The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-04
SITUATION is SERIOUS
Towns Are Inundated and Fertile Farms
Under Water.


Under Water.
ST. Louis, June 4.-The flood situation |
along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers |
is extremely serious. Towns are mum |
dated and thousands of acres of crops have
been destroyed; but it is thought that
there will be no further loss of life, as
settlers have had plenty of warming The
loss, however, will amount to
millions Of dollars.
The Mississippi crept up the levee to-
day inch by inch. The surface Of the
swiftly flowing water was thickly strewn
with driftwood, which seemed to increase
as the day drew on, and indicating that
the crest of the flood Is approa ching.
number of frame houses, submerged all
but the roofs, passed st. Louis, and now
and then a dead animal, but no human
bodies were seen, altho a vigilant watch
has been maintained. Harbor department
officials believe that the river will rise
rapidly, and they look for thirty five
foot stage by Saturday. If their forecast
comes true, the lower floors Of buildings
In the levee will be flooded. Frepara-
ton has been made and it is thought the
rise cannot cause any great damage to
st. Louis.
TWO, Feet Abovet Danger Line.
During the past twenty four hours q
rise Of nine-tenths of a foot has been
recorded in the river, and at i a. m. the
stage registered was 321 feet.
Railroad tracks along the levee have
been submerged and business on the
roads having tracks along the levee will
| be handled over the elevated road until
the flood subsidies. The passenger service
on all the roads running to Kansas City,
| the west and northwest, is still badly
! crippled.
| At Carondelet the river is four miles
wide, extending on the Illinois side to
I'the Mobile, & Ohio tracks, which alone
serve as a protection to thousands OF acres
OF farm land. In North st. Louis the
lstream is three miles wide.
In South st. Louis.
In South st. Louis several houses along
the rivers edge have. been flooded, but
the Inhabitants had removed their prop
erty and vacated. Among those who will
feel the losses most heavily are the small
| truck farmers and gardeners along the
River Des Peres, near it's confluence with
the Mississippi On the Illinois side there
is a more serious flood condition.
| Venice, situated north of East st. Louis
is in almost Immediate danger Of inunda
q ton. A rise Of a foot more will submergt
the west portion Of the town, and manu-
! featuring industries will suffer heav.
losses.
1 The waterworks which supplies Venice
!, Granite City and Madison is situated OF
Cabaret Island. ALREADY the wafer naI
S reached the sill of the boiler room floor
r and a small further rise will extinguis
f the fires and cut off the water supply Q
Il three towns. Between Venice and Eas
st. Louis Is a low land area used as farm
ing lands. Water now covers this are
) to depth Of twelve feet, forming a lax
about a mile square. Many 'squatters'
= families have been forced out, leavin
= everything behind.
I The river has encroached into the rail
: road yards and shipping district of Eas
, st. Louis, and warehouses located alon
. the 1evee are half submerged. With TIL
\ first warning stores were hurrfedly re
moved beyond possible reach Of the watel
People along the river have received
general warning, and 1T is believed tha
all have escaped to higher ground.