The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-06-03
DRY VASTATION AND RUIN
Portland In the ThrOes Of a
Great Disaster.
MANY INDUSTRIES PARALYzE0
Progress of the Flood in Other Sec
tions---A Still Further Rise
Predicted.
MANY INDUSTRIES PARALYzED

Predicted.
The Columbia and willamette are still
on their mettle, and seem determined 10
create all the destruction possible. From
passengers that arrived on the Tele-
phone yesterday, an alarming state oi
affairs was, according to statements,
made by them, prevailing in Portland
and elsewhere along the banks OF the
two rivers. The landings between here
and the metropolis are few and far be-
tween, and it is only question OF time
until 1t will be impossible for boats 10
land anywhere along the line.
The officers of the Telephone all unite
in saying that the flood Will increase IN
volume, for several days yet to come.
There is no predicting when the rise
Nill cease. The excessive warm weather
that is now prevailing in the mountain
regions. together with the heavy snow
fall. will doubtless increase the volume
of water very materially. Old river
men have no hesitancy in saying that
the situation is q very serious and crltl-
cal one, especially for Portland.
In that city the bituminous pavement
along Sixth street, which was finished
in 1898, from Ash street to the depots'
has been entirely washed out. Ladd d
Tilton have moved their quarters up
town. the bank building having from
five to six inches of water on the floors.
This means about IL feet Of water at
the corner where the Ladd & Tilton
bank building stands, as the building
has an elevation of three feet above the
street grade. The Bank of British Co.
lumbia has moved its quarters up
stairs, and transacts its business on the
second floor of the building, the lower
floor having two to three feet OF water
The same may be said Of the London
and San Francisco bank.
All boats belonging to the Union "a
cific, including the Olympia and Vic
toria, which the company had tied up In
the boneyards, are loaded with mer-
chandise and cement from the different
docks. Steam launches are running up
First street as far as the Gilman hotel,
and the only approach to the st. Charles
and Esmond hotels is by boat.
Front street, from Morrison down to
the river, is from three to six feet un-
der water. All wholesale stores along
Front have uptown offices, where they
are trying to transact a little business
the only means Of transporting their
goods being by scows from the different
stores. Yesterday scow load of rubber
goods was taken from First street
store and hauled up to Fourth and Ash
streets, and there reloaded on drays.
The railroad bridge is left open at the
draw entirely, as there is danger OF the
bridge being swept away, the track be-
ing completely submerged. But one
warehouse is left out Of water, and this
is but IA to Is feet above water. The
new cement basement under the cham
ber of commerce building has blown up
owing to the heavy pressure from un'
derneath, the basement now being fillec
with water. An attempt was made II
the start to keep the water down by
means of pumps, but the pressure was
so great this was abandoned. Merch
ants have been moving their goods bach
onto higher grounds as fast as possible
but the water has risen so high on From
street that they. have had to stop NOV
ing. Passengers from the hotels to tbs
different boats are carried by omnibus
TO within three or four blocks of thu
river, and transferred to boats In sma1
rowboats.
Assistant Cashier Rogers, of the Firs
National bank, who has returned from
trip to Portland, states that warehouse
on the east side. which are filled will
wheat, are overhowed, and there is NJ
way to get the grain out. Consequent!
the loss from this scource will be yer.
large, and will thus add another chap
ter to the financial distress Of the me
tropolis.
Mr.. London, Of Balfour, Guthrie
Co., Portland, stated that the people 0
that city had hopes Of a cessation Of tn
flood until 10 o'clock Friday, when
dispatch was received from Umatill
that a rise Of IL foot had taken plac
at that point, which meant a furthe
advance OF feet in Portland. Late
advices are to the effect that this prog
nostication has materiallzed. and tina
the metropolis is heavy sufferer Il
consequence. Mr.. London said that al
the stores in the flooded district ha
opened branch stores up town. Will
the wholesale men were moving good
by means Of scows.
DR.. Fulton, who returned last even
ing from an attendance upon the meet
ing Of the State Medical Association
says one feature Of the flood oc
CURED to him as being very peculiar