The herald., 1894-06-08
NORTHWEST ISOLATED.
CUT OFF FROM COMMUNICATION
WITH THE EAST.
Nearly All the Railroads Loading Into
Oregon Rendered. Useless by
the Trsm sndous
Washouts.

PORTLAND. Ore, June NO accurate
estimate OF the damage by foods along
tbs Colum bia and Willamette rivers can
be made. 1t is certain. however, to
reach into the millions OF dollars. The
entire northwest, including Idaho,
Washington, Oregon and British Colum-
bia is virtually shut off from the east
by the floods. The Canadian Pacific,
Great Northern. Northern Pacific and
Union Pacific roads have been washed
out for hundreds Of miles, and it will
require weeks to repair the damage alter
the water goes down.
This city still has connection by the
way of the Southern Pacific. but east
ern mails are badly delayed. The
Northern Pacific makes connection be.
tween Puget sound and this city by
means OF the transfer boat which runs
from Kelso, WASH, to this city.
In Northern Idaho, the Great North
ern and Northern Pacific have been
washed out for miles, rendering the
roads almost useless west of Idaho. The
Union Pacific is paralyzed from Una
tills west and the Oregon Railway and
western connection OF the Union. will
have to be practically rebuilt from UNA
tilla to Portland, distance OF 200 miles.
The Upper Columbia is now falling
but the river here remains stationary.
1t will require at least week for the
water to get out of the streets after it
begins to recede, as at many points on
Front street the water is 10 feet deep.
The streets adjacent to the flooded dis
trict, which now includes three-fourths
OF the business portion of the city. are
alive with vehicles of all kinds, hauling
goods out of the water.
PORTLAND, June For several days
the air has been full OF rumors, which
tell how whole towns on the upper Co
lumbia have been washed away, and
that the stream ia full of floating build.
| ings. Reliable information obtained
from travellers who have recently come
over the water route" chow that the con-
dition OF affairs is greatly exaggerated.
Among the passengers on the steamer
Dalles City which arrived from the
Cascades tonight, was Rev. g. M. IT.
win, the newly elected superintendent
of instruction. He said: "rhe damage
done by the food at The Dalles has been
greatly exaggerated, and the same thing
may be said of all other points except
Grants station, which ia really in inn
minent danger OF being completely
swept away"
Pilot W. H. Pope of the Northern Pa
cifc transfer boat Tacoma Gays: IA
places the Colum oia is a sea from l5 tt
20 miles wide. The lower portion o
Kelso is covered with water and severa
houses thereabout have foated away
During the week the Tacoma has passed
about a dozsn floating houses"
Clatsakanie river and Beaver slough
are 30 badly swollen that Capt. George
N. SLAYER OF the steamer Sarah Dixoi
saves time In making his trips by cross
ing the prairie instead of winding up tn
crooked slough and river
"There is from 10 to 10 feet OF waite
on the prairie, and it has caused Consid
cradle damage" said Captaint SLAYER
"The food has swept away betweel
IL and Is houses and Darne. We pasaet
O. two-story house which had gon
ashore on Bachelor island. Kalams
St. Helenu and Rainier are under waite
and passengers are landed and take
aboard in small boats.
Woodland, a small town ia Cowlit
county, Wash, is entirely under waite
| and the inhabitants have taken to tn
hills.