The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-14
DAMAGE AT COURT HOUSE
Rain Found lis Way Through the False
Roof...Havoc the Downpour
Wroughtin Other Places.

About the only serious damage that
has so far resulted from the remark
ably steady and long continued rain
storm which we are experiencing was
to the court house. The false roof laid
to protect the lower floors, while work
on the top story Is in progress failed
to properly do it's work and Monday
night the water worked its way into
the interior and drenched several of the
offices.
The law library sustained the great
est damage The books had been re-
moved to the old library quarters OPP
posite Judge Archbald's chamber. The
water came through at this point in
greater volume than anywhere else.
The books on the top shelf and those
arranged on the floor were thoroughly
drenched and the binding on many OF
them was ruined. The county commits
sioners office and City Treasurer
Schadt's office both sustained damage
from the water. In the latter office.
poll books and various papers and docu-
ments became soaked and pictures that
hung on the wall We're destroyed.
The fact that four inches of rain had
fallen up to last night and that no
floods are reported from the flats I'm the
northern and southern portions of the
city is explained by the further fact
that the downpour while continuous,
was at no time heavy and Consequently
the channels We're not overtaXed.
Street Commissioner Kinsley said yes-
terday that II the rain continues for
another twenty-four hours that there
will assuredly be more or less of q
flood in the flats, as the river is gradu-
ally rising all the time and must over
flow If there Is not cessation within
the time mentioned.
The rain did no great damage on the
West Side. Water flooded the base
ment of the new No. 13 school on Belle
vue Heights, making 1t necessary to
close the school during yesterday. The
water was several feet III depth. 1t
eXtinguished the fires In the furnaces,
and as the day was of q driZzling cold
ness. the building was like an unheat-
ed barracks. During the afternoon
workmen We're engaged in pumping out
the water. and by nightfall the jani-
tor was able to reach the furnaces.
School will he resumed today. An en-
bankment in the rear of Grifiiths'
plumbing establishment on North Main
avenue was loosened by the water and
yesterday afternoon 1t fell. The dirt
heaped itself against the basement
windows. smashing the glass.
The work of paving West Lackawan-
ma avenue hill was retarded by the
effects of the water as it plowed in
rills downward. The workmen had
laid the sand bed and the heavy en-
gine roller had smoothed the road to a
condition fit to receive the stone block
pavement. When the rain came il
played havoc with the road bed and a
re-rolling will be necessary. The work
on Ninth and adjoining streets was
n1c In t.ay wi 4 rtr
| the Kelley's patch section was rein
forced with quantity Of good, fresh
dirt. Cellars on EynOn street are flood
ed, and the street car and railroad
tracks on West Lackawanna avenue
are the worse for the wash down. Sc
lect Councilman II. T. Fellows pet
trench at the corner Of Hampton street
and Main avenue. worked to perfec-
| tion yesterday. The spot has always
| suffered from inundation. Recently a
large sewer trench was dug under the
direction of Councilman Fellows, and
| the rain now was its first test. A sew
er at the corner of Lafayette street and
Main avenue is blocked.
| On the South Side the rain did not
| do much damage, but it flooded the
streets and made travel very disagree
able. The pipe drain above Prospect
avenue carrying the flow to the stat
! ford Meadow brook was blocked III
| and Overflowed, the water extending
| onto Prospect avenue. and covering 1t
| several inches. 1t flowed down Cherry
street and tore up gulleys in the street
On PittstOn avenue between Beech
and Maple streets the cutters were
blocked up and unable to carry away
the flow. flooding the street and inun-
dating the street car tracks, but not
enough to interrupt traffic. on the
Flats as yet the water has not reached
| high enough to enter the Easements OF
the houses, but that will not be the
case long II the rain continues much
| longer.
| The culvert through which the street
car passes under the Delaware and
Hudson railroad tracks. at Sprina
street. Moosc is flooded and the car,
cannot go through. Passengers have
to be transferred to car on the othe,
side. The storm emphasizes anew tn,
urgent need of a sewer on the Soltt
Side.