The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-05-26
COUNTING The COST,

COUNTING THE COST.
The Losses by the Floods I'm tho Vicinity
of st. Louis Estimated ut Gil ,00O. 600.
SPRINGFIELD, I'LL, May 21.-Dr. Reilly,
secretary of the state board of health,
returned Friday from a tour of investi-
CATION in the inundated district
along the Mississippi river from
Alton south. This investigation
was begun. with view of an.
tlcipating the possible results to the
public health from the unusual floods.
For the present it is believed that there
is nothing for the state board of health
to do until the water begins to subside.
A circular of advice and instruction
will be prepared for publication before
that time looking to diminishing the
sanitary dangers which are anticipated
from stagnant water, wells and other
| sources of water supplies polluted by
the overflow and similar conditions.
The governor has given orders that
the tents, blankets, cots and other
quartermaster's stores at the arsenal
be used for the temporary relief of the
refugees of the inundated bottom lands,
and should these prove inadequate the
United States quartermaster's stores at
Chicago will be drawn upon. Supplies
OF food and other necessaries thus far
are abundantly furnished by the more
fortunate neighbors of the distressed.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-. May 21.-The decline
in the river, though it has stopped at
| ho ~ <h1 of
flicted district an opportunity to esti-
mate the losses of the districts, i'm.
mediately tributary to St. Louis, and
the figures are appalling. Here they are:
st. Louis county, $4,000, 900; St. Louis
city, 1000, 600; st. Charles county, S.
600, 900; the American bottom, from
Alton, ILL.,, to Cairo, S., 900, 900 this in.
GLIDING East St Louis and vicinity);
total, $11,OO0,OOO. These figures,
astounding as they may seem,
are considered by competent judges
extremely conservative. In looking
at this loss it must be remembered
that in all the flooded territory referred
to, practically 1,500 square miles, the
waters have rendered it in a majority
of cases impossible for the farming
In St. Louis at least $4,000 per-
sons have been temporarily thrown
out of work by the stopping
of factories by the high water. The
outlook is perhaps no brighter, but GER
tainly no darker, and it is believed that
what has been done by way of protec-
ton, supplemented by further work rem
dered possible by the breathing time
given, will suffice to avert further seri-
Gus damage.
Sioux CITY, a., May 21.-Added to
Sioux City's other calamities was a
wind and rainstorm which reached all
over northwest Iowa Friday and lasted
all the forenoon. The air was very
cold and it was impossible to keep the
homeless people from much suffer.
ing, for hundreds of them are still
housed in buildings which cannot be
heated, as the furnaces are under wa
ter. Well organized local committees
are actively at work raising funds for
relief and collecting clothing for the
destitute.
The loss on property is variously es-
timateS. 1t has been placed as high as
$4,000, 900, but Mr.. Heller, of the Jour
nal, who had obtained conservative
opinions, says it will not amount to
more than 81, $50, 900, divided as fol-
lows:
Packinghouses :..... .:................. *4oo,ot
Railroads by damaged rails, rolling
stock and englnes..... e......... 2O,OU
Streets by the tearing up of pavements l5OON |
Other losses, including those OF the
street railways, the gas works and
the losses to individual house owners 45OOW
Total ........ ....................s1,e5 O,ON
Friday morning the ex-saloon men of
the city met and decided to guarantee a
fund of $4,000 for the city to be used
in repairs if the city would change it's
policy and allow the saloons to reopen.
The mayor says they need not take the
trouble to make any such proposal.
Opinions differ as to the number
drowned. Ex-Mayor Cleland says there
were less than a dozen lost, while
others still think fifty may have gone
down, and the fact that there were
many small families and laboring men,
almost strangers, living in the district
makes it possible that there were num-
bers drowned whose names will never
be known. The body recovered Fri
day was that of Mrs. Henderson.
9year-old boy named Armstetz was
sent to market just before the food
and he reports that he has not heard
from his father, mother and four
brothers and sisters, who were at home
when he left. A 5-year-old boy was
picked up Friday who said his name
was lilly Peterson, but could not tell
where he lived. He said his parents
were lost. These are only instances of
many sad scenes.
The stock yards will be rebuilt at
once, though to do so will cost omar.
ter of a million. The packing houses
will be easily put in readiness for work.
The Northwestern and the Milwaukee
railroads expect to get their tracks re-
paired so that trains can go east to-day
The Sioux City & Northern, Illinois
Central and Omaha roads, which par.
allel the Floyd valley, have a greater
job on hand and it will be week be.
fore they are in shape for traffic
Word has been received that a food
wave is on its way down the Big Sioux,
which makes the line between Dakota
and Iowa. The wave is about II feet
high and has already submerged thou
sands of acres of land in South Dakota.
including the town of Elk Point. where
the water is 2 feet deep in the streets
But little damage can be done here, as
only few houses and factories are To-
Gated in the Sioux valley, which is in
the western part of the city.
Dockery's Report.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-The report of
the Dockery committee on investiga-
ton of worlds fair affairs was presented
to the hOuSa IN Fr;6ov fo,,,,.