The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-12
FLOODS IN KERN.
The Damages VIII Amount
to $4,000.
BAKERSFIELD IS INUNDATED.
The Streets Running With Water
From the Booming Kern River.
The Damage Done.
Special to THE MoRSrNs CALI

BAKERSFIELD, Feb. 1I.-Kern River Is
still running pretty high. but the excite
ment is over. No lives were lost, and not
any notable damage has been done, except
10 the railroads, the headgates to canals
and the bridges, all of which naturally set
tied or gave way entirely, on account of the
rich. loamy soil. All approaches TO the
town are wet and miry, and it is difficult to
oct particulars of the damage 10 the coun-
try below. but the whole valley can be
plainly seen from the dome Of the court
house. and it is the opinion of everybody
that with few exceptionS-namely. the rail-
road and canal compartment will do more
coed than harm, as The water is spread over
the country so evenly.
The river seems to have retaken two OF
its old runs, one in the old river-bed and
the other In the Goose Lake Slough. This
may cause some damage to Miller Il Lux
and Tevis, Haggin and Carr. etc, or the
Kern County Land Company. These peo-
pie will use every effort to keep the water
in its lsst-used channel, from which points,
although IN low and inappropriate places,
they claim water for their canals Ii the
water has changed its course there will
naturally be q scramble for new water loea-
tons. and the prize may slip out Of the
bands of the monopollsts. There are plenty
Of intelligent settlers ready to take adyan-
tage Of It, Besides ii would certainly break
up that peculiar water agreement or con-
tract existing between Miller & Lux Hag-
gin, Carr and Tevis, which is referred TO IN
all contracts and cOnveyances made by the
Kern County Land Company and so often
objected 10.
Bakersfield was not injured bit BY the
overflow. The water spread over nearly all
the new northern and western portions OF
tie town, and in one place it came up TO
Chester avenue, and through some gopher
hole got two feet deep in the cellar OF the
Southern Hotel.
a few boats were hastily put together
and the boys padded away all yesterday
morning visiting residences to see II any,
thing was wanted. Few people left their
dwellings, and only in one case did the
water enter a house. 1t was more Of
50lfca,ion day than anything else. The
racetrack, which Is close to the river, has
been damaged some, also Hunt Brothers
nursery.
Tie weather continues warm and Ugh
rain fell this morning. The total for the
season is four inches. Last year at this
date it was go inches. A good many people
from the country came into town to-day,
and they confirm the report thar the over
flow viii prove a great benefit 10 the
farmers, For several miles the Bakersfield
and San Miguel Railroad, recently built, is
badly damaged, and travel is stopped.
There have been no mail. newspapers or
trains from San Francisco over the Southern
Pacific road since 10 O'Clock Thursday
night The station agent thinks by 20
morrow morning the road will be open.
Wrecking trains are clearing up the freight
train wreck. Trains are running regularly
on time between here and Los Angeles and
the East
Fully $4,000 damage has been done to
the canals. These were cheaply built In
the low places on the edge of the river they
we're constructed Of redwood posts, boards
and sand. and while the food will be ex-
penslve to Haggin, Carr and Tevis, the
principal owners, it will be very severe on
the few poor farmers that are stockholders
for sen-protection il the water companies.
The BeaTdsly canal, the Kern Island, Gal
loway, McCerd and Slime are worth sss
until repaired. which will be very difficult
TO do until next fall. as the rivers always
continue high from tie spring until August.
there IS Qeterm nation on the part OF
the citizens Of Bakersfield to make the Kern
County Land Company remove the obstruc-
tions placed In the river. and the Super
vsoTs, who are now 10 session, viii be petit
toned on Monday to move in the matter
The parties damaged viii, II they mean
what they say, commence suits for damages,
Rnd II is also believed that the railroad
company viii do the same, because If there
had been 10 distractions ia the river II
would never have left its natural channel.
A civil engineer who has taken the levels
positively asserts that the riverbed from
point near the Weir is nine feet higher
sha0 tho foup