The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-16
STORM DOES GREAT DAMAGE
CITIES IN NEW YORK STATE ARE
 HEAVY SUFFERERS.

Loss at Syracuse Estimated at S25O, O,OOO
 and at Ithaca 1t May Exceed S15O,OoO -
 Five Hundred Families Driven From
 Their Homes in the Former City
 Much Distress in the Flooded District.
 New York Dec. 15.--Heavy damage resulted from the floods caused by the great downpour of rain and melting snow in various sections of New York state yesterday afternoon and last night. Telegraph and telephone wires were crippled and steam and electric railroads were badly hampered, in some cases traffic being entirely sus- pended temporarily.
 The heaviest damages took place at Syracuse, Ithaca, Rome, Auburn, Troy, and Watertown. Other cities also suf- fered considerably. At Syracuse the loss is estimated at $250.000, and at Ithaca it may exceed $150,000. Very few industries located on the banks of streams escaped damage.
 Syracuse, Dec. 15.-The worst flood ever experienced in Syracuse occurred to- day when Onondaga creek rose six feet in a period of less than nine hours and overflowing it's banks, spread devastation in all directions.
 Five hundred families were driven from their homes by the deluge and as many more were excited almost to degree of panic. Property was damag- ed to the extent of S250,000. No life was lost as far as known.
 Tonight there was much distress in the flooded districts. Nearly every eel lar was full of water and in some places 1t reached to the living floors. Furnaces were out, and coal for stoves could not be reached. Scores of fami- lies shivered all night or sought refuge with others more fortunate.
 Reports from the neighboring coun- ties, indicate that Scarcely an industry located on the banks of a stream es- capped damage
 Ithaca, N, Y., Dec. 15,-The most dis astrous flood Ithaca has experienced since 1857 resulted from the heavy downpour of rain yesterday and last night. The damage caused to property in this city is estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000. The destruction was greatest along Six Mile Creek and Fall Creek gorges. The power and lighting plants of the Ithaca Street Railway company were washed out and two trolley cars were swallowed up in the torrent. All street car traffic was suspended and the city left in total darkness. In addition all the gas mains were flooded and tonight the only available source of light for the resi- dents is found in oil lamps.
 Beebe dam and the Cornell hydraulic laboratory and canal stood the strain well, but the university power plants at the botto of the gorge back of Sib- ley college had to be abandoned and the workmen barely escaped with their lives.
 A change in the temperature at two o'clock this morning, at which time the rain turned to hail and snow, gave re- lief and stopped further destruction.
 Rome N. Y., Dec. 15.-A phenomenal rise of the Mohawk river early this morning has caused the destruction of thousands of dollars worth of property | as well as privation and distress among | hundreds of families in the eastern part of the city. The streets in East |
 
 People were carried from their homes | in boats Many families are without | fuel and the city officials are making | every effort to relieve the suffering
 Utica N Y, Dec. 15.-The rain storm of Saturday night and early this morn- ing did hundreds of thousands of dol lars damage in this vicinity. Wash out and the carrying away of bridges have tied up the Mohawk and Malone railroad completely. The Rome, Wa tertown and Ogdensburg road is also tied up from the same cause.
 Watertown, N. Y., Dec. 15.-As re- suit of steady downpour of rain for the pats forty-eight hours, Black river is a raging torrent One hundred feet of solid masonry, the retaining wall of the Ontario Paper mill, one of the larg- est of the International Paper company, has been washed out, entailing dam age of twenty thousand dollars. The mill is shut down and will probably be closed until spring.