The record-union., 1894-06-06
Special to the REcoRD-uxIoS.

Special to the RECORD-UNIoN.
PORTLAND, June 5.-Slowly and surely
the waters of the Willamette River at
this point continue to rise, and the lndl-
cations are that they will continue TO rise
for several days to come This afternoon
the river stood 81 2-l0 feet above the low
water mark. At Umatilla the Columbia
River stood 81 $40 feet above, and at
Pasco 81 feet above. There yet remains
snow enough in the mountains to keep
the rivers at their present hight
for several days to come, even though
they should rise no higher.
1t is impossible to approximate the
amount of damage inflicted upon this
city in damage to property and loss OF
business The entire wholesale district
Is flooded to the depth of from six TO ten
feet. The damage to the river front alone
will be nearly $1,000 900. There is scarcely
a wharf or warehouse from the Madison
street bridge to Steffens' boat-yard that
has not suffered to more or less extent
Merchandise of all kinds is stored IN
many places which are i'll hourly danger
of being submerged or tilted over into
the river. Boats are continuously NOV
ing goods to more secure places. In many
instances merchants have been compelled
TO move their goods several times to keep
them above the water. Wherever 1t is
possible buildings in the submerged dis
trict are being vacated. Every available
storeroom or office building up town has
been utilized.
The First National Bank, Portland
Bank, Bank of British Columbia, the
London and San Francisco. the United
States National and the Merchants Ma
tional Banks have all moved TO higher
ground. Rafts and tlatboats piled high
with goods of every description are being
pulled through the streets to the water 5
edge for transportation to higher ground,
where business is transacted with great
inconvenience.
To those out of employment the flood
has proved great benefit, as hundreds OF
men find work in building and propel-
ing boats and RATS and assisting in NOV
ing goods.
Many families living on the lower
ground have been forced to take refuge
In the upper stories of their homes, and
in many instances their situation Is q
desperate one. There the situation re-
mains unchanged. The Southern Pa
cific is the only line running trains into
the city. The Union Pacific is still una
bic to establish its river service between
here and Umatilla. rhe Northern Pa
cifie is still bringing its trains TO the city
from KelsO on The transfer boat Tacoma.
The steamboat men report that they
observe barns and out buildings atioat.
No loss of life has yet occurred.
AS a means OF insuring protection from
fire in the flooded district, Chief Buchtel
OF the Fire Department has secured an
eighty-foot barge on which he has fitted
stationary engine capable of throwing
three powerful streams for use in the
submerged district 1t Will be stationed
Just outside the dock line. with the tug
u Il l.,
ready for use on both sides of the river.
The dashing Of the waves caused by
boats against the wharyes has caused a
great deal OF damage.
The water has reached the basement of
the Oreg0lti0B building, Sixth and Alder
streets, but Is being pumped out as fast as
il runs in. On First street it reaches to
Taylor street. Washington street is COW
cred to Fifth street. The Chamber OF
Commerce building is entirely sur
rounded, and the first floor is covered to
depth OF one foot.
W hile the city is confronted with dis
aster, places at adjacents points are hav-
ing q similar experience. Colum bia
Slough presents a scene of desolation.
Many families were forced to abandon
their homes, and chicken-houses barns
and other small buildings have been car
ried away. Tops Of houses and trees are
seen Just above the water. The lower
portion OF dlcOuNeE 1Sla0Q Is SUD-
merged, and steam boats land at Fourth
street AT Troutdale the water covers the
Union Meat Company's ranch, and oper-
ations in the slaughter-househ have ceased.
Cones mill, between Beaver and the
Sandy, is completely covered. The big
boom, which is about 1000 feet long, still
holds, but there is apprehension that it
cannot stand the strain long. West of
Troutdale all the bottom lands are under
water, and a large number of farmers
will lose their crops, besides suffering
other damage in the way of fences and
barns.
Hood River will experience a great
loss. Its immense strawberry crop is
ripening and there is no means of trans
porting it to market. The locks at the
Cascades have stood the strain so far, but
there is great danger that they Will be
swept away. Should the water break
over the bulkhead and pour down on the
completed portion the loss would be at
least S250,000.
FRASER RIVER STILL RISING.
VANCoUvBR (B. c., June 5.-The rag
ing waters of the mighty Fraser show no
abatement. On the contrary, they are
still getting higher and higher. The
measurement at the Canadian Pacific
Navigation Company's wharf at West
minister at high tide showed the water l3
feet % inches above the low water mark
and u inches llgler IMAM III the great
flood OF 1881. The velocity OF the water is
six miles an hour.
The water is now over the wharVeS and
some are flooded TO depth OF between
TWO and three feet. The Yramway Com
pally has had to abandon one OF It's lines,
as 1t is submerged. the Canadian Pacific
road yards being In a similar position.
At Sapperton the water Is flowing In
through the Brunette Saw Mill, the floor
being covered 10 a depth of fourteen
inches. The penitentiary wharf is lifted
up IN the ceuter aud ii is feared Will be
carried away.
On Sunday heavy rain added to the
volume OF water III the river, and Mayor
Hoy OF v estlnlnster was engaged all day
with gang OF men removing drittwood
from the Lulu Island bridge, which is
threatened with destruction. 1t was
thought all cattle had been removed. but
the water reached a portion OF Chiliwick
hitherto considered safe. Reeve CawIev
sent for assistance. and the steamers
Gladys and Erie were dispatched to the
scene.
At Langley the water is ten inches
above the loS2 mark, and the Hudson
Bay store Is flooded. lie water has en-
tered Lulu Island dyke and iiccaed part
o. the land inside. The break has been
repaired and strengthened with sand bags.
All Sunday the people of L4;tdnel's Land
ing worked to save the dyke there. They
were beaded by lev. Glassierd. The Pres
bvterian minister, and by their united
efforts the dyke remains intact.