The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-06
ABOVE THE 81 MARX
FLOOD CONDITIONS MORE SERIOUS
THAN EVER BEFORE IN MIN
NEAP0LIS.
FLAT JEWELLERS EWCTED.
SIXTY MILLION FEET OF LOGS
ABOVE MINNEAPOLIS THREATEN
TO BREAK AWAY.
SITE FOR THE OLE BULL STATUE.
1t Will BE in LUring Park as Origin.
ally ChOsen-News of Min
neapOIis.

A rise of over six inches has put the
river at Minneapolis some distance be-
yOnd the high water mark of 1881, the
highest heretofore known. This makes
the condition of affairs among the fat
jewellers more serious than ever The
water has now reached the roofs Of
many Of the houses, and those who
supposed themselves safe are making
preparations to move. The rain of Sun
day was enough to alarm quite num-
Der of people, and they took advantage
of the warning and moved their effects
to higher ground. All of the streets
in ''Shanty" town are streams of run
ming water Many piles Of wood,
fences, walks, have f1oated off down
stream, while several of the houses
are af1oat and are liable to go at any
moment. Such a condition of affairs
has never been experienced in Mime
apolis before.
Every day predictions have been made that
conditions were such that a fall would soon
occur, but each time they have been wrong,
and the water has gone up instead of down.
Now the reports from up the river are that
the water Will continue to rise for several
days. The weather has been warm, and the
rains quite extended. No chance has been
given for the water to flow off before the
great bulk of the water from the melting
snow in the northern part of the state could
reach Minneapolis. 1t has been steady rise
ever since the first indications Of danger were
seen, and the probabilities that the stage
of high water will continue for ten days or
two weeks. The temperature is bound to take
a considerable rise during the present week,
and that means renewed flow of water.
The water has reached the stage where 1t
is considered dangerous for people to frequent
the different places near the falls, and they
have been fenced off with barb wire to keep
people out. Several cases of undermining
have been discovered. There is danger at
many points from this source.
The Tenth avenue bridge was ordered closed
Sunday by the city engineer. This bridge has
not been very safe for several years, and as
the water rose the city engineer had the piers
examined. 1t was found that the second pier
from the west side and the third from the
east end had been undermined. In addition,
jam of logs had formed at the latter pier, and
their weight was proving too much for the
pier to stand. Nothing can be done to pre-
vent the pier going out If the water gains
foothOld
The rise has had an effect on the different
factories on Nicollet avenue, many OF Whlch
have shut down. Along the river mills and
lumber piles have been threatened, while the
back water of Bassett's creek is spreading
over every bit of low land in the vicinity.
Many cellars have been flooded, and consider
able damage done in that respect
There are no logs going by Minneapolis now,
and there has been clear river since last
Friday afternoon, at which time the last OF
the logs below the Coon creek boom got away
But-and it is a but which means stacks
of dollars to Iumbermen-there are 60,000,-
600 feet of logs Juggling and pulling at the
booms in the Immediate vicinity of Mime
apolis The booms are holding we'll now,
but If the water continues to rise what VIII
! happen?
The booms may break, and if they do the
! 20 OO0, 600 feet that have already gone down
| the stream and over the falls will be but a
small percentage of those that will follow.
The lumber yards along both sides of the
river from the steel arch bridge to Forteth
avenue north are more less flooded. The
| rapid rise since Saturday afternoon brought
the water into the yards which are situated
on low ground, and reports show that they are
from six to eighteen inches deep. There is
no danger, however and the owners state that
provision has been made to protect them
selves from any loss.