Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11
THE SECOND FLOOD.
Highest Water in ~ years Visits Grand
RAPIDS Via Wisconsin River.


When anyone in this country speaks
of phenOminal high water, they always
refer to the flood of 1880 which
inundated the lower streets of the
town, swept away hardware store at
the upper end of the city drowned the
proprietor and damaged property and
merchandise to the extent of over
| S100 900.
The past week has witnessed
another phenOminal rise in the Wis
cOnSin river, and while the water has
not reached to within two feet Of the
height attained in 1880, it was the
| highest ever recorded here before
except upon that memorable occasion.
Friday night at II O'Clock the river
was rising rapidly, but most business
men, after taking some precautions
against possibly unexpected rise in
| the river before morning. retired to
their homes without any fear of the
approaching food.
! The town was aroused about 2
o'clock Saturday morning by the news
| that the water was at dangerous
height and raising rapidly. Nearly
everybody with goods or offices in the
easements on the East Side hurried
down town and began moving to
dryer quarters yet despite their efforts
much damage to goods by water and
considerable damage to furniture on
account of its haSty removal is
reported.
J. A. Cohen is the heaviest loser
among the merchants as he had taken
less precautions than others and did
not come down during the night to
remove the goods in his basement.
He estimates his loss at abont $500.
John E. DAILY, the druggist is the
next heaviest loser. His loss will foot
up about 5000.
The loss in business and damage to
| stock and furniture in the REPORTER
OFFICE will amount to nearly $3.50.
f. L. Steib & Co. are losers to a
considerable amount, but as yet cannot
estimate it closely.
The damage TO the Jackson Milling
Co.'S plant, principally to their dam,
is estimated at about $1,000 Among
the minor items of loss at the mill is
the wagon bridge which was swept
away by the flood for the second time
this summer
An island and a part of the dam at
Biron has been swept away, and while
the damage cannot be told with any
|
the water has subsidized, it is thought
, by many that it can not amount to less
than $4,000.
The dam of the Pioneer Pulp Co
and the little island that forms part
of it has been seriously damaged, but
| an estimate of the loss here can hardly
| be made until the water goes down.
| A thousand or two of dollars, however,
/ Will hardly make good the loss.
|. Saturday night an alarm of fire
was started, but it turned out that
the temporary dam about the city
hall was giving way and men were
wanted to help strengthen the Struct
ure and keep the water from running
down Front Street. A lot of men
and teams went to work and this
danger was soon averted.
The water continued to raise SLOWLY
during Saturday night and early
Sunday morning it had reached its
/ highest mark II feet above low water
mark, and from that time it continued
to recede slowly, the change to cooler
clearer weather Sunday acting like {
bow of promise on the dampened
spirits of the populace.
There is probably considerable dam.
age to Overtlowed districts outside OF
/ the city ana manufacturing districts,
but this is too difficult to ascertain ir
time for this weeks paper.
/ A LESSON TAUGHT.
For years the danger of another
flood has been talked in this city in
/ connection with the building of q
/ dixie along the river at the Brow I
/ place where Ed. Ketchum now lives
| This flood has emphasized the
necessity of doing that work imme,
diately and taking no more chances OF
! the great loss which would ensue
} from the river breaking in upon Us
from the rear, during a season of high
water. Only by the narrowest chance;
: was a catastrophe averted Saturday
! night, and the city council should
take immediate action in the matter
1 and provide for thoroughly subStan
4 tial dixie along that dangerous point
1 in the river.