The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-24
CHANNELS ARE
FULL OF WATER
Rise of Few Inches Would
Flood Some Sections.
PINE STREET LEVEE BROKE
And People Became Excited
Over Prospective Flood.
NORTH END INUNDATED
Chisholm Greek Is Quarter of
a Mile Wide.
NORTH END INUNDATED

Parts of this city are confronted with
a very serious proposition at the pres
ent time and this is the high water in
the rivers and creks. The Little Arkan-
sas river has not been as high in many
years as il is at the present time 1t is
running bank full from its entrance into
the city to its confluence with the Big
Arkansas and in many places it has
oVerhowed its banks and a raise Of three
inches would cause il 10 break through
IN number of places and the amount OF
damage 1t would DO cannot be estimated.
From the Murdoch avenue bridge south
there has been built q small leVee and
the water is within a half d foot of the
top Of this embankment. At Pine street
the water broke through yesterday after
noon and the people of that section Of
the city We're greatly excited. They tel
ephoned the city officials that a large
force Of men were sent there and they
soon repaired the break. The water was
rushing through the break in a stream as
large as a barrel and washing away
more Of the bank every moment. Half
an hours delay would have resulted in
the complete destruction of this levee
and the flooding Of that part OF the city
west Of Waco avenue and between Sec
ond and Pine streets. All Of this part
OF town IS several feet lower than the
water in the river and had the water
broken through every cellar would have
been flooded and lawns covered with silt
and killed and in most Of the houses the
water would have been several inches
deep on the floors.
Both ends Of the street car bridges.
from the South to North Riverside parks
were covered and yesterday morning the
company decided that it was not safe
Cor Al
at James street Above the bridge the
water broke through the embankment
and the entire park is flooded, in many
places the water IS three or four feet
deep. At noon yesterday the water had
reached the flooring of the Central ave
nue. bridge, but so far this is the highest
stage The yards south of Central ave
ME are all covered with water and the
gardens washed away. The water runs
across this section with considerable
force.
Lanes Island is almost entirely covered
with water and the people We're get
ting anxious yesterday on account Of the
Waterworks plant on the island. It
would not have taken n very great rise
20 bring the water UP to the buildings
and tneE Il little more would have
drowned the fires and this city would
nave been without water. for home use
or for fire protection.
At > O'Clock yesterday the river began
falling and all the balance of the after
noon the water dropped at the rate OF
nearly an inch an hour and there is no
indication that there is more water
coming than the bed can carry. although
the water Will be high for several days
yet A rain of less than an inch yester-
day or last night. would have sent the
river over its banks. The ground is
soaked thoroughly and all the water
that falls now runs OF with but very
small quantity going into the soil aud
this accounts for the exceedingly large
amount of black, muddy water in the
rivers.
Sullivans dam presents sight not 10
be seen often in this country. The levee
is broken short distance above the
dam and the water is running across the
street hub deep. almost right up 10 the
bridge and the houses there are sur
rounded. The one nearest the river has
q raging food in front rear, and TO the
left with the river q few feet to the
right 4 large force of men are at work
there trying to save the bridge the
abutnnent os which is half washed out.
At the west end. Ivan Applehv years
old, caught q ten-inch catfish In the
gutter down hy the boat houses. Il hav-
ing come mp through the pipes supposed
10 carry the water into the river, but
through which il was backing into the
street Another boy caught a carp at
The same place.
The people along Riverview are be-
coming very anxious FOR the river 10 so
down
The Big Arkansas river IS higher now
than 1t has been Tor two years. The
wafer has risen above the siX-foot mark
and thcre Is not much prospect Tor Il
going down any for several DAYS yet.
There are hundred small streams and
ravines north cf this city that are bank
fan 81 water and these VIII have TO be
enpue3 before there will be any drop
IN tho water 50 FAR it has done no dam
age. as it is no high enough 10 so over
its banks.
Chisholm Creek is on a tear about
right II is The highest now that il has
been for several years. some of the
people say X is within FIVE inches Of
beins as high as il was four years ago.
AL eff the lowlands along the creek are