The times., 1901-04-23
LITTLB DANGER OF AFL0OD
The Water Receding at All Points
Along the Potomac.
A Gradual Fall Reported at Mid
night-Conditionsn mt Harper's Ferry
Are InprOying-Wat ina the Gel
Iars of Commission Merchants

All danger that the Potomac River will
overflow it's banks is now past Yester-
day the alarming reports and rumors
which circulated about the city to the
effect that a considerable rise of the
waters could be looked for. caused great
apprehension Late last night it was an
nounced at the Weather Bureau that
since u o'clock moor the water of the
Potomac had gone down one foot. To-day
it is expected the water at this point
will gradually subside.
The situation was greatly exaggerated
in some directions yesterday. 1t was
stated that the stage OF the river at Har-
pers Ferry was 1873 feet which was a
rise of 90 feet since a. m, the pre-
ceediug morning. 1t was also stated that
this would mean a very considerable rise
in the river at Washington. The Weather
Bureau sent out bulletin concerning the
state of affairs, and the occupants of the
wharves between Long Bridge and the
Arsenal were notified of the possible dan
ger
1t was not, however. generally thought
that the river would rise high enough to
do any damage to property along the
river front, and few of those who have
interests on the wharves took trouble to
move their possessions.
The only serious trouble which has been
experienced was in the filling up of the
sewers to such an extent that the cellars
of buildings in the lower part of the city
were partly filed with water This was
true of number of stores in the vicini-
ty of the Centre Market Several fruit
commission houses on the north side of
Louisiana Avenue had from six TO eight
faY. fr,ft
water continued to rise steadily all day
AT several places where large quantities
of perishable provisions are stored in Gel
lars. hourly bulletins regarding the state
OF the river at Harper's Ferry were re-
ceived
All during the day, however, the opin-
ion expressed by old river men was that
the Hood would not attain dangerous pro-
portions For number of days past the
river mas been considerably higher than
usual and the current unusually swift. II
was, however only about three feet high
er than the normal stage. In the narrow
channel opposite Georgetown the current
was especially strong. The roar of the
water as it swept under the arches of
Aqueduct Bridge could be heard for q con-
siderable distance. Large quantities of
driftwOod were carried on the stream,
showing that farther up the river had
oveTfiOwn its banks.
Enquiry at the general offices of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
elected the information that the canal
was in good condition throughout it's en-
tire course, despite the high water. The
officials did not anticipate any trouble
on account of the flood. As soon as the
Weather Bureau sent out its bulletin stat
ing that there might be a dangerous rise
during the day Harbormaster Sutton no
titled all the occupants of the wharyes.
but few of them took any heed of the
warning.
: The wharves would not be materially
damaged, il is said, even if the water did
rise to a much higher stage than II has.
In case it passed the danger line the fats
on the side of the river opposite George
town would be the first to suffer, mas
much as the land there is lower than that
III Washington. 1t is expected that the
water will recede sufficiently today and
the sewers in the lower portions of the
city will resume their normal state.