The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-09
Rainfall Has Ceased and Rivers
Back to Their Channels.
A VAST CROP DAMAGE.
Farmers Suffer the Most-Few
Lives Are Lost.
Railroads Are Generally Re-
Stunning Their Service.

evening, many of the houses being
submerged half way to the roofs. The
water was running over the floor of
the bridge and across the road at both
ends.
| The railroad bridge just west of it
was weighted with loaded cars to hold
it in place, and the water was up
nearly to the rails At the mill the
perishabIe stuff was loaded on cars
and moved out of danger. Southeast
of the fair grounds several rods of the
| Frisco track washed out.
The flood reached to the platform
of the Santa Fe depot and the yards
south were entirely submerged. Train
service on all roads is practically at
a standstilI.
Reports from Ell Dorado and
Augusta were TO the effect that the
water was falling and that there was
no rain at these points
At Concordia.
The Republican river has begun
falling at this point, after cutting
around the Dontoon bridge and carry
ing out al the falsework at the new
bridge. The total June rainfall was
1927 inches, passing all June rec
ords. 50 far this month 1877 inches
has fallen Much wheat is down.
At Burlington.
Water from the Neosho river stood
front of the principal business houses
all of Friday and was much as
four feet deep in some of the stores
The merchan tS had their goods raised
from the floors and so suffered little
loss that way. Business is practically
suspended while the people view the
flood. The water is a foot higher than
last month and two feet higher than
the great foods of 1885 or 1886. 1t
is SO feet above low water mark.
Half of the Santa Fe track east of
town is off the dump, and it was
feared that the bridge would go, but
it held. The high trestle across Rock
creek is off its base The damage to
ripe grain and growing crops has been
immense.
At Emporia.
The food situation is improving at
this point. Both the Neosho and
Cottonwood rivers are going down
fast The Santa F'e got in two trains
over the cutoff from Kansas City, the
first to reach here since Wednesday
morning. .-- ~
At Fredonia.
Both the Verdigris and Fall river
bottoms appear like extensive lakes
with the crops totally destroyed. One
quarter mile of Santa Fe track went
out and 500 feet of the Missouri Pa
cific track is off the grade The Frisco
sent through one train Friday from
the west, but owing to five feet of
water east and north Of this city re-
turned, leaving no train or mail serv
ice either north, south or east virtu-
ally isolating the city. The waters
have begun to fall.
At Wichita.
The flooded condition of Wichita is
growing better. The overflow reached
nearly every business house and resi-
dence in the city, however. Those of
the business houses not already food
ed have dykes erected in anticipation
of another rise. The worst is thought
to be over.
At Arkansas City.
The Santa Fe train crew brings the /
report that the bridge over the CHM !
AKRON at Fairfax on the Kaw City /
branch went out after the train /
passed over last evening. The Mis- !
souri, Pacific bridge over the Walnut !
at this city went out last evening also. |
At Ottawa.
The third record breaking rise for /
the MaraiS des Cygnes within a month /
has begun to recede. All the bust /
ness houses on South Main street /
which had just been ref1tted after the |
first flood, are two feet deep in water.
1t IS feared that great damage is be- 1
ing done the Forest Park buildings /
which were weakened by the first
Hood The city is without water and /
lights. Some two hundred people
have been driven from their homes,
but most of them kept their furni-
ture out of the water.
At Arkansas City
Ray Moffatt, a thirteen-year-old boy,
was drowned last evening in the flood /
waters of the Walnut river on East l.
avenue. He was fishing wheat |
out of the current as it drifted by in /
company with other boys, but ven l.
rured out too far 4
The Walnut and Arkansas rivers rose
all day Friday They are now higher /,
by over three feet than during the June
food. The Walnut is twenty feet and +
nine inches-the highest ever known.
The bridges around the city are all in
great danger. Water is flowing over /
he roads around all of them.
The Walnut is about three-quarters
If a mile wide at Madison and Chest
tut avenues. The low lands along the
Arkansas are flooded also.
The city is shut in from the outside
world, the only mail of Friday being
rom short distance in the territory. I
7entured to send q train north, but /
hree miles from town found the Ar
KANSAS river backed three feet over the
rack and so ventured no further. !
At junction City. /
The high water in the three rivers
leTe has begun to lower.
The water in the Smoky Hill develop
d into genuine flood Friday along its .
curse in this county. Friday it did an
nOrmous amount of damage on both
ides of the river and the overflow has
pread to many thousands of acres of
'ottom land.
Alfalfa tracts and wheat shocks float
d in the fields on both sides of the :
liver.
A number of families between this ]
ity and FIT. Riley were surrounded by :
he flood and were unable to get to
he city for safety until friends from ;
he city aided them with boats. The :
God is on three sides of this city. The !
verfiow from the Smoky Hill came .
nder the Union Pacific tracks north
asst of the city and overlooked the
JUNCTION Cfty-Ft- Riley Electric Rail-
ray company's tracks for several nun
red yards and turned a big river of
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