The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31
FLOOD CONDITIONS
ALL UNPRECEDENTED
nv A.soclnted presa.l

(By Associated PresH0
KANSAS CITY, May 30.-Unprecedent-
ed floods are raging in central and east
ern Kansas. northwestern Missouri. east
ern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.
the result OF ten days OF almost continue
GUS rainfall. The general situation is con-
sidered most grave with no immediate
relief In sight. Many lives have been
lost. and 1t is estimated that no less than
21.o0o persons have been driven from
their homes many OF which we're washed
away, and that the property loss will run
we'll up into the millions Of dollars.
Tho greatest damage has been occa-
stoned between Kansas City and Ellis
worth, Kansas, one hundred miles west.
The chief sufferer is North Topeka,
which has been separated from the main
part Of the city and become an island.
At Kansas City Kansas, and in the su-
burben towns OF Armourdale and Argen-s
tine and at Harlem and Sheffield. Mo-,
near Kansas City. Mo-, an aggregate Of
1000 persons have been forced to leave
their homes. and 5000 employees of the
mum packing houses and railroad
shop in the bottom are out OF employ
ment.
The situation, summarized. follows:
Observation-Disclosures. North Topeka. 1000;
near Emporia. 600: salina and vicinity.
800: Lawrence. 500; Kansas City. Armour
dale. 10000: Missouri Harlem and Shelf
field 100; Iowa: Des Moines. 5000; OF
tumwa 200; Nebraska: Lincoln, zoo; Bea-
trice. 200.
Financial losses-Kansas: North To-
peka. $4,000: Lawrence. $4,000; Con-
cordias. 100000; Abilene and vicinity,
:s.O.ooo: salina and vicinity. $4,000; Sol
onion Chapman. Detroit and ,Woodbine,
and intervening country. $4,000: Des
Moines. 10000.
COVERS WIDE TERRITORY.
The already flooded condition of Cen
trail and Eastern Kansas. which has been
in the grasp Of the flood for two days.
became acute last night by sudden rise
in the streams. The rivers along which
the main damage was done are the Kan
sas. which at many places from Its source
at Kansas City to Manhattan, Kansas. a
distance of 40 miles. has spread out over
miles of land on either side of It's orig
final bed; the Smoky Hill River. dis
lance Of another 100 miles. touching juno
ton City. Abilene. Salina and Ellsworth,
flooding all these towns and the interven-
Ing country; the Blue River north from
Mnnhattan; the Missouri River north and
east of Kansas City, and the Des Moines
River at Des Moines.
Railway traffic In Kansas is practically
at a standstil. dozens OF big bridges hav-
ing been washed out between Kansas
City and Ellsworth. and many miles Of
tracks being under water. Every West
ern road entering Kansas City is affected.
The Rock Island and Union Pacific be-
tween Kansas City and Colorado are laid
out completely. and all Santa Fe trains
from the West have been annulled at a
point west of Florence. The Rock Island
has four trains stalled at mcfarland, one
at Wichita and one at Hutchinson, and, In
fact. trains are held up at all division
points. One train from Topeka over the
Santa BE reached here to-day. making a
detour of 23O miles to cover the sixty
miles between the two cities.
All rivers In this part OF tho country,
the Missouri, Kansas, Smoky HILL Bluo
and smaller streams-are rising tonight,
the Kansas and the Missouri at rapid
rate, and 1t is apparent that the destruc-
tive floods OF 1881 will be exceeded
Armourdale presents strange picture
OF desolaton. Almost metropolitan city,
and ordinarily one of the busiest por.
lions of the greater Kansas City. the CEN
trail bushes ssection, where are located
the packing houses, vast manufactures
and factories is a great lake.
Tho Swift packing plant is surrounded
by water and oan only be reached by
boats
A large relief corps is aiding the police
in protecting life, and 1t Is probable that
any further loss of life will be reported