The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-08
WATERS FALLING.
In Most Portions of the State
Situation Improves.
SedgeWick and COwIeys Counties
Suffer Most Severely.
RIVERS MILES WIDE.
Down the Neosho Valley the Oil
Territory is Inundated.
Smoky Valley Farmers Are
Driven From Their Homes.
Railway Traffic Practically Sns-
pended Over Kansas.

| Wichita, July S.-High water here
continues to flood 80 blocks of the
city, including much of the business
section, and there is no prospect OF
Immediate relief. Both the Big and
Little Arkansas rivers. which unite at
this point are over their banks and
reports from above are not encourag-
ing.
The Little river rose rapidly last
evening, and the Big river is about
stationary, with reports of a further
rise at Hutchinson. Owing to ener-
getic work many merchants have re-
moved their stock from further dam
age, but residence property is sur
rounded and there is no relief.
| 1t is believed the worst is over, and
that today will show a material recess
sion.
At Chanute.
Isolated from the world is the con-
dition Chanute is in today. The river
! is rising more rapidly than ever, due
to another heavy rain that fell
throughout the Neosho valley Thurs
day.
The last train from the north on
the Santa Fe came in last evening,
and it had to pillow its way through a
swiftly flowing stream of water a foot
and a half deep. To the south and
west the Verdigris has the Santa Fe
main line and branches all sub
merged. Ten miles of track are I'M
der water around Benedict and five
line beyond Cherryvile. The Katy
has more track under water than
above in the viciity of Chanute.
The river now has the eastern edge
of the town flooded and a number of
houses can only be reached now by
boats.
At Hutchinson.
Cow creek rose several inches Thurs
day. running over Main street at noon.
1t was at a StandStill all the afternoon.
The damage at the present time to the
city is small The merchants have
prof1ted by the last years experience
and have their goods out of the way
of the flood. Only two stores have wa
ter in them. The water stands over the
street on two blocks on Main street, and
likewise covers several of the residence
streets. The water is fully is inches
lower than it was last year.
Damage to crops in the county will
be immense on account of the contin-
uous rains which have fallen for the
past two weeks.
At SaIina.
Dry creek, which has flooded the west
part of town. is receding, but the
Smoky. Hill, which is flooding the east
part of town, is about at a standstill.
1t is at a point three feet below the
high water mark of a year ago but has
been rising at the rate of a half inch
an hour for "a hours.
Heavy rains up stream and the fact
that the Saline has been steadily rising
and sending back water in here have
caused the Smoky to gradually
creep up on the town. Water from the
river now covers the larger part of
East SaIina and it is anticipated that it
will rise sufficiently to run most OF
the families in that part of the city to
higher ground OF to second stories.
The Santa Fe, the Rock Island and
the Missouri Pacific are not making
trains
here. The Union Pacific got a train |
out on each of it's three branches last |
night and a train came in from Denver
also.
At junction City.
Excepting the flood a year ago the |