The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-19
JAMES RIVER IS
A BLOCK OF ICE.


tain Henry Cogbm and Engineer Meri-
dew went down the River road m "A We
hicle yesterday TO look for II. but did not
find the vessel. They were the gentle
men VINO discovered the Robert Leslie.
They report that the channel OF The river
IS open down to Chahin's Blum, where
the ice IS banked up thirty feet high.
The barge Of the Chemical WORKS
broke loose yesterday evening ana was
carried down the river. Fortunately
there was no one aboard, the captain
lust a few minutes previously having
carried his wife and child ashore.
Two schooners are at the Chesapeake
and Ohio wharf and they are In great
danger. in the event Of sudden break
ing up Of the ice.
Manv small craft have been swept down
the stream and, no doubt, crushed by the
ice.
The hosting apparatus at the Ceoar
Works was badly damaged by peihg
crushed by barge that was pusheu
against 81 by the great ice foe. Inc Jug
and barge Of the Cedar Works are sun
intact. but are being closely pushed by
the ice.
The residents Of Mayo's Island all
moved out in hurry Friday night. Ihey
had 10 leave so quickly there was mo
time IN which 20 carry off their mousse
hold effects Many of these were remoV-
cd yesterday.
ELECTRIC PLANTS.
The electric light plant situated on
JohnsorE Island suffered By the wafer
At q.3O o'clock Friday night the water
reached the wheelpits and all the ign's
all over the city were eXtinguished.
AIR T. W. Tranord. the manager
stated this morning that there was con-
stated yesterday that there was con-
siderable damage done 10 the betting ana
dvnamos. but that he was unable yet 10
estimate IL.
on Browns Island. whore the iich-
mond. Railway and Electric Company
have their plant the water did not rise
TO an extent TO cause any serious dam
age.
At both Of these places the mon were
bravelv on duty and prepared to render
valuable assistance but the food reced-
"a with the night and any very serious
damage was avertcd.
A bursted pipe I'm the Grace-Street
Baptist church has sent food or water
into the infant class Sunday-school
room. and considerable damage resulted.
AZ Centenary Methodist church the
melting snow poured IN from the roof
and the new cushions. carpet and fresco-
ing were damaged, but prompt action
prevented q much greater loss
The roof of ST. Pauls church IS also
leaking and tho fresco has been defaced
TO a small extent
MR. EVANS VIEWS.
Director Evans Of the local weather
bureau. gave out o. following:
THE present flood condition Of the
James River SIS but the logical sequence
or the reclut great snowfall and freeze
It's occurreusD was forescen four days
AGO by this office. and precautionary
warnings were sent out 70 all OF our
local interests which are liable 70 dam
ago from freshets. summarizing the then
prevailing state of the river and sug-
costing the removal of all heavy mate
rial 10 o. safe place.
From time To- time since then ad.
Asory information has been issued. the
last being yesterday morning before the
river had attained it. present height.
"The following figures may serve 10
show how threatening the outlook has
been:
"The watershed II the James above
Richmond comprises roughly about four
million three hundred and ninety thou
sand acres over this immense area pre-
cipitaton varying from T. TO IS inches Of
snow occurred, water equivalent from
ia inches 20 ] 81 inchen which was
preceded and followed by extreme cold,
causing The formation of heavy ico-
This snowfall was in turn followed
by rain over the entire watershed vary
ing in amount from onc-third of am inch
TO over an inch and q haf Thus within
three days the river basin received from
two o. three inches Oi water or say,
from 1900 TO 5000 gallons oi water -or
every acre Of the four million odd acres
which urc included in g. drainage area.
or 90 gross amount of from ten nunured
million 60 fifteen hundred million tons Of
water. When this is considered there is
small matter for surprise in the present
high water Yet SO well Us tho river
adapted to take care Of any reasonable
burden imposed upon II. that. in the pres-
ent instance. this immense quantity
which has been coming down would have
passed of without giving more than "a
norma. high water s.cge, had &c not been
for the ice which has cOngested and
gorGed the stream wherever any OBJ
struction existed
However. the crest Of the high water
has passed and danger from upper river
watcr very much lessened
can element OF danger lies in an ice
gorge below The city. If this does not
occur Che worst of the food i9 over"
GAS WORKS SAVED
Superintendent Knowles and his assist
ants have been husily engaged ever since
WAS feared the gas might have t0 ho cut
OF last night, but no such disaster oc-
CURED.
The drawbridge Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company, near Fulton is