Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-02
Appalling Task Imposed Upon
Des Moines Officials and
People Bravely Met
RIVERS GOING DOWN RAPIDLY
The Unfortunates Have So Far Been
Well Cared for But the Most Hard
ships Are Probably Vet to Be En-
dured When They Return &c Destitute
Homes and Enthusiasm Shall Abate.
,ecial to Times Republican.

now has keener appreciation than be
! fore of the trials that beset Noah, tn
| patriarch and prophet OF old. He say
! that the other man of history had L
provide for temporary quarters for onl,
one family while he has had to arrang
for.the housing and feeding during
| flood of many hundreds.
| The task imposed upon the, mayo
| and city officials of Des Moines and al
| the good people of Des Moines, all tn,
charitably inclined and all those who's,
sympathies so out to fellow men, ha:
been an appalling one, But Des, Moline.
has cared for her own quite well. NJ
such occasion for distress and suffer.
ing and danger, ever before presented
itself to this city; yet all the reason.
able wants of the thousands driver
from their homes have been supplied
and happily the loss of life has beer
reduced TO the minimum
The people of the city felt relieved
yesterday wnen the word was passed
along the line that the high point had
been reached and passed and that the
bowed surface of the rolling rivers
had come down to the level. and there
were indication of a decline Still
greater was the relief this morning
when 1t became apparent that the
water in the Des Moines had gone back
several feet. II was uncertain that
the worst had been seen. Vast areas
are still under water, but relief is GER
tain. and dry land will appear again in
a few days where there has been only
water for many days. The tops of the
houses in the submerged districts and
becoming more conspicuous in the
waterscape. The bedraggled trees are
relaxing from their strained positions
once more. The scene is one that will
be remembered by all who see 1t as
one of the greatest scenes in their life
history. Standing at Coon Point
near where the barracks of ancient Fort
Des Moines once stood in the Indian
days, one may look to the southeast
and for a mile or more follow the line
of the river: to the right is the Coon
river, not following its channel, but
cutting across leyees and thru the old
est part of the city,; to the left is the
Des Moines river spanned by four
railroad bridges and four wagon brid-
ges, running full to the lower beams
of these solid iron structures: in front
IS the low part of East Des Moines,
where from point just above the old
dam. down to the great farms below old
j
Il residence district, a distance of three
or four miles. The observer standing
at this point feels himself in the midst
of a great ocean, for inevery directn,
except in his rear he can see only the
tops of houses and trees and a group
OF idle bridges. In the north part of the
city. between the city proper and High
land Park, is another submerged re-
gion. All along both rivers are these
areas covered with water. But from
this time on the submerged area will
grow smaller and smaller, and in a few
weeks, ii one my Judge by the exper-
fences OF last year. the rivers will be
back in their banks.
There has been very little new in the
situation today. The relief work goes
on with good cheer. Not before have
the people of Des Moines had any such
experience with actual poverty Al
the Headquarters of relief work n
stream of shiyering, bedraggled, half
starved women and children, has been
for two days receiving from the gener-
osity of the people. Clothing in album
dance was offered and shelter was
found for all. Food has thus far been
provided. But Des Moines people hardly
realized before how many there are
who are dependent on their days la
Dor for the days comfort and necess-
ties. The most serious problem will
come after week or two when the en-
thusiasm wears Off and those who are
giving aid growing weary and drop out.
Then is when the poor people will find
1t hard to secure what they need. There
will not be others driven from their
homes, but many who are away from
their homes " III continue to suffer long
after the majority OF the people feel
that it is all ever. But Des Moines has
done well and Is doing we'll in the mat
ter of affording relief.
The reckoning of losses has hardly
vet begun. 1t is certain the damage
was vastly greater than last year.
Thousands OF gardens We're destroyed,
and these were the gardens of poor
people. The homes submerged We're all
cottages of laborers. On the south
there is one addition known as the
Clifton addition which was plated only
a few years ago as a wage earners'
town. The owners put up a splendid
levy and sold the houses they put up,
almost invariably on the installment
plan. Last year the levees saved their
though it lies near the Des
Moines river This year it was flooded
The houses In this addition are new
and they were surrounded by pretty
gardens and nice walks and good
fences 1t is what is known as Central
place; in the north part of West Des
Mones, there was a similar addition
that was very pretty before the water
covered it, The loss to the poor people
in their small houses will be immense
The loss on the large factories and
and jobbing houses will be
The greatest For years +. NJ. Hub
bell has been systematically encourage
ng the building of factories and ware
houses in the region south of the Burl-
ington tracks, from Fifty to Twelfth
streets. He constructed great levees
and provided what would seem to be
sufficient barriers to protect ell. But all
barriers We're swept away, and the fac
tory district has sustained immense
losses The railroad loss will be next
In importance and this will be largely
in the necessity for rebuilding track