Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-01-29
RAvAGES OF THE FLOOD
Equals the High Water Of 90
Much Damage Done.

I
tics, as though to show the new
comers what they could do. 1t is
the history of this valley for the past
half century that an abnormally high
water occurs at periods averaging 10
years. The first flood of which white
men have any recollection, was in
1858. The next was in 1869, the next
in 1866 and the next in 1891 Many
of the present residents of Grants Pass
remember the flood of 30, when the
first bridge across the river at this
place was swept away. The recent
food approached close to '90's mark,
and some even claim that it was high
er. The balance of opinion however,
seems to be that it was very few in
ches lower. The shifting of the chan
nels however, makes an accurate COM
parison impossible. 1t differed from
most of the floods in that it was caus-
ed by rain alone. In other freak years
there was snow to melt with warm
rain and add to the volume. but there
was none at this time. In this re-
spect, it was similar to the high
water of 81. Almost all last week,
the rain fell necessarily and in tor
rents. On Wednesday night the
streets were flooded. The creeks at
the head of Sixth street Soverfiowed
and the water ran down the street in
rivers. Six inches of water covered
the sidewalk in front of the post office
and the Hotel Josephine office was
surrounded by water. Pedestrians
waded through water varying from
one to six inches in depth from the
railroad track to the Western hotel.
Many of the smaller creeks were as
high then as they have ever been be-
fore. On Thursday and Friday, the
waters subsidized somewhat, but on
Friday evening the rains set in with
renewed vehemence and the streams
rose with fearful rapidity. All Fri
day night and Saturday the rain pour
ed, ceasing about dark Saturday even
ing. The river continued to rise until
between and 2 O'Clock a. M, when
it reached the highest point and began
falling. 1t is an actual fact that it
came up into the boiler room at the
water company's power house and put
out the fires. The water reached a
point four inches below the top joint
Of the tubing on which the bridge
stands and within about six feet Of
the bottom of the bridge. Just below
the bridge, near the mouth of Gilbert
creek it was above its bank on this
side and flowed out upon the fiat. On
the other side it was flowing through
number of additional channels and
its width was indefinite.
The water cut around the south end
of Rogue river bridge and undermined
the approach, so that a 40 or 80 foot
section next to the main bridge broke
off and fioated down stream yet out
side the main river to point oppo-
site the power house where it strand
ed. About 10 or II O'Clock in the even
ing some large frame structure foated
down the river and struck the bridge,
giving it severe wrench, but doing
no serious injury. The machinery at
the power house was somewhat
damaged and portion ,of it was clog
ged with brush, debris, gravel and
brick and mortar from section Of
collapsed wall.
The dam Of the Golden Drift Mining
Co., above town suffered some injury,
but it was superficial and not serious.
The water carried away some of the
timbers and also some of the minor
buildings which were located on II
gravel bar below the dam.
The farmers below Grants Pass
suffered serious injury. Nearly all
the fences en- the bottom lands were
carried away and the damage to crops,
orchards and hop yards is very great.
Back water in some cases invaded the
dwellings, but no great damage was
done them.
The Applegate country suffered very
heavily. Its valley is narrow and the
land is low and sandy. In many cases
considerable areas Of ground were
swept away. Practically all the
fences are gone and the general devas-
tation is very great. One man of
competent judgment estimates that it
will take at least five years to re-
cover from the effects of this flood.
Only meagre reports have come in
from the farther portions of the
county. The most serious single
loss is that Of the Deer creek bridge
which was swept away. The Sucker
creek bridge, at first reported lost, was
high and dry and is uninjured. The
Grave creek wagon bridge was carried
away, but it was comparatively
small structure. All the Applegate
bridges were uninjured. The bridge
across the Illinois on the stage road
beyond Kerby was somewhat racked
by floating trees but can be quickly
repaired.
The Bybee bridge over Rogue river
was damaged and the east approach
Of the Gold Hill bridge was carried
away The Condor dam at Tolo was
damaged bat is still in place.
The river at Grants Pass rose "a feet
from its normal level and was probab.
ly IL or 10 feet higher than it has
been before since 80. On Sunday.
the whole town turned out to see the
river and the banks were thronged
from morning till night.
DYSPEPSIA.
| Dann1a ha Ia,