The herald., 1894-06-06
PORTLAND UNDER WATER
The Flood Shows No Signs
of Abating.
Homes, Barnes and Crops Lost
in the Country.
Railroad Property Destroyed in the
Northwest.
Business Suspended in Colorado
Town In Anticipation OF tina
Breaking OF . Res-
ervoir,
BY the Associated Press.

oy inc AbsOcldtcu FTobo.
PORTLAND, Ore, June 5.-Slowly and
surely the waters OF the Willamette river
at this point continue to rise, and the
indications are that it will continue for
several days to come. This afternoon
the river stood 80 2-10 feet above the
low water mark.
At Umatills the Columbia river stood
341s feet above, and at Psscoe "a feet
above. There yet remains snow enough
in the mountains to keep the rivers at
their present height for several days to
come, even though they should rise no
higher.
1t ia impossible to approximate the
amount of damage inflicted upon this
city in loss to property and business.
The entire Wholesale district is flooded
to the depth OF from ak to 10 feet. The
damage to the river front alone will be
nearly $l,000,000. There is scarcely q
wharf or warehouse from the Madison
street bridge to Steffen's boat yard that
has not suffered to more or less
extent. Merchandise of all kinds
is stored in many places, which
are in hourly danger of being sub
merged or tilted over into the river.
Boats are continuously moving 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 it is possible
buildings in the submerged district are
being vacated. Every available store
room or Office building uptown has been
utilized. The First National bank, Port
land National Bank of British Columbia,
the London and San Francisco. the
United States National and the Mer-
chanta' National have all moved to
higher ground.
Rats and fatboats piled high with
goods Of every description are being
poled through the streets to the waters
sdEs soS ssasgo5sston 70 higher
Inconvenience. To those out OF employ
ment the flood has proved of great bene-
MT; hundreds OF men find work in build
ing and propelling boats and RATS and
assisting In moving goods. Many fami-
lies 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 desperate one.
Aho iaiiObo elbudblOu I6Halu6
changed The Southern Pacific is the
only line running trains into the city.
The Union Pacific is unable to establish
as river service between here and Um-
attilla. The Northern Pacific is still
bringing their trains to the city from
Kelso on the transfer boat Tacoma,
Steam boatmen report that they observe
many barns and outbuildings aaoat.
No loss of life has yet occurred.
As means OF insufing protection
from fire in the flooded district, Chief
Butchel, OF the FIRE department, has se-
cured an S0-foot barge on which he has
fitted stationary engine capable of
throwing three powerful streams, for
use in the submerged districts. 1t will
be stationed just outside the dock line
with the tug James B. Stephens as a
tow, and will be ready for use ON both
sides of the river. The dashing of the
waves causad by boats against wharfs
has caused great deal of damage.
The water has reached the basement
OF the Oregonisn building, Sixth and
Alder streets, but it Ia being pumped
out as fast as 1t runs in. On Fret street
it reaches to Taylor street. Washing
ton street Is covered to Fifth street.
The chamber of commerce building is
entirely surrounded and the first floor
is covered to depth of one foot.
While the city is confronted with dis
aster adjacent points are having q sim
liar experience. Columbia slough pre-
sents q scene of desolation. Many fam
lilies were forced to abandon their homes
chicken houses, barns and other small
buildings have been carried away. Tons
Of houses and trees are seen just above
The water. The lower portion OF Van
couver is submerged and steamboats,
and at Fourth street.
At Troutdale. the water covers the
Union Meat company's ranch, and ope-
rations in the slaughter house have
,eased. Cones sswmill, between Beaver
and Sandy, is almost completely COW
,red. The big boom, which ia about
1000 feet long, still holds, but there ia
that it cannot stand the
'train much longer. West of Troutdale
Ill the bottom lands are under water.
ind large number of farmers will lose
heir crops, besides suffering other dam
'ges from the loss of fences and barns.
Hood River will experience great loss.
-ts immense strawberry crop is ripeninp
md there is no means of Transporting it
o market. The locks at the Cascades
rave stood the strain so far, but there ia
,reat danger that they will be swent |
way. Should the water break over the
,ulkhead and pour down on the un-
ompleted portions, the loss would be at
east 5000, 900.