The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-23
AT AND NEAR CINCINNATI.
Condition OF the River Towns-FIood
May Reach Fifty-Eight Feet.

CINCINNATI, April 22.-Alarm over the
food has almost ceased in the lower Ohio
valley. The low water in the Ohio below
this city has allowed the floods from up
the river 10 flow rapidly toward the Mis-
sissippi. The situation is still serious up
the river. notably at Ripley. Maysvile
Aberdeen, Portsmouth. Hanging Rock,
Ironton. Ashland. Catlettsburg, Hunting
ton. Point Pleasant. Pomeroy. Marietta,
Parkersburg and smaller places between
Wheeling and Cincinnati The crest of the
flood is below Wheeling tonight, and the
further down stream 1t gets the lower Is
the rate Of rising. The uniform rate Of
three inches an hour tnis morning fell to
two inches before noon, and as low one
and one-half inches an hour al Point Pleas
ant at p. m. This decrease in the rate
did not extend far below Point Pleasant.
so that IL will be another day before it
reaches Portsmouth Ironton. Ashland.
Catlettsburg and Huntington. where there
are already very serious conditions. 1t
usually takes the crest of a food two days
10 reach Cincinnati from Point Pleasant.
but the present unobstructed flow is much
more rapid than in former floods. At Ports
mouth. tonight. hfty-hve feet was report
points below Portsmouth.
The Weather Bureau indicates that the
flood will not exceed hfty-eight feet at any
time at Cincinnati and possibly IL may not
reach fifty-seven feet. 1t is over ffty-two
feet tonight and the maximum will not be
reached before tomorrow night or wednes-
day. This Is about ten feet less than was
anticipated here untn the river began fall
ing last night at Pittsburg. The flood is
not as bad as In a dozen former years. and
much below the records OF 1897 and 1898 and
those of 1883 and 1884. The former floods
were earlier. when the weather was cold.
causing much distress among the homeless
people. While this flood is not so hard on
the people that are driven from their
homes. IL is much harder on the crops and
fruits that are well advanced. The prop
erty loss in the rural districts cannot be
estimated. II will be very large. The
homeless people will not be kept away from
their homes as long as in former floods.
which In some cases have lasted as many
weeks in the winter as this will continue
days I'm the spring The highest stage will
be reached at Parkersburs tomorrow and
here the next day. and at the mouth of the
Ohio before the week Is out.
The Weather Bureau here tonight gave
out the statement that the Ohio river in
the Cincinnati district generally. was above
the danger line. from one foot. at Cincin-
natl, TO fourteen feet. at Point Pleasant.
and rising at an average OF two inches per
hour. IL indicated that the rise would con-
tinue at Cincinnati till Wednesday. when
the rive will become stationary and soon
begin falling This bureau predicts fifty-
four feet here tomorrow morning and
nifty. six feet tomorrow evening The most
encouraging information received by the
Weather Bureau was from Parkersburg.
where there was a rise OF only one foot
all day and stage OF only forty-two feet
was recorded, where the local river men
had anticipated forty-eight feet Ii was ex-
pected tnat the river would begin falling al
Parkersburg tomorrow. AT Point Pleasant.
another critical place. further down the
river. the water was rising much more
slowly
AT Pomeroy. which is located I'm a great
bend, the suffering tonight Is reported
less than In former floods. The large fur
nacss Of the salt trust are located there
and they have suffered much loss. as well
as the iufnbermen. the electric interurbau