The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-04
FLOODS GROWING
Worst Of Conditions Prevail
Along the Lower NeOshO.
Chanute, lola and Oil Regions
Under Water.
RAILROADS OPEN UP
Situation Serious Up the Valley
West of Emporia.
Cottonwood River Is % Feet
Above Low Water Mark.
Small Loss of Life But Tre-
mendOus Damage to Crops.

Ennporia. Kan, June 4.-The Cot
tonwood river is the highest at this
point by IS inches that the Oldest set
tier can recall and is still rising 1t
is 25 feet above low water mark. The
city proper is not materially affected
by the flood. but south of the Santa
Fe railroad in the suburbs and east
and west for miles the residents have
been compelled to move out by boats
or go to the upper stories. The loss
in stock and crops is beyond estlma-
ton.
Last evening rescuing parties were
out in boats saving suburban residents
on the east and west sides of the CITY,
A report reached here this morning
that the bridge and part of the nllI
at Cottonwood Falls had gone out, but
the story cannot be verified.
Kansas City, Mo. June 4.-turther
rains have fallen in southern Kansas
within the past Il hours, and the
flood conditions in the valley of the
NeoshO and Cottonwood rivers con-
tinue to grow worse. These streams
are higher than at any previous time
in twenty years. not excepting the rise
a wear ago and they are still rising.
The Kaw, which caused the real dam
age from Kansas City west to Man
haitian in the flood of 1908, continues
to come up slowly at IOpeka, Law
renee and Kansas City, but as yet no
alarm is felt over the result of the
flood along this stream. Although the
Missouri river at Kansas City is high
and rising slowly, it is believed it Will
be able to carry off the great amount
of water coming this way from the
west through the KaW. AS the
streams which are the highest are
those of the Kaw watershed and drain
into rivers south of Kansas City,
whatever serious damage is done must
affect southern Kansas territory, and
-i~,T 70. he.
towns which suffered the brunt OF
last years flood.
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
streams also are high and in some
instances have already Overfowed
their banks, inundating Valuab farm
lands and doing more or less damage
in the vicinity of LawtOn, Oklahoma
City, Guthrie, and Shawnee, Okla
homa, and around MuskOgee, Ard
more and Sapulpa, Indian Territory.
In southwest Missouri the Marias
des' Cygnes has done some damage to
ira cks at Rich Hill and other points.
At Kansas City and north the Mis-
souri, river shows small but uniform
rise, and a further rise of a foot is
predicted. Missouri streams, however,
with the possible exception of the
Marias des Cygnes, which also ira
verses Kansas. are we'll within their
banks, and it is believed Will cause no
serious trouble. Railway service
throughout the southwest is still de-
moralized and dozen or more trains
are stalled in Kansas. The damage
already done by the flood is immense.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth OF bridges have been DESTROYED
and growing crops have been greatly
damaged. AS far as known but two
lives, woman and child, names un-
known, who were drowned at Flor
-ence, have been reported lost
The greatest damage wrought is in
the great oil fields of southern Kansas
around Chanute, and at lola, Fort
Scott, EmpOria, Strong City, Florence
and further west along the Arkansas
at Wichita and other points.
At Chanute the NeOshO is miles wide
and the water is higher than since 1885.
Dykes built in that vicinity We're ali
washed out by the flood of a few weeks
ago and asa result practicanyal all of the
oil country is under from two to Is feet
of water Scores of oil tanks filed with
oil and many derricks and rigs have
heen swept away Railroad traffic on
all lines in that section has been aban-
doned. In some places the Neosho is
six miles wide and people are moving
about in boats.
At lola the Neosho is five miles wide
and a foot higher than it was last
year. All the bottom lands have been
flooded and the loss in cattle drowned
and farm property damaged Will exceed
that Of 1903. The street cars have been
stopped. and the waterwor1s and cleo
- trio light plants are practically out of
service. Rock and Elm creeks have
backed their water into town and 100
families along their banks were driven
from home and forced to take shelter
in the court house The river is still
rising today and the worst is doubtless
yet to come.
At Florence business is practically at
q standstill. and merchants are remov-
ing their stocks of goods. A passenger
train IS tied up at Clements and the
passengers were compelled to remain in
the cars all night Food was taken to
them in boats.
The lower part of Emporia is deep
under water and the water here is still
rising. A party headed by Sheriff New
lands has rescued many persons The
conditions at Fort Scott remain un-
changed, BelltOwn being shut off from
the main part of the city and the flood
extending as far west as lola.
Arkansas City-The Walnut and Ar
kansas rose two feet during the night
and early morning. Eight inches more
will flood a large part of the railroad
district Heavy rains reported in ev-
cry direction last night.
Winf1eld-The Walnut is still rising
Two hundred families are driven from
their homes. The Frisco, Santa Fe and
Missouri Pacific depots under water
and all traffic at a standstiI
Salina-SmOky Hill two feet higher
Fmporia-The Neosho and Cotton
wood are falling slowly after rising
steadily all night. Traffic conditions
improving
Clay Center-Republican river falling
slowly Further rain expected.
Nanhattan-BOth rivers rising at the
rate of 3 inches an hour.
Flood at Lincoln Severe
Lincoln, Kas., June 4.-Lincoln
county was visited Friday with a