The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

The reports from the upper country,
the already flooded condition oil the
James at Richmond and the weather con-
ditions throughout the valley OF that
river and its tributary streams comb.ned
Yesterday evening and last night 10 pre-
ten;z q .iood zitsIatfoi, hereshouts as Sc
,,ious and threatening as any OF record
in the recent history of Virginia
Not only were the reports from Colu1n-
ria Lsnchbnrs and Buchanan o. an
alarming character, but the fact that5 the
Great yclume OF water passing thosn
,onts was following iI1lnhed'ately IN tie
wake and on top OF a very conSlderap.e
rise in the river coupie OF GAYS ago,
made il extremely difficult and Ilact'-
,.a;iv impossible To accurately forecast
,he height OF the flood when 1t shouid
reach Richmond. Reports from S'alun!-
l,ia during the late afternoon ana risht
irdicated that the figh-water f1ooi marx
lad bcan reached at that place lfe re.
cord on the gauge there read a snail
fraction over thirty feet ana IN, ii,e
water was practically at a stanostlii.
lsut for the already flooded conollioh 4. "a
tho lower James and the continued rains
in tho l,p,.er water shed of that river ii
would have been possible. from the eN-
narier,cc of the past, TO have accurate!
forccastcd the height TO which the river
would rise at Richmond. Just what csiect
mo condition of the lower river ""u'u
have ON the situation and just how nnch
more rain might fall throhShout t"e
ncr country, no man couid say.
,i,,o rr,a,nificent spectacle presented by
.i,t liver. in and out of its hanks hrousht
,,.a-y "a the lower part of the city yes
,erdav and will bring many more 'o-uas
F,nterpriSinC boatmen are feaPilis 10
,,cst from pleasure-seckers VINO ENJOY ''s
,nyclty Of a boat ride over Rlchmohu
streets ,,D1-,1c-rJoS
,,oa.,,or director Evans. who has Kept
) :, c,oso touch with the situation. ven
,,,,cd tho prediction last night that
,,o;-b+ of water of 81 feet would DC
,cacned at Richmond this afternoon ana
tonight This was regarded as d con-
.erystivc estimate. Earlier in inc Gay
Mr. Evans had predicted 20 feet, but IN
connection with both forecasts he frankly
stated that they We're merely conJecturai'
as the height of the flood Would be de-
ternined by conditions then unknown.
Tic river was rising Slowly at Richmond
Yesterday evening. At . o'clock the Off
,;al gauge recorded 14.+ feet AT CLOCK
,hc same gauge read 10 feet. From condl-
,;,,,s mn the river il was thought that Il
moro ranid rise would start early TINS
morning and that the highest wate1
>.,,.ld hc reached this afternoon or to-
e.Sh,.
AMPLE WARNING GIVEN.
Annie warning had been given to mer-
chants and industries of every charac.er
along the Richmond water front. Az
felt the serious import OF the tioihss N 'e
ceived. and all along the line there Wiz
indications that energetic precautions had
,,e,,, .asen 10 remove damaseable mate
ria, TO places Of safety. Many had en-
aeayored TO secure special and accurate
;,forrnstion The Virginia. Electrical
3tailway and Development Company. IN
response to inquiries. received oispatch
from Columbia yesterday evening to the
effect that Water 81 1-s feet, st!l rising
and raining hard" In the light OF the
!. .I.,,esapeak and Ohio and Western In
:,5,, rcnorts from Columbia it is believed
-. tnis somewhat oyerstates condi-
49, al that point. The importance OF
.,a eood situation 20 this enterprise is
-, ,ra.t ANY considerable rise throws
4. hack upon steam for the Eeneratlon
=. a,o..r;city and q still greater rise,
s..o,,, the location of the plant on the
,s,.ar,s hank. is serious thing inoeeo.
,.,,a company was yesterday operating
two steam engines ,,a
The William r. TriEg COMPANY
aiso received special reports lIo.i 10. IA, IL
,..,. country which led TO acs.ss anu ,,;,e,
o,c,,s nreparations for a recoro oitr va , N,us
nrod. The water. while high yesteraas .s.
ewentn- had in no way interfered Win
shis company or cut OFF the approach 20
s.s Yards. The Southern Railway was
., ,a Yesterday and last night TO continue
,s3thout embarrassment the operation 5ol
.,s York River line through the lIiss s'i
s,rds. The high level of the water IN
ihc dock had carried the Tuscarora and
5fl.. other vessels launched high into the
MI. The dredge Dewey was busily A y
r.,r,, removing sand from the Bottom OF
.he dock. but there was every indica-H
lion that the coming flood would fill it
ccoas.nued on Seventh sPage1