Evening star., 1897-02-24
WATERS RECEDING.
Great Damage Caused in Western
Pennsylvania.

PITTSBURG. Pa. February 24.-The
great flood has done its worst in this sec
tion. and the waters are now receding. A
cold wave. which came up suddenly, broke
the back of the flood. and the reports from
all points between PitIsburS and the head
waters this morning Indicate that all
danger has passed. The rivers in this
vicinity reached a higher stage than at
any time since 1881.
The Monongahela registered 20 feet 6
Inches and the Allegheny ~ feet . inches
about midnight, and after remaining sta
tionary for several hours began slowly to
recede. At III o'clock this morning the
water had fallen one foo, and from rev
On 1t Will subside almost as rapidly as 1t
rose Hardly a point in the MononSahela
valley from Fairmo1t to Pittsburg escaped
Damage by the food. and in many places
the hlgn-Water mark was covered. Mills
built supposedly out of harms way were
submerged Works along the river were
shut down. and Workmen forced 10 fee
from the rising tide The damage can only
be apr roximated. but it is less than a mil
lion aLd a half in the MonongaheIa valley
From the headwaters of the Youghio-
gheny also came torrent that brought
with 1t destruction 10 valuable property
Railroads were unable to move trains in
some places the tracks being so far below
the surface that the tops of gondoIa cars
only were visible. The Pittsburg McKees-
port and 1oughiogEeny was entirely dis
abled, while trolley lines along the river
banks were SO badly wrecked that il will
De several days before operations can be
resumed Beneath several feet of muddy
water and debris there are millions of dol
lars worth of valuable machinery What
ruin has been wrought cannot be told until
the waters recede.
Private houses built in the lowIands in
the suburbs have been flooded, In some in
stances within foot of the second-story
windows. and are in danger of helm,
twisted from their founda tions At any
rate, they will be unfit for habitation for
weeks 10 come.
The poorer classes, who lived in small
houses ard shantes along the rivers bank
SOME OF them only a few feet above low
water mark have been made utterly home
less while the truck gardeners having hot
be.s in the bottom lands. with early veg
etabies almost ready for the market, have
been ruined
In Mckeesport the damage Will exceed
sJF1."p Crooked creek, which in former
fish waters has been harmless stream.
rose tc an unprecedented height. causing z
destruction 10 meadow lands for three
miles back in the country.
IN this city the water covered DuGuesne
way from 9tf street 10 the point. Steam
boats were moored. but few feet from
the entrance 10 the Hotel Boyer and the
exposition buildings were completely sur
rouGGed by water. ON the north side. fAI-
leSheny), over 3.'sD people We're cooped up
IN the second stories OF their homes all
night prisoners. their only means of escape
being by boat. Without fire or food they
received chunks OF bread and coffee and
coal handed through their second story
windows by pollceInen Ii patrol boats in
stead of wagons.
On Craig. Robinson. School Reoecca.
Lacock, Ann. Cory, kilbuck and Darra agfI
streets and South avenue the water stood
as ntgn as the kEcbs on the doors The
following Allegheny manufacturing con-
cerEs have been rendered idle by water in
v2ding the premises: Anderson Porter
Company. Bissen & Co.'S stove works
Boyd & Boyd's trunk factory. Pittgburs
ard Western repair shops, Charles nu,
wCrks. Damascus Eronze Company. La
Belle steel works. Lindsay & McCutcheou's
mills, Pittsburg forge and iron works
Bsf on pump works, Union salt works
Excelsior coffin works, LeRgate spring and
axle works. McKinney's hinge factory
Aarshall-kennedy -four MILL Calierv's tan
merry, Groetzinger's tannery Western
leatfer works, Heinz * LItz picking Is.
adjustments, Cariin machine shops. Voegt.
leys saw mills. and the Allegheny ilI,Im.
ina ting gas plant.
On the South Side the entire river from,
from 3otn street down, was submerged
All the plants were under water and on.
etatons were entirely suspended IL vii
be several days before d general resrruD.
tiOn can take place.