by delay was great. $4,000 on the South
Branch alone" A characteristic fragrance
is detected in this incident: About noon
yesterday tho current brought down great
masses of black stuff which foated on the
surface and had the appearance Of coal tar.
which filled tho atmosphere with gas. and
the opinion was freely expressed that the
gas companies were emptying their watts OF
refuse into the river while tho current was
running. Tho main river was full OF it
during the afternoon. and vessels and
steamers were oil fouled up with the nasty
stuff" In the suburbs the inhabitants
fonted about on the wooden sidewalks OF
other boats and RATS. We are indebted to
the same faithful authority. the Chicago
Tribune. for description Of these watcry
suburban wastes:
Almost all the small places included within a belt
fifteen miles wide and extending at each end nearly
to the lake, are entirely under water a result Of
Thursdays heavy rainfall On the north. at Evanston
and Lake Forest and the SOUTH a. South Chicago and
along the Calumet and Despaines rivers where there
is opportunity for drainage. the conditions not
quite bad but further west 1t was almost impossible
for business 10 get to and from their homes all day
yesterday In the morning before thoy into the
city they took the precauton to tie everything fences
sidewalk Sheds and ste piping blocks. to trees and
posts with heavy rope.
Thc township OF Cicero probably Jared the worst of
the outlying Districts Within its four boundaries
there practically but dry spot yesterday morn
Ing ard that was tho south part OF Oak Park. Tho
people who have the good fortune to live this latter
day Ararat are all congsatulating themselves and
Uning out supplies to- thor neighbors on floating
sidewalks. The entire distance between Oak Park and
Austin presents the appearance Of lake What three
days ago streets yesterday rapidly flowing
streams. carrying along cedar paving blocks side.
walks fences. and everything else tina. would noat.
The electric were tied tho greater part OF tho
day and their plnce was taken by small boys RATS.
who padded people about and errads at their
prices. All the Easements in that section flooded
In Morelnnd. RIdgeland. aud East Oak Park what
little business was being done yesterday was carried
BY means OF rafts Water varying from one to two
feet in depth covered eve ythinK Business men 70
turning from the city stood upon tho platforms Of tho
railroad stations and shouted and gesticuated until
some ueighboI or friend out padding about \ sec.
tion OF sidewalk took pity on them and ferred them
up their front pOrchrs Children in numbers legion
and Of ages varying from to 10 years spashed about
and noated around on improvised RATS Boulevard
street at Oak Park blocked with these floating af
fairs. md each one was plotted by small boy out
taking bis father TO tho station doing tho marketing
for the family. Women were standing oh the porches
shouting back and FORTH and al! seemed to enjoy tho
novel situation in spite Of its disugrecabe features"
Enjoyment of tho novel situation is
greatly promoted by the fact that with
cellars. Easements. ccsspools. and drains
filed with stagnant water. and with hot
summer sun beating down upon tho damp
ground. there Is great danger of al cpl
demic Of typhoid or malarial fcvers" Tho
rotten sewer pipes broke. Tho sidewalks
swan about in the flood.
Meanwhile. =" river sewage Is pouring
lakeward at the rate OF 100000 cubic feet a
minute. and the discase-laden water is being
pumped through tho MAINS" Chicago is
practically uninhabtable.