The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-28

Almost as quickly as it rose. the Mis-
eissippi promises to subside. averting the
threatened disaster to the whole East
Side. According to the weather officials.
the worst OF the flood Is over. and the
river will come to a standstill to-day, and
then begin to fall
Only the breaking of the levee at
Mitchell. Tuesday. rivermen say. saved
the East Side cities from serious results.
Thousands of acres Of farm lands were
submerged. but the strain was removed
from tine dikes nearer the cities and the
water diverted from the threatened dis
tricts.
TIE quick work Of the different city Of
ficials and the East Side railroad officials
in protecting the towns from the water
has been so thorough the cities are now
in n position to withstand the 34-foot
stage predicted by the Weather Bureau
without serious inconvenience.
The tracks ard roadbed of the Chicago
and Alton Railroad along the East Side
shore were tested yesterday and found in
good condition, and the company rescind-
ed the order against receiving freight at
st. Louis and announced that all offerings
will be handled.
Other roads followed in its lead and will
to-day receive all classes of freight for
immediate shipment. Forces of men are
still employed protecting the tracks
against further rise Of the river.
RIVERS CONTINUE
TO RISE SLOWLY, ~
Although both the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, continue to rise slowly at upper
points, 1t u not believed 1t will increase
the volume OF water at st. Louis seriously.
as 1t is. absorbed by bars and overfiows
before 1t reaches this district
At midnight the stage at st. Louis was
creeping past the 3s-foot mark Accord
ing to Forecaster Bowie, It. will continue
to rise slowly to-day. and reach its crest
this evening at about "a feet.
Cheered by the appearance of the sun
yesterday morning. many residents OF
Venice and Madison who had fled from
the towns Monday and Tuesday returned
to their homes and will assist in the la
Dor Of preparing the towns against further
danger.
Many houses In the western sections of
both towns are still flooded and will not
be ready for occupancy until the water re-
cedes entirely.
some apprehension was occaSioned in
the afternoon by the discovery of a small
break in the Madison County levee a few
rods north OF the Merchants Terminal
bridge.
An alarm was sounded and citizens of
the town fastened to the levee. The
strong current had eaten its way through
the embankment and was pouring through
into the town
Several trainloads Of dirt was rushed to
the spot. 1t was placed in sacks which
We're thrown into the breach After work.
ing several hours. it was announced that
the leak was under control.
STREET RAILWAY
SERVICE RESUMED.
Street railroad traffic between Venice
and Granite City was resumed over the
main line. and cars are now running reg
u.arly. TRAFFIC on the branch line from
Venice to West Madison and Newport is
still suspended, the tracks in several
places being under water
At St Louis merchants along the river
front are preparing to pump out the Gel
lars Of their buildings, and regard the
flood as practically over unless there are
further heavy rains.
It will be several days, however, before
railroad traffic can be resumed on the
Levee. as the surface tracks are still un-
der water In many places.