Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-04
LITTLE DAMAGE.
Augusta Escapes With Slight
Losses From the Flood.
The Water Falls About Ten Feet
Since Highest Point, Monday
The Mails from West Accumulated Since
Sunday To Be Delivered. Today.

mere was Stlllt siuAlNN' sun - '''~
minds of the people, early Tuesday morn
ing, regarding the freshet, the heavy rain
of the night previous, and the uncertain
ty Of the reports which at that time had
been heard about town regarding the con
dition of the river above, and more
especially below, led many to fear that
the worst had not yet been experienced.
A glance at the river, however, was
reassuring, as it had, during the night,
fallen three or four feet, and from all
accounts, this fall was likely to continue.
People were soon about, inquiring of
one another, the extent Of the damages
each had received. 1t was, with few ex-
ceptions general congratulation.
No one suffered to any great extent
few more than by the outlay OF labor. Bust
ness, Of course got crack over the head
but in all lines, and especially among the
| tradesnen, q strong rally is looked Tor as
soon as affairs smooth over and the roads
become decently passabe.
| The announcement Of the Water Com
pany that, after noon, Tuesday, until the
pumps could be started up, tho water
supply would be discontinued, was re-
| viewed with no little interest. On the
| height of the water at the canal of the
Edwards Manufacturing Co S mills de-
pended the facilities for supplying the
| power for the pumps which force the
water up into the reservoir. and it was
| thought, Tuesday, that by Wednesday
morning the wheels might be started and
| furnish sufficient power for that purpose.
| Not until three O'Clock in the after
noon, was the water supply cut off, the
water then in the reservoir having fallen
to depth of about feet, which was
necessary to protect the bottom from the
heavy ice which bad been formed dur
ing the winter The water is generally
on an average, about 20 feet in depth
in the reservoir, from which height, it
had fallen since the rise came, Sunday.
The subject of the water service was
the source of much talk, and the old
whine of g water, water everywhere; but
not a drop to drink could well be
stretched TO apply to the situation
The question of lighting the streets
was also the subject of no little
thought, especially on the part of
of those who had slid and waded, and
CROPPED their way about. Monday night,
in the Stygian darkness which settled
over the city. The power station of the
Kennebec Light and Heat Company was
one of the first to feel the effects of the
flood, and will, it is feared be one of the
last to recover. If enterprise, however is
to be rewarded by success, there will soon
be lights as everything possible has
been done and is being done by
the company. 1T was hoped, during
the afternoon, that, by night, one of
the wheels could be started which
would be sufficient to run the street lights
on Cony and Water streets and across the
bridge. 1t proved, however, impossi
Bile. The commercial lights through
out the city were run, as they were, Mo1-
day night.
The Augusta Lumber Company, by
Tuesday morning, had gotten their fires
started, and at 80 P. NJ, the fire
whistle was sounded, announcing that
everything was all right in that direction.
The boiler room of the mill had been
flooded, and inside the mill, the water
had reached depth of four feet, but the
damage, it is now thought. will not be
great. The lumber, of which there was a
large quantity on the pier, was all saved.
The Cushnoc Fibre Company will I'm
doubtedly start, Wednesday morning,
unless the condition of the river takes an
unexpected turn. The water power of the
mill is furnished from the water above
the dam which showed rapid fall during
the day.
At the Edwards Mills, there was little
to be done, Tuesday, as the water which
Uhu lltUutb llic OdotlHtILo VI GllC i,
and mills had not sufficiently re-
coded to allow much work to be done.
1t could not be estimated how long the
mills would have to be shut down, but it
is hoped that the work will be started by
the latter part of the week. The weekly
pay roll is about $4,000 and shut down
of any length would, cons equently, be
serious affair to the many employed.
In tho Number mills, the cost will
be mostly confined to the labor in putting
the machines into condition, there being
no property there to be injured. In the
Number / mill, the water, at the highest
point, Monday, was but six inches from
the floor of the carding room, on tie
second story, the basement being almost
completely filled. 1t was a narrow escape,
as an overflow in this department would
have caused serious damage
In the basement of the Number mill,
the mules were lifted out Of place by the
water, but no damage done, the roping