Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-07-11
WATERS WILD WORK
Dams and Bridges Gone, Much
Damage Done.
THE RAILROADS WERE HARD hit


Aggregate of Damage Done VIII
Reach Many Thousands OF Dollars
This section of Michigan at least
has never before witnessed such a
storm of wind and rain, particularly
the latter, as that which visited us
last Thursday night, July 4th and we
are very positive that no one is desir-
Gus of having the experience repeat
ed. 1t was an awful storm and 1t VIII
be some time before the damage oc-
casioned is all repaired and the effects
obliterated. a shower came up about
ten o'clock that evening and continu-
ed for an hour or such matter and
then nearly ceased. But along be-
tween II and / o'clock the battle
royal began. The lightning flashed
vividly and the thunder crashed with
most terrific peals And rain, how it
did rain 1t was a regular cloudburst.
For two hours it kept it up with very
little cessation.
Such an amount of water never fell
! before in so short time. Many
stories are told by different ones who
had empty tubs, pals, etc. setting out
in their yards as to the amount OF
water collected. the statements rum
ming from eight to twelve inches.
Sewers, drains, etc were unable to
take care of it fast enough. Where
ever here were hollows or depres-
sions, small lakes or ponds were col
lected. 1t ran in'o cellars that never
were known TO have water in before.
Nearly every basement 10 the ores
on Main street contained from four 10
eighteen inches of water and consider
able damage was done 10 stocks in
some places.
lightning struck Geo. Parslow's
house, doing some damage and setting
lace cur aims on fire but it was extin-
guished before serious damage was
done Vern Parslow received quite a
Shock. Rob-. Lawrence's .resida nee
4 and {. barn On Belding Bros. farm at
the east city limits were also struck.
Growing crops were washed out and
fields left covered with water 10 quite
a depth in many places.
But the heaviest damage was done
along the creeks and rivers. Cannon 5
creek was changed into wild, raging
torrent that swept everything in its
path. The dam was taken out and
although the new bridge built by the
city at that point last year was toe
strong forit, it washed away at least
forty feet of dirt emhankment ap-
+ proaches on each side to depth of
not less than fifteen feet. Mr.. Can
mons machine shop was carried trou
its foundations and part of it tippet
over, the expensive and heavy ma
chinery being dumped out, some of il
! carried remarkable distance, ant
much buried under sand and debris
His loss will be heavy, probably ap
= proximating 5000. He is trying t.
o save what he can and will rebuild ;
= small shop on the old site which vii
be sufficient for present needs. Th'
II city council has appointed Aid. Jerse!
{ to take charge of the repairs 10 th'
: bridge approaches for the city.
A break about 40 feet In width va
s made in the race leading from th'
river dam to the r. 5. Co. mill, at th'
south end of Chapple's feed mill, LEI
J., ting all the water out Of the pond
! Mr. Washburn put all the men am
= teams he could get at work at ono
repairing the same. a heavy ston
v wall is being built TO reinforce
dirt embankment and it does not lool
t as though it could give way at tha
- point again under any circums ances
The millwill erunning next week a
, usual and in the meantime they ar
trying to operate few department
o with their steam power.
w. II. Tebbel's dam on Seeley cree
: at Smyrna went out and not only tina
but ruined the site so that it cannot b
rebuilt in the same place but wi
probably have to be placed furthe
" down the stream. The dam proper
- Spencer Electric Light and Power @
at Smyrna withstood the flood all rigl
but an old race at the west side ;
present unused proved the weak poll
and gave way, making a hole thirty
<. forty feet wide, They are workir
- like Trojans TO repair it and expect
this writing to be able to furni'
lights again Friday night. In Il
I'm meantime business practically ceas
and we can all go to bed with Il
y chickens at sunset as they furni
lights for most of the business house
= and electric lighting has been invogl
SO long that few are provided wi
kerosene lamps any more. The BA
or NER Office is hit too as our presses a
,w run by an electric motor and the new
paper press cannot be run by hand,