Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-10
Further Details.

Especial to Times Republican.
{ = Des Moines, July 10.-The flood situ-
Esation reached it's most alarming stage
Des Moines river was twenty-one feet
above low water mark at o'clock, hav-
ing risen three feet in less than ten
hours. 1t is still rising at a rapid rate.
The Racoon river which empties into
the Des Moines at this place, advanced
ing up. A district containing thou
sands of residences, business houses and
factories is seriously menaced by high
waters. The levees which protect the
district have already given away in
many places. Hundreds are working
desperately along the levees to save
their homes and property, but the water
is slowly driving them from, their posi-
tions. Residents south of Des Moines,
owing to the breaking of the large sec
ton of the levee were forced to flee
from their homes early this morning.
Thousands of dollars worth of property
was destroyed and that section is now
practically cut off from the rest of the
city. Four feet of water is rushing thru
district of twenty blocks occupied by
residences. In north Des Moines a wide
breach in the levee caused 400 residents
to abandon their homes and much prop
erty. The situation is intensified by the
necessity of closing down the water
works If the river advances another
foot and the city will be absolutely
without water for domestic consump-
ton, factory use or fire protection.
Street car traffic has been abandoned
on q number of lines and will have 80
be abandoned all over the city in a
short time 1t is reported from Adel,
Fort Dodge and other places above Des
Moines that the rivers are still rising,
which is greater menace to this city.
The Rock Island railroad claims to
have resumed trains on almost it's reg
ular schedule and the Northwestern is
making satisfactory time on its main
lines.
The Milwaukee and Great Western
continue to suffer most. Another span
of the Great Western bridge at this
place went out this morning, the bridge
being almost total wreck.
The Des Moines race track is sub
merged and 200 race horses in training
there for the race meeting that was to
open next week were removed during
the night. The race meeting has been
abandoned. At Nineteenth street
heart rending spectacle was witnessed
at this morning. The occupants of
half a dozen houses which were sur
rounded by water were heard shouting
from second story window, crying
piteously for boats. None was avail
able at the time and the prisoners We're
beside themselves with fear.
AT 10 o'clock Des Moines river ceased
to rise and by noon it had receded three
inches. Heroic work on the levees in
north Des Moines repaired the breaks
and saved many valuable residences.
The Raccoon river continued to rise
and spread out over an enormous terri
tory. At noon it had invaded the fac
tory district and nothing but the roof
of the Keith furnace factory and Nc
Cormack Manuf&turing Company
could be seen. Thousands of dollars
worth of machinery were destroyed.
Hundreds of men are employed NOV
ing out household goods from the flood
ed districts Many of the people are
suffering and subscription papers have
teen started for a fund to aid them.