The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-25
FLOOD LOSS VERY HEAVY.
$5,000,OO0 Damage IN the Middle
West.

WTCCh ana KUN MARX RAIN OF KCSGHl
Storm Generally Thought That All
Danger is Now Past-25,OOO Men
Thrown Out of Work i'll Pennsylvania.
PITTsBURG, PA, April 24.-Reports
from the several States in the Middle
West that have suffered severely by
the floods and storm of the past few
days show that the flood was one of
the most disastrous in the history of
the country Few cities, towns or
farnhouses in the vicinity of the var
ious rivers and tributaries escaped
damage, and in number of places
wreck and ruin mark the path of the
wind and water. The losses in West
Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania
alone are estimated at five millions.
While Western Pennsylvania is
fairly out of the clutches of the flood
this morning, fears of quick repeti-
ton of the disaster and perhaps on
an increased scale seemed to haunt
the people.
Weather conditions are not reassur-
ing. 1t is again raining in Pittsburg,
and advices from the headwaters of
the Allegheny this morning showed a
renewed rise, with a continued down
pour. Warmer temperature acting
on the snow was a factor that also
caused some apprehension. The wat
ers at this point have been steadily
receding since o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon, but the retreat has been
very slow indeed.
At nine o'clock this morning the
Allegheny marks showed p feet and
falling about three inches an hour.
Brooms and scrubbing brushes were
manipulated vigorously in Allegheny
and Pittsburg today and the post
flood cleaning carried on in earnest.
1t is impossible to fairly approximate
the loss resulting from the high wat
ers. Estimates vary from 100000
to $3,000,000, but the first figures will
probably come nearer the correct
amount.
Twenty-Five thousand employees
are now idle. In the two days of en-
forced idleness they will lose 100000
in wages. Damage to plants along
Penn avenue and to the vast West
inghouse manufactOry in Wilmerding,
with the shutdown of other big estab.
lishments at Rankin and boroughs in
the Turtle Creek Valley easily mounts
up to half million more.
The aggregate loss to railroads is
estimated at 100000. Property in
Allegheny has suffered injury to al
equal extent. Marshaling with these
the manifold items of damage tC
other adjacent communities, the to-
tai of 81 100000 can easily be reached
The mills and factories along the river
fronts will not be able to resume be
fore two days. The receding water
left a deposit of mud covering the
machinery, and the cleaning of this is
no small task The railroads are rap
idly getting into shape again, and by
evening it is expected that all lines
will be running their trains on SEIZED
ule time.
Thousands of men We're employed
all day yesterday and today and they
have worked wonders in a short time
The Baltimore and Ohio has the east
bound track clear to COnnellsvillt
and there is no trouble beyond that
point. The westbound track is still
blocked at several places between
here and Connellsyille, but will be
cleared up sometime today. They
also expect to get through TO Wheel
ing by this evening and open up West
ern and Southwestern connection.
from Pittsburg. The source of tn,
greatest trouble is at Claysyille, /
, short distance from the West Virginia
State line.
The Washington branch of the Pan
handle, which had to be PRACTICAL,
abandoned on Saturday on accoun
of the flood and landslides, was pu
in shape yesterday and trains are nov
running over it. The only seriou
trouble now rests with the Wheelin,
Division, and it is expected to hav
this in shape not later than night.
While there may have been create
floods at this point, there was neve
one that caused so much financial los
and discomfort This was due to tn
denser population caused by the re
cent rapid growth of the two cities
and to the fact that all the manufa(
turing plants on the river banks wer
in active operation, most OF thel
working night and day, until tn
raising water put out the fires an
drove the workers to higher grounC
Almost every manufacturing estat
lishment along the Ohio, the ALE
gheny and the Monongahela river
suffered. The loss to the Westing
l,o,,ea Copnno1y II iS Cai6 will h