The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-29
FLOODS down TOWN.
High Tides Force Tenants to
Upper Floors In Many
Streets Cars and
Trains Stopped.

Trains over the Pennsylvania Railroad
arrived about five minutes late this morn
ing There were few trifiing washouts
along the line, but the company had men
out early making repairs. The freight
yards of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. at
Pacific avenue and Grand street, were
flooded, tracks were undermined and con-
siderable damage done freight and mer-
chandise which stood in cars. The freight
depot of the West Shore Railroad, at
Newark avenue and Seventh street, is as
usual submerged The roads leading to
the station were under water to the depth
of six feet this morning, making it i'm
possible for truckmen to reach it. Cars
standing on tracks were flooded with
water and all the goods in them were
badly damaged. 1t will be impossible to
move any freight from the depot until to-
morrow at least.
The streets in all parts of the city were
as usual flooded. Pavonia avenue looks
more like river than business
thoroughfare. From the ferry to Kelso
street it is under four feet of water. Troll
ley cars of the North Hudson County
and Consolidated Traction Company were
forced to stop at Kelso street. Pas
sengers were compelled to reach the ferry
by walking through the Erie trainshed.
This morning milk trains stopped at the
Kelso street crossing, being unable to
go to the regular sheds, trucks being un-
able to get within two hundred feet of
them All the little places of business
along Pavonia avenue were inundated
and great damage was done. Travel
over the Summit avenue line ofTthe North
Hudson County Railroad had to be aban-
doned from midnight until five o'clock
this morning. On the meadows, between
Brunswick street and the foot of the
hill, there was water to the depth of
four and in places five feet. Motormen
were afraid to attempt to cross. The last
car crossed the meadows at II O'Clock
and the water was SO high at that time
At the foot Of the Newark avenue hill
there is a small river. The offices and
yards of the Jersey City Coal Company
ing the office furniture was floating about
city were oxertaxed and houses were
choked up at midnight and every base
ment from Jersey avenue to Henderson
street was overf1owed. In Bay and Nor
gan streets sections of the sewers gave
way, causing easements occupied by poor
families to overflow Extensive damage
was done household furniture.
van fOTSt EdIAs uitllodS high, was
flooded. the sewer basins on the several
corners being unable to carryN off the
water. Damage to the extent. of $500 was
done houses in the course of erection at
the foot of the Montgomery street hill.
They are owned by Henry Byrne. The
stable of the same gentleman was flooded
by the rush of water down the viaduct.
The Montgomery street meadows are
covered with two feet Of water and last
night it looked as though the power house
| of the Traction Company would have to
shut down. The Seventeenth street
| meadows were inundated. Occupants Of
compelled to seek shelter in the homes of
more fortunate neighbors. In Morris,
Essex and Sussex streets occupants of
the lower floors of houses were driven
upstairs by the great rush of water.
Houses in Henderson and Grand streets
were flooded The high tides forced the
water up through the concrete flooring
| of the City Prison at Police Headquarters.
| A similar condition of affairs prevailed
| at City Hall. No damage of any moment
was done at either place. Sewers in First
| and Second streets, which are being re-
| constructed, were washed away. entailing
l-considerable loss to the contractors
| At half-past four o'clock this morning
| fire broke out in the basement of No. 59q
| Summit avenue. The inmates fled to
places of safety in scanty attire. The
| fiames were extfnguished after 5000 dam
| age had been done. The fire was caused
| by water flooding the cellar and Stacking
| quantity of lime which had been stored
| there.
| The rain flooded the cellars in the
| Weldon Building and put out the fires.
! The small torrents brought In lot Of