The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-04
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE,
Portland Is No Better Than a
Lake.
Practically Cut Off From ALI COM
municati0n.
The Destruction In Colorado Between
Central City aud Golden Incon-
ceivable-A Bridge Gone
Across the Arkansas.
By the Associated Press.

PORTLAND, Ore, June 3.-This has
been busy day in Portland. All day
long merchants in the flooded districts
have been at work moving out goods or
raising them on platforms above the
water. The river continues to rise, and
every hour renders the situation more
perilous. The weather has become
cooler here. but no reports can be had
from eastern Oregon and Washington,
the source of all the flood. Telegraph
wires north and east are Frustrated,
and it is impossible to obtain any news
of the situation along the Columbia
river. The river here is 81 feet
above low water. and every "a
hours adds to it from 8 to
to IL inches. Three-fourths of the
wholesale district is under water from
two to ten feet deep, and the water is
fast encroaching upon the best part oil
the retail district. Hundreds of small
houses on the flats are surrounded by
water, which reaches to the second story
and have begun to turn over. Further
rise OF flood will take them out.
Many merchants are unable to get
lumber with which to build platforms
to keep their goods above water. Every
available boat in the city has been hired
and boatmen receive from 81 to SIS per
hour for their services. The Western
Union Telegraph company's main Office
is surrounded by six feet of water. On
the west side of the river the water ex-
tends almost to Washington street on
Sixth, within one block OF the Oregonian
building on Sixth and Alder streets
This evening the water has reached
the first floor OF Lipman & Wolf, the
largest dry goods store in the city. On
the East Side many OF the elevated road
ways leading to the river are submerged,
and the Madison street bridge at
the south end of the city is the only
bridge open to traffic. A rise of six
inches more will shut off the gas supply
of the city. The Union depot is two
feet under water, and the Union Pacific
car shops in Albina are surrounded by
five feet.
The Southern Pacific is the only road
running trains into Portland, and they
are compelled to stop at the south end
of the city. being unable to reach either
of their depots. The Union Pacific is
helplessly tied up, both rail and boat.
An effort was made today to take the
steamer Harvest Queen up the river
over the falls at the Cascades, but as
there is no wire to the scene it is not
known whether the attempt was sue
cessful. The Northern Pacific makes
regular trips with the transfer boat to
Tacoma between this city and Kelso,
Wash.
1t is learned from persons arriving
here by boat that the storm last night
did great damage along the Northern
Pacific between Kalama and Tacoma.
Houses and trees were blown down, and
at Chehalis and Centralia much damage
is said to have been done.
In this city hard rain fell most of
the day, which prevented sight seers
from visiting the flooded districts in as
large numbers as on the past few days.
Labor is in great demand here, and men
are getting from 90 cents to 81 per hour.
The food will interfere with the cleo
ton tomorrow, as many OF the polling
places are under water.
No estimate of the damage by food Is
possible, but ID will be something APP
palling when reports from the upper
and lower river are received. The
Dalles, town of 1900, cannot be
reached by wire, but 1t is known from
the height of the water here that nearly
all the business portion of the town is
under water. There is strong current
in the Columbia at that point and great
damage has certainly resulted.