The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-11

At 2:30 this afternoon the Kansas
river had gained very little on the mark
forenoon. 1t is believed that the high
est point has now been reached.
The Kansas river at IL o'clock had
touched the Is feet and two inches
mark and was still rising. Very little
drift was coming down and the street
car bridge is in little danger.
The bridges across the river at ST.
Marys, Valencia, Rossville, the brick
plant, Sardou avenue and Granville
are in danger and the county commits
sioners have been watching them to
prevent the drift from piling against
them and to save them if possible
Little Russia" the settlement along
the river front on the north side be-
tween the Kansas avenue and Santa Fe
bridges, is partially under water and
several families were forced to leave
their houses today and last night. A
dozen houses are surrounded by water
and in some instances the water is over
the floor and within few inches of the
window SillS. So far no houses have
been carried away as they are protected
by trees and the swiftest current of the
river has not reached them.
The occupants of the houses were
forced to leave them during the night.
Some of them carried out most of their
belongings but they will suffer consid-
erable loss on account of their gardens
being inundated. Many more houses
are III danger ana Cno1r occupants are
watching the river ready to move out
if it continues to rise. Several houses
on little rises of ground are completely
surrounded, although the water has not
touched them. Piles of drift wood
which had been collected, are floating
in the dooryards and much of it has
been carried away. In several places
the Russians were trying to dig their
potatoes where the patches were a foot
NEAR INTER OCEAN MILLS.
Two houses at the foot of Quincy
street. in North Topeka, are partially
surrounded by water and the little lines
of muddy water this morning were con-
stantly branching away from the main
stream and steadily advancing. The
water is within a fe@ feet of the store
house of the Inter Ocean mills at the
foot of Quincy street The water has
soaked through the ground into the cell
lar of the Central Mills and pumps have
been busy all day keeping the water
down. The water has backed up on
both sides of the embankment forming
the approach to the north side of the
Kansas avenue bridge.
Several corn fields east of the Santa
Fe tracks on the north side are under
water and several hundred acres be-
tween the Santa Fe and Sardou avenue
bridges on the north side are inundated
| The street railway tracks under the
| Santa Fe bridge are four feet under
| water The Rock Island switch tracks
| and Polk streets are submerged and the
! Santa Fe switching tracks along the
water front to the Wolff packing houses
are several feet under water.
IN THE CITY PARK.
| The water is gradually creeping up in
the city park and al noon part of the
walks and driveways close to the river
were covered. Boys in boats were pad
street line. The water has backed up
| through Soldier creek and part of Gar
field park is inundated. Near the mouth
! of Soldier creek the river is half a mile
| wide.
General Manager Patten has no fears
| for the street car bridge as he says the
| structure has withstood the strain with
| the river several feet higher than now.
| The water is now five feet below the
| bottom of the heavy bridge timbers
| The driftwood has all been cleared
away from the piling and the strain is
not so terrific.
The damage to the county bridge
across the river at the brick yards
| as only loose timbers were carried
away. The damage will not amount tc
| more than S25.
FIELDS UNDER WATER.
Along the northwest approach to the
| Sardou avenue iron bridge the water
was running inland at a terrific rate
at IL o'clock this morning, showing thai
| the river was rising rapidly. The corr
| inundated.
Chief Donovan took a ride arouni
through Moscow Row. and across the
| Sardou bridge in the patrol wagon, ac
| comnanied by Marshal Dryer of En-
| poria, Police Judge Magaw and report
| ers. When they reached the bridge al
| began talking about their ability a.
swimmers The bridge was free from
| drift, owing to the rounding surface o.
the steel piers which support the struc