The Portland daily press., 1900-02-14
Part of Bridge at Little River Car
ried Away.
Warren's New Canal Prevented Great
Damage Being Done.

being done, but that they might go at
any time.
This would mean water famine In
Portland which would last Tor some days
or until the mains were Telaid. The
reservoirs in the city would have supplied
all Ct the ordinary needs of the citizens
for week or more. but the danger was
from fire. without water n fire depart
ment Is worse OIL than ship without q
ruddsr, and the seriousness OF the situa-
tion was realized by all who were In.
formed Of the situation.
Chief Eidridge Immediately hunted up
Mayer Robinson and informed him Of the
condition Of affairs. The mayor ordered
the chief to take such precautions in the
emergency as ne deemed best, and Chief
Eldrldge was prompt to act. He sum
mored in about eighty call men OF the
fire department and had them all ready
to patrol the streets all night to be on
hand for prompt action should fire oc-
cur. A blaze which should get good
head way II the fire department had no
water might result in a disastrous oon6a-
grafton and the Chief Engineer and the
Mayor were taking no chances.
1t was reported several times during
the evening that the water mains at
Little river had gone but this could not
be confirmed and about eight O'Clock the
chief efgin.er was notified by the officials
Of the Portland Water company that the
danger vas past and the water supply
stood In no Immediate danger of heinz
cut of from the city. In consequences Of
this report the chief did not order the
patrolInen on TO the streets, put during
the entire night the fire department was
prepared for quick calls and instructed to
take no chances.
There was some trouble with the water
at Cum berland Mills during the evening,
which was not explained, but Portland
and WestSrook were said to be all right.
THE WATER ROSE.
AZ everyone knows 1t began raining on
Sunday and with frequent let ups 1t
rained hard up to half past seyen O'Clock
on Tuesday night. There was not q great
amount of snow On the ground In this
part Of Cum berland county, but In the
northern sections the snow was reported
to be quite deep. AS a result of the down
pour OF rain the water which ran over
the frozen ground into the valleys swelled
the tiny brooks into raging torrents and
turned the Presum psoot into veritable
Niagara. aha ice, thick AMI strong, was
swept down the Presumpscot and threat
sned to do an immense amount Of damage
to property along the river banks. IRON
four oclock in the afternoon until y ght
o'clock last night the water rose at the
rate Of foot an hour, and it was snid
that 1t would continue to rise at this rate
for some hours to come.
Fortunately for Wessbrook and the
property along the river banks at that
point and below, the ice from the upper
reaches of the river together with the
logs and debris OF all kinds formed an
immense jam at Madison Falls about six
miles above the city of Westbrcok. This
Jam continued to incIease In size and TO
hold back great amount OF water. IL
was apparent to everyone who saw this
dam that 1t must break sooner or later be.
cause of the terribls force behind 1t and a
break meant an Immense amount of
damage. But fortune seemed to favor
thoss who live along this river banks in
this hood for late In the afternoon the
river wore q new channel around the jam
which damned the river at Madison
Falls and tore its way through the inter-
vale on Wills farm and thus relieved the
jam of much pressure. The new channel
acted as o safety valve for the river and
the danger of the large amount Of Ice and
hundreds Of logs breaking away and
rushing down the Presumpscot was re-
duced to the minimum. Undout tedly
this jaEl at Madison Falls prevented the
loss of property along the river below this
point because strong ice and big logs
when swept onward with terrific force IL
what causes the most damage.
At Little river, as has befors bean said,
Ire situation was for long time
sufficient to- cause the greatest alarm. The
threatening Of the water mains which