Evening star., 1902-02-28
TURBULENT WATERS
Indications That Danger Of
Fla6d j Over.
CONDITIONS REPORTED
CATCH BASINS IN CITY FOUND TO
BE .OBsHRUCTED.
Water in strset High Enough to Cause
Alarm to Louisiana Avenue
ss-. Business Men. .....

This mornings storm was welcomed by
thousands Of people who believe a thunder
storm at this season means that there Is to
be no more severe weather. The weather
bureau officials attach no such significance
to the storm Such exhibitions. they say.
occur during the winter months when the
pressure is high and there is much moisture
in the atmosphere. SO far as noon reports
showed the rain storm prevailing through
out the country is not likely to cause an
other rise in the Potomac river. There may
be slight rise. but it will probably do no
harm. Only an unusually heavy storm,
such as is prevailing In eastern Iowa and
about the region of Lake Michigan would
cause trouble.
A storm of such proportions, it Is be-
lieved, would swell the river in q short
time and cause considerable damage. Such
a storm is not anticipated by the weather
bureau. The Potomac has been receding
since the high tide about noon yesterday,
and at noon today the only cellar flooded
was the old Marble Saloon at PENNSYLVANIA
avenue and 9th street
About two feet of water covered the floor,
although the tide was about eight cen inches
lower than 1t was yesterday at high tide.
It is believed the outlet is obstructed.
AT the houses south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. where the basement rooms were COW
cred with water yesterday the floors were
clear this morning. The water did not get
high enough at any time to eXtinguish the
fires in the latrobes In the houses on 10th
street. The-weathef bureau received a re-
port at o'clock this morning from Har-
pers Ferry stating that the water was 1913
feet higher than normal, showing a fall Of
about eight feet during twenty-four hours
Rain was falling at Harper's Ferry when
the report was sent.
Very little information could be obtained
fhn
day. The few reports received showed that
the water was gradually receding. Most
OF the small streams had about reached
their normal conditions This afternoon. it
was reported some Of the streams were
again slightly swollen, but there was not
enough surplus water to cause any material
change in the Potomac river.
Conditions in the City.
In many sections of the city the catch
basins at the street corners were obstructed
and the streets We're flooded The situa-
ton in this regard assumed a serious as
pect at 10th street ana Louisiana avenue.
where the water=in the street became deep
enough to threaten the business houses.
There was shallow wafer in the cellar of
the United States Electric Lighting Com
pany this morning. but no more than there
was yesterday-net enough to cause any
alarm.
The highest water reported to the weather
bureau from any point on the Potomac
was twenty-four feet. Both at Williams
port and Harpers Ferry this rise was re-
ported. rise Of thirty-two feet was re-
ported at dam No. 4, with eight feet of
water over the tewpath Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal. Dam No is about eighty
five miles from this city. not far from shep-
Canal officials here t{4ve received reports
thus far they indicate that but little dam
age has been done.r Ne serious break in the
banks of the waterway has been reported.
The canal officials are very much pleased
with reports thus far received.
Between Harper's Ferry and Washington
age had been done. the bank is intact. The
telegraph wires are in such bad shape that
very little news has been received from
the upper end Of the canal.
Many people remained up until after the
turning of the tide last night, fearing the
water might get so high that 1t would be-
come necessary to move goods from stores.
At several establishments where the mer-
chants failed to heed the warning of the
police the goods in the cellars were dam
aged by water.
Views of Harbormaster.
Harbormaster Sutton. who has been on
guard most of the time since the city was
threatened with damage by reason Of the
high water and ice. remained at the harbor
office until late last night He was on
hand again early this morning, and re-
mained until high tide about 1 o'clock this
afternoon. Contrary to expectations. he
found the water almost as high at 1 o'clock
as it was at high tide yesterday. This. 1t Is
believed, was due to the south wind and
the rain during the morning.
The river about the vicinity of this city
is practically clear Of Ice, although there
is swift current. The harbormaster said
this afternoon that he anticipated no fur
ther trouble on account Of high water.
During the time the water was highest to-
day some of the wharves were washed, but
little, if any, damage was done.
Merchants along the river front have
been on the alert and were ready to pro-
tect their property at q moments notice
This afternoon the police reported that
the rain had caused number of washouts
on the county roads and had left a number
of dangerous holes in sidewalks. Many of
these dangerous places were repaired at
once, in order to avoid accidents.
Advices received at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot this afternoon show that the
water at Woodstock and Timbervile was
sixteen feet high this morning. within two
feet of the rise during the disastrous flood
of 1889.
Boat House Flooded.
The boat house of the Fair Landing
Pleasure Club of this city. on the Virginia
side of the Potomac, about half mile be-
low Mount Vernon, was flooded yesterday
by the high water and much damage was
done the house and: its furniture.
The steam launch Pauline. the property
of the club, which was at anchor off the
boat house, broke it's mooring chains and
was carried ashore by the current and had
a large hole stove in her hull and was
otherwise damaged. Nessrs. Heath, Faunce
and Vernon the members of the club. will
have the boat brdaghtto this city for re-
pd;ts General ManagA CIT. Nicolson of the
Chesapeake and ohio Sanal Company re-
ceiyed a number OF kilograms this morn
ing regarding theT5condltion Of the upper
Potomac. especially at Harper's Ferry. In