The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-26
ICE GOES OUT OF THE BLUE
EARTH RIVER.
l Rise of Eleven Feet Occurs,
But no Danger is Anticipated For a
Week or Two, When the Minnesota
Will Loosen up--Engineer Haynes
Furnishes Figures as to the Danger
Limit..A Gorge Four or Five TILES
Long Forms Below the City.

The ice in the Blue Earth river
broke up Saturday night and caused
rise of several feet in the Minnesota
river below the mouth. The ice in
the Minnesota broke up yesterday
noon and passed out during the after
noon. That above the mouth OF the
Blue Earth is still intact, and is ex-
pect to remain 80 for week or so,and
until it goes out, no danger from high
water is anticipated.
When the ice broke up in the Min
nesota river yesterday a gorge formed
below the city and caused the water
to rise about six feet. 1t soon broke
and the water fell somewhat. Later
in the afternoon another gorge formed
and still exists. 1t extends four or
five miles below the city, packing in
tight around the curves, and the
cakes of ice are piled up more than
they are opposite the city. This
gorge has caused the water to rise
again. Dynamite was procured to try
upon it today, but it is not thought
that this will do much good. When
the river rises high enough to spread
out wider below the city, it is thought
that the ice will pass out. The ice is
unusually thick and strong, which
makes it more liable to gorge than
usual. The ice opposite the city is
that from the Blue Earth river.
The ice breaker nearest the Bel
grade shore was wrecked yesterday
afternoon. The water reached to
within two feet of the tops of the
others.
A. L. Wheeler, of North Mankato,
states that the water will have to rise
six feet further before the lowest
houses on that side are flooded. He
does not anticipate any trouble from
the water, but for safety had the
loose boards and wagons in the brick
yard put in places of sec lrity. In
1883 thelwater covered the brick yard
two feet deep. The people on the
pieces of ground are the ones who are
apparently most afraid, while those
on the lower land are not worrying
The river has not gone out of it's banks
anywhere yet.
Yesterday afternoon great crowds
lined the railroad track and bridge to
see the ice go out. Scores of kodak
views of the scene were taken.
Engineer Haynes states that he ex-
poets the water to lower tomorrow or
next day. He thinks that the ice will
go out of the Minnesota river above
the mouth of the Blue Earth in about
aweek, and that then the water will
slowly begin to rise and reach the
highest point of the spring. How
high the river gets entirely depends
upon the weather. With cold nights,
the snow will 60 off slowly, but should
heavy rains occur next week the water
may 60 up rapidly.
The city engineer got the new
sewer pump in readiness for work
this afternoon. 1t pumps $500 gal
Ions minute. The water has reached
the mouth of the sewer, and If it goes
any higher the gate will be closed and
tue pump put in operation.
City Engineer has kept record of
the high water of previous years and
the figures are interesting as showing
what we look for this spring. Eleva-
tions are given with reference to city
grades, and for all these elevations
the water table at the old Shaubut
building, corner of Main and Front
streets, is made the datum and called
100. The highest water ever known
here was April q, 1881, when it stood
at GIT. The elevation of the bridge
floor at the center is 1881. Front
street at Main is now 9S9 The sewer
at same place is S6.7 feet; sewer at
pump station is $3.50; surface of
ground at same place is 102. 10; highest