The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-08
MINNEAPOLIS.
OFFICE 20 SOUTH FOURTH STREET.
BIG DAM IN DANGER
FLOOD is DOING DESTRUCTIVE
WORK THERE AND AT THE
FALLS.
SECTION OF MASONRY GONE.
UNLESS FLOOD SUBSIDIES SOON THE
LOSS To MILLS MAY BE I'M
MENSE.
WATERS RECEDE FOUR INCHES.
Flagstaff Island Almost Annihiiated
Flood Sufferers Return to
Their Homes.
SECTION OF MASONRY GONE
UNLESS FLOOD SUBSIDIES SOON THE
LOSS To MILLS MAY BE I'M
MENSE.
WATERS RECEDE -FOUR INCHES.
Flagstaff Island Almost Annfhflated
Flood Sufferers Return to
Their Homes.

The waters of the Mississippi have
fallen about four inches since Tuesday
night The fall has been gradual, and,
although hardly perceptibIe to those
most interested, brings the hope that
all danger is over and that no further
harm will be done. According to the
best authorities these hopes will be
realized. and the greatest flood in the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant Of the
banks of the Mississippi will soon be
mingled with the things that have
been and have gone
The relentless war which the Father
of Waters has kept up with the ma
eonry about the main falls near the
East side pumping station has been a
disastrous one, and, even though the
water is now on the decline, it is pos
6ible that further damage will be
done. The retaining wall between the
race and the apron Of the falls gave
way about o'clock Tuesday afternoon
and about 200 feet went down under
The pressure Of the water. 1t is not
expected that this will cause any Sc
rious results, although, if the water
continues at it's present stage for any
length of time or by any chance
should become higher, the remainder
Of the wall might go, thereby seriously
tnjurtng the apron of the falls.
The new dam has also suffered fur
Their. A portion about thirty feet long
went down Tuesday night, the result
of the washing away of the crib at the
foot of the apron, which had previously
served as a support. The wide gap
caused by this break makes a good
outlet for the immense volume of wat
er which rusheS through 1t from the
sides and middle stream, causing
waves over fifteen feet high to form at
the foot. is thought by many that
the damage done the new dam is great
er than is generally supposed. From
the action Of the water a gentleman
familiar with dam construction said
yesterday that he would not be sur
prised to find that the central portion
of the right wing had given away
This, however, is merely a matter of
opinion, and until the water lowers it
VIII not be known just what damage
has been done. In any event but a
small portion Of the work, compared
with the whole, will need repairing.
The damage to the Tenth avenue
bridge is not supposed now to be so
serious as at first thought. A large
part Of the stone at the bottom of the
second pier from the west side has
been torn out by the action Of the logs
and Ice, and it Is possible that it has
been considerably undermined. This,
however, cannot be verified until the
water goes down.
Flagstaff island, just above the Tenth
avenue bridge, is rapidly growing
smaller, and. if a change does not
come in the very near future it will
not be necessary to put it on the map
Yesterday about one-fifth of 1t started
for the Gulf Of Mexico, and second
shipment may be expected at any
time.
Dwellers on the flats hail the an
nouncement that the water has com
menced to fall with delight, and some
of them began yesterday to move back
into their homes. 1t will be some time
of course, before those living close to
the bank of the stream will be able to
enter their residences over dry land,
but now that they believe the worst to
be over and feel confident that when
be there, they do not gr~umble at the pos
sibility of having to wait a week or
two. Those who have been driven
from their homes have been fairly
well cared for, partly through their
own efforts, but mainly through the
efforts Of their friends and the police,
the latter having done a large amount
of good work among these unfortu-
mates. All cases of actual want have
been reported by the people to the po-
lice and have been promptly attended
to-