The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-30
CITY DRAINAGE
STOOD THE TEST
OF RECORD BREAKING RAINS
AND NO SERIOUS DAMAGE RESULT
ED FROM HEAVY DOWNPOUR.

Several WashOuts Reported to Di-
rector of Public Works, But All of
These Were Promptly and Easily
Remedied-MOst Serious Washouts
Occurred in Yamacraw and Frog
tOwn-West Broad street Mer-
chants Suffered slightly by Flood
inE-TrOIIey Company Was Rum
ming Cars on Schedule Time Yes
terday MorninE-HeaviestR Rain for
July In Ten Years.
The good condition of the drainage
system of Savannah made the effects
of the record-breaking rainfall of
Thursday comparatively light, as far
as public works are concerned.
The reports made to the office of the
director of public works show that,
though there were several washouts,
none were of such a serious nature as
to preclude immediate and easy repair
There were washouts reported in sew
eral different sections of the city, but
none of these are of a really serious
nature. The work of filling in began
early in the morning, and by last
night everything had been repaired.
The twashout on CASTOR street, be-
tween Bull and Whitaker, while large.
was not so extensive as had been re-
ported and was easily remeded. Com
paratively little filling in was found
necessary. The smaller washouts on
East Broad street also did little dam
age, and the force of men put to work
on them soon obliterated all traces of
the damage.
The most serious damage was done in
Yamacraw and Frogtown. Here the
grades are steep. the streets unpaved,
and the water gathers greater force
as a result, than in other sections of
the city. Great quantities of earth
were carried from the streets in many
places. but even these ravages of the
water were all completely destroyed by
night.
The heavy rains of Sunday aided
greatly in prohibiting greater damage
on Thursday. AT that time, when
blAClG was d rainfall OF more IMAM Two
inches, several weak places in the sew
erage and drainage system showed up,
and one or two slight breaks were re-
ported. These weaknesses were all
strengthened, and everything was in
the best of condition to withstand the
strain put upon it Thursday.
Some Merchants Suffered.
There was some damage done in the
store houses of the wholesale mer-
chants located just across West Broad
street. These storehouses stand con-
siderably below the level of West
Broad street, and much of the water
rushing off that paved thoroughfare,
was carried down into the lower floors
of the store houses
The effects of this. partial flooding
was greatly counteracted by the efforts
of the merchants. AS soon as they
saw the tendency of the water to flood
into their store houses, a force of men
was at once put to work bailing, and
thus the water was kept down and did
little real damage.
The trolley company, which suffered
greatly. from the rains, had everything
in shape by morning. The Mill-Haven
cars, which We're held up outside the
city, came in early. The derailed car
on Abercorn street was placed back
by morning the belt cars were running
on schedule time.
Weather Bureau Records.
The records at the Weather Bureau,
as stated in the Morning News, show
that the rainfall was the heaviest for
any twenty-four consecutive hours
since the establishment of the local bu-
reau. in 1870. The monthly record is
also now the largest, with one excep-
ton
Since July 1 there had been total
rainfall of 1888 inches. The only July
that has exceeded this amount is July,
1894. when the total rainfall aggregated
10. Is inches This makes a difference
of only .35 of an inch, and it is posi-
BILE that the record of 1894 may be
or excelled by possible rains
to-day or tomorrow.
Three of the rains this month have
been excessive. Thursdays rains to-
tailed 61a inches. On Sunday Fast there
was a downpour of 2.55 inches. on
July II there was a total rainfall of
1 .36 inches. The remainder of the grand
total for the month is made UP of
smaller rainfalls, varying in amounts
from OF of an inch on July 13. to .92
Of an inch on Friday last.