Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-05
RIVERS FALLING RAPIDLY.
Both Kansas Cities Are Now Beyond
the Danger Point.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, June 5.-The rivers
here are now falling rapidly as they rose
before the flood. The Missouri has fallen a
foot and nine inches in the past twenty
four hours and at I O'Clock this morning
the government gauge registered 81. The
Kaw fell nearly two feet in the same time.
BY Saturday noon the platform of Union
depot the high point, will likely be par
TALLY above water.
Permanent wire communication was
opened up between the two Kansas cities
today for the first time since Sunday, and
this will aid wonderfully in the work of re-
storing order.
The several hundred refugees from Ar
mourdale and other districts, who have
been housed in Convention Hall, were re-
moved today to tents in the southern por-
ton of the city because of the insanitary
condition of the hall.
The citizens general relief committee of
Kansas City Mo. has issued statement
to the public, giving thanks for offers of
aid, and asking that assistance be sent to
Kansas City. Kan. The statement says:
Thanks for Assistance
"As we decline at this time to accept as
sistance from without, 1t is because we be-
lieve 1t our duty to meet the situation
which confronts us to the fullest extent of
our ability. The calamity which has come
TO us is no doubt great, but it is not dis
aster.
ITO the general public of the country not
familiar with our city it may be proper to
state that the two Kansas cities-that of
Missouri and that of kansas-are in the
main situated on high bluffs. Between the
two cities lies low bottom country, which,
owing to Its accessibility by railroads, has
grown up great distributing center. where
are located many of the wholesale
houses and manufacturing establishments.
Through this section flows the Kansas
river. The same bottom country has many
residences of the working population, cus-
tered about the manufacturing and whole
sale houses, and to the south, up the Kan
sas river. includes the hamlets of Armour
dale. Riverside and Argentine, all In our
neighboring state-Kansas.
This bottom land, known among us as
West Kansas, is the severest sufferer The
water has reached here level of ten feet
and there is every reason to fear there has
been great injury to the property of the
poor and to the goods and, possibly the
buildings of wholesale merchants and
manufacturers. But until these districts are
accessible, and they will not be until possi-
bly, next Monday. II is futile to estimate
the damage and to make any intelligent
statement OF the relief necessary.
Caring for the Homeless.
THE immediate task of caring for the
homeless and housing clothing and pro-
viding for them is well in hand. There is
no suffering unreleved. The spirit of the
people Is splendid. The conduct of the
Hood victims is admirable. The govern
ments or the two cities have sanitation
and policing well In hand-there are no DIS
turbances, there is not even disorderliness.
With the subsistence of the food work
VIII be abundant and business and indus
try will assume their accustomed sway
Whatever may be the loss of our merchants
they will bear their loss: we may find a
greater destruction of the property of the
working population than is now anticipated,
and If so. we have to call for assistance
from without but until such situation
develops We see no cause for asking as
sistance.
1T is proper, however, to state that Kan
sas City, Kan, and the other neighboring
towns In Kansas have suffered severely,
and while Kansas City. Mo-, generously
came to their assistance. we must not stand
In the way of assistance to our neighbors
from other sections of the country. To all
those willing to assist these stricken towns
we recommend that they address their or
1ers TO w. IL. Craddock. mayor of Kansas
City, Kan"