St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-13
FACTORIES UNDER WATER.
The Grand River Flood Doing
Great Damage There.


Great Damage There.
IONA. Mich, March 12.-Never be
fore in the history of IOnia has Grand
river been so high as at the present
time. and the water is still rising.
Hundreds OF men were at work with
teams all of last night and today trying
to prevent the floods crossing the street
road. 4 great line of breastwOrkS has
been thrown up all along the
road, and the water so far has
been successfully checked. At 4
o'clock this morning a general
alarm was turned ina warning that
the danger point had been reached-and
great crowds of men tlOcked to the
scene to do what they could to protect
the flooded property. The Capital Wagon
works plant is now entirely surrounded
with the flood, the basement and lower
floors being inundated. The furniture
factory'S plant is in almost as bad shape,
and all that can be seen of the fair
grounds Is the upper portion of the
buildings. Most of IOnia'S manufactur-
ing concerns are located on what is
known as the flats" which have here
tofore been considered safe ground.
The bed of the river lies at least half
a mile away, but the whole country for
miles is now bat a raging, rushing tor
rent. The bridges at that point are all
in place, but are in great danger. The
bridges on the Detroit, Grand Haven IL
Milwaukee road are in imminent dan
ger. This morning men were engaged
TO weight them down, and tons OF sand
bags were piled on them.
Trains on the Detroit, Lansing &
Northern are in confusion. The trestle
at Portland gave way last night, and
passengers must be caTted around the
washOut and loaded on other trains.
There is no ice in the river now to speak
of, but the current carries large trees
and debris of every description down
with terrific force. and whatever is in
its may must 90. a force of men will
be kept at work all night TO night, and
every effort is being made to keep the
waters under control few hours
longer, when it is hoped the greatest
danger will have been averted. 1t is
Just reported that the lower Milwaukee
railroad bridge is in great danger. The
water is undermining the piers, and it
is feared the bridge will 90 out.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, March 49,
The floods coming down from IOnia
and Muir carried down the ice in the
river above this city this morning, and
all Qdy Ln6 ice HAS De6n running ana
the water is within a foot of the high
water mark. AT Lamont, sixteen miles
below here, gorge has formed, and at
GTandyiIle the river is reported rising
rapidly as a result. That is far down
the stream, and unless the gorge backs
up Ten miles no danger is apprehended
here. Comparatively little damage has
yet been done.
PORTLAND. Mich, March 12. - The
Detroit, Lansing & Northern railroad is
the heaviest loser by the flood, which
has continued since Friday night. Last
night 600 feet of track was washed out
half-mile east of the depot by an ice
gorge, which turned the course of Look
ing Glass river across the road
bed. The break was discovered
Just before Passenger Train No. 2S from
the west was due TO pass. A wrecking
train arrived at an early hour this morn
ing. and the track has been repaired so
trains VIII probably cross tomorrow.
Several other bridges are in danger.
This town is still in darkness, the cleo
tric light plant having been flooded.