Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17
DANGER OF FLOOD
The Long Bridge the Greatest Menace
to the City.
WEATHER BUREAU OFFICIALS ALERT
Citizens and Merchants Taking Pre-
cautions Even Now.
CON SSIONERS ACTION

A general thaw has set in throughout the
Potomac river region, but the weather bu-
reau reports there is as yet no sign of the
flood which many believe will be a conse-
quence of the melting snow. At Harpers
Ferry and Cumberland the ice in the river
holds fairly good, and until a break comes
in the headwaters Washington is in no
danger. 1t is argued at the weather bu-
reau this morning that the ice in the river
will melt here as rapidly or more so than
in the upper region, and passing down and
out into the bay will make way for the
rush of foes from above. The danger TO
Washington is the possibility Of the ice
from upstream banking against the Long
bridge. thus forming Il dam, which would
turn the river from its course and into the
lower sections of the city. This is the fea
ture of the situation which is causing the
greatest anxiety. The merchants of the
city and the residents of South Washington
argue that with the bridge out of the way
a flood would be not at all probable.
Clearing weather, with the thermometer
registering in the 4u's. will prevail through
out today and tomorrow. assuring a grad
ual thaw which will not be dangerous. A
rise of ten or fifteen degrees in the ther-
mOmeter and a bright sun might cause a
more rapid dissolution Of the snow banks,
bringing about rush of waters the river
could not well carry off and causing Il
flood over the entire region. There is no
indication of abnormal warmth, however,
and no immediate alarm need be felt.
Early Warning Will BE Given.
The weather bureau has posted agents at
Woodstock. Cumberland, Harpers Ferry
and other points along the upper Potomac
who will notify the department here of the
slightest indication of flood conditions. The
weather bureau in this event would give
warning in ample time-a warning that
would prevent the loss of thousands of dol
lars worth of property ana probably many
lives.
The river here was measured this morn
ing at low tide and found to be two feet
above mean low water. The danger line is
at six feet. 50 1t Will be seen there is but a
four-fOOt margin for the rush of waters re-
sulting from the thaw. When the river
reaches slightly above seven feet the avenue
Will be flooded and untold damage wrought
by the waters. The lower portion of Wash
ington. which includes nearly all of the
valuable business interests, is very low
comparatively and easily flooded.
To Destroy the Long Bridge
Should there be a flood as a result of the
great storm through which this section Of
the country has but recently passed. 1t will |
develop, 1t is believed, within the next two |
days. Meantime the merchants are re- |
doubling their efforts to secure the consent
of the government officials to a complete |
destruction of the Long bridge in case a |
disastrous flood seems Imminent COM |
mittee. which called upon General Wilson. |
the chief Of engineers of the United States
army, was told that the matter of blowing |
up or burning the bridge would have to be |
decided by the Attorney General This was |
very dlSCouraGing, as the citizens believe
that the time needed for the routine refer |
ences and the handing down Of an opinion |
would be fatal, the flood. should there he |
one, wreaking its awful damage long before |
the opinion would be available.
The avenue merchants declare the gov
ernment would be justified in blowing up |
the bridge for the purpose alone of pro |
tectng the millions of dollars expended in |
the reclamation of the Potomac flats q |
work which, they say would be washed |
away in the event of an ice dam at the |
Long bridge. Other government property |
" ouid be greatly damaged by flood, it is
set forth.
The bridge is the property of the Penn |
sylvania railroad and in spite of its i'm |
portanCe as the virtual connecting link be- |
tween the north and south. is one of the |
most anuquated structures of its kind in |
the whole country. 1t is the pathway of |
four trunk lines. and Its value cannot be |
overestimated. 1t is but natural that the |
railroad authorities should protest against |
the destruction of the affair, act which, |
while protecting Washington, would para |
I'VE the railroad industries of the east for |
a great while. new bridge is bat a mat |
ter of a few years, the citizens urge. on |
time to DO away with the cid one.
Merchants Taking Precautions.
Merchants doing business on the south |
side of Pennsylvania avenue began TODAY |
10 remove everything possible from their |
cellars in anticipation of an approaching |
flood. The flood cannot be averted, they |
declare, except through the destruction Of !
the Long bridge and the immediate break |
ing up of the ice in the river in this vfcin- |
itye Mr.. Frank Hume, who headed a COM
mittee which called upon the District Com |
mlssloners and the officials Of the War De !
yesterday. said this morning that |
the situation in Washington is Il serious |
one. everything pointing to a flood
Mr.. Fisher of the Norris-Peters Engray-
ing Company, whose plant is on Pennsyl- |
wanna avenue, said to Star reporter that |
ne mad ordered the cellar cleared of eyery- |
thing movable. Water was already backing
up IN MS establishment and had reached |
Ihe level or the ash pan of the furnaces |
This water, he declared, was the overflow |
from overturned sewer pipes. Pumps We're |
al Work an DAY In the event of the slight |
est food the fires would be uuenched and |
the shop would have to shut down
The Ice in the river must be broken at |
once, said he, and to do this the Conn
mlsSloners must employ some more Dower- |
full craft than tCgbcats These little boata
VIII not do the work.
The Norfolk and Washington stAapoer
Newport News arrived this morning after
a twenty-four hours struggle with the ice |
In the river.
Letter to the Secretary Of War. |
The position of the merchants of the c;tv
is best set forth il a letter which n COM |
mittee. composed of Messrs. Frank Hume. |
n. II. Shea and Frank y. May left at the |
p ont -rr