The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-11
SANDBAG RAMPARTS
ALONE STAND between
EAST ST. LOUIS AND FLOOD.
Continued From Pnse One.

opened to general traffic to-day.
East st. Louis. for the last two days, and
especially since the levees broke, has been
cut off from the outside world II the VIA
duct can be reopened 1t will be Of material
assistance in conveying assistance into the
city and allowing those who so desire to
transport their valuables to ST. Louis.
Last night relief headquarters had been
established on the second floor Of the City
Hall. There the bakeries. having donated
large quantities of bread delivered several
thousand loaves. The Nelson Morris Pack
Ing Company sent wagon load of hams to
this place at . o'clock, and all who asked
for food were accommodated
A constant procession of refugees surged
in at the south door OF the City Hall up to
the second story. There no questions were
asked. Their appearance of detection was
their credentials. and they received all they
needed.
East st. Louis still has light and water.
The lighting plant continues able to oper-
ate. and the exertions Of F. NJ. Homer.
Superintendent of City Water still maintain
the waterworks. The chief trouble is with
the sewers. These aid the water to pass
under the buildings I'LL up cellars and to
percolate through walls
The fires are kept alight in the water
works five feet below the rivers level. The
works are at the northern end Of what is
called the Island" in East st. Louis 1t is
the section east of Cahokia Creek A small
dixie has been built around the works, and
all the seepage that passes through this Is
pumped out by heavy pump which L. kept
constantly at work.
II feel sure that the water will be all
right" said Superintendent Horner. "if the
walls Of the building hold against driftwood
and against the current which Is beating
against It."
Previous to the entry of the soldiery. or
der had been preserved by emergency po-
lice. Their badge Of power was tin star
BY this authority many Of them, assum-
ing to represent the regular police force,
were guilty Of many extreme acts.
Several thugs with stars attacked photog-
raphers and other who sought to enter the
lines
The grocery stores and tho butcher shops
were low in their stocks yesterday after
noon. and difficulty exists in replenishing.
Prices are going up.
An entry into st. Louis from the north.
down from Venice. shows the plight Of the
city. The packing-ho - Armours.
Swift's and Nelson Morris's plants-were
gradually being submerged. The cattle in
the yards were confined in the overhead
driveways. where they were comparatively
safe.
All is dry enough down along Collinsville
avenue into the center of the town.
1t is along the scndhag bikes that the bat
tie with the flood is most spectacular. AS
far as the eye can reach either way is a
l~ L..
charge say that by now loo, 900 bags have
been used in this improvised protection.
Hundreds of men are working like beavers
carrying new bags to points which are
weak There a new tier of the sacks is
erected. and the whole Is Weighted down
with heavy iron rails or other such
anchors" as can be obtained.
As one walks along the top of the sand
bag dixie. to the west, are five miles Of
water, level almost with the top of the
lsvee. while to the east the eye looks down
upon East st. Louis and 1t can be observed
that the highest level of the streets in the
central section is below that Of the river.
II these bags should suddenly give way the
City Hall and all OF the heart Of East st.
Louis would soon be beneath three feet of
water.
CrTi'S HIGHEST POINTS
ARE BELOW RIVERS LEVEL.
At many places water seeps under the
bags. and this seepase has formed many
large ponds in the depressions. Every
leakage means danger point, as a great
pressure Of water is insidious, and If It once
gains an entry the powerful press of the
tide keeps working away at the place of
least resistance.
An, fha ut
Baltimore and Ohio tracks. On the south it
ended with the Illinois Central, but since
that broke Broadway has been the rampant.
To all outward appearances Broadway is
dry. But open a cellar door and the water
will be seen within ono foot of the level of
the sidewalk.
At all Intersections with north and south
streets sand levees were constructed by the
citizens yesterday afternoon. Though the
river itself was sinking slightly, the water
to the south Of East St Louis was rising
slowly. as it continued to flow in through
the levee breaks Consequently. these re-
newed efforts had to be made and the tenn
porary bikes built along the street.
Broadway Is built upon two lines Of rock
foundation. This in the middle is loosely
filled in with earth. Wherever a vacant lot
is found, the sides of the street can be
clearly seen. Out from the interstices in the
rocks which support the street spout
streams Of water. In this way a large vol
ume Of the flood entered the central sec
ton of the city, and there was no way to
stop the flow.
From the top Of the Public Library build
ing. 100 feet In the air, the ravages Of the
waters in and around East St Louis were
clearly to be seen.
The building overlooks Denverside and
Alto Sta. Down to the south could oe seen
the Illinois Central tracks, just a mere line
above the water until the point at which
the break was reached. There the water
was rushing down into the low grounds.
Its foaming was easily discernible
Far to the east was nothing but water
as far as the bluffs. BY the aid Of glass
1t could be seen that the flood had not
reached parts OF the American Bottoms far
to the southeast. but that It was advancing
rapidly upon this expanse
That the river could overflow this vast
territory accounts for the fact that the
water south Of the town did not rise to the
river level and inundate the whole of East
st. Louis. With this start It can go down
for miles and relieve the pressure upon the
city levees. 1t Is thought also that the in
flux from the new break in the Baltimore
and Ohio tracks will seek principally the
farming territory near the bluffs
CITIZENS MEET AND
DISCUSS RELIEF PLANS.
The meeting of the citizens in East St
Louis to discuss relief plans was called to
order by Mayor Cook yesterday afternoon.
Speeches were made upon the necessities. AL