The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26
THE SPRING O 20
Part of the Forces That Are Changing
the Face of the Earth.
The NORTHWESTERN Advocate.

Shallow river channels whose currents
are normally slow because i'm part of that
shallowness, get relief by widening out.
which they do mercilessly at times. Fire
and water are good servant but bad mas
terS." says the old proverb. To these TWO
elements air may he added. Gentle breeZes
cool the earth, and urge homeward the
tardy ship Of old. Natures ventilation APP
paratuS works splendidly, but the gales
overdo things when they twist the forests
as If trees were straws, and playthings of
the mighty rushing wind" He who was
here when Chicago burned knows what aw-
full flames can do and do in the briefeSt
hour. He who has seen half a village go
ing down the Ohio river in one mass. with
bedragglel dogs on roofs. and discOnsolate
r%ooSters Growing their absurd but pathetic
protests. may be entertained singularly. If
he views the scene safely from the swing
ing floors of the great CovinSton bridge.
Those who have fled from their inundated
than Noah did, for the patriarch had fore
knowledge of what was to come after he
had made his preassured exit from the ark.
Prairie fires run with flaming feet that
trample down materials as well as distance
with magic speed. \ struggle with water
when one has recent choice of the land is
better than a combat with fire, but the
sudden flood has its awful and fatal perilS.
The West and Southwest have suffered
befOretime. but this present visitation is
more widespread than usual. Serious news
comes from the north extremes of the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri. even while the SOUTH
ern reaches of those rivers are in rebellion
against their banks. The ruin attaches to
mans present possessions and to his future
hopes. While the raging waters sweep away
houses, barns. domestic animals, wharveS,
fences. accommodations of farm machinery
and grain and hay. the land must remain
submerged until after the normal planting
time has passed. Moreover the soil and
sand-laden waters may deposit in some
places "A quality of soil, or a sand which
will entirely change the disposition and
productiveness of farms and gardens. The
phrase. mo more feeling than a log. comes
TO have new significance when one has seen
his entire littoral farm swept clear of pro-
ductive soil and of improvements by a raft
Of logs or Il cruel group of snags. when
they scuttle over that farm and shave ii
of remorseleSsly. We once saw n cemetery.
near Cincinnati. submerged. Tombstones
protruded above the waters as ii some sub
terranean CONFUSION had upheaved a mar
BILE mine. The sodden vaults lifted their
roofs as If the homes of sea elves and
ocean gnomes had come TO the surface to
give air 10 their inhabitants. One could
well sympathize in the sorrow with which
the survivors of those lifeless citizens of
the city or the dead must regard the re-
lentlesS invasion. but we confess To a quick
err and more marked sympathy when the
homes of the living were lifted from their
foundations. and terrified human beings
witnessed the destruction of all their COM
forts and resources. Millions will scarcely
express the losses which now seem TO COM
plete and emphasize the privations already
inflicted by the prevailing financial distress.
In some instances rivers have swept away
all accessible possessions. and then them
selves have run away laterally, under cir