Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-25
FLOODS IN MICHIGAN
Forty Large Factories in
Grand Rapids Closed.
MANY ARE OUT OFWORK
SERIOUS DAMAGE DOME AT LAM
SING TO RAILROAD PROPERTY.
Storekeepers at Battle Creek Moving
Their Stocks Out of Lower Floors
Bridges Are Out.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. March 25-The
flood situation is very serious here today.
Owing to the rapid rise of Grand river,
which is now three inches above the high
water mark of three years ago, at least
forty of the largest factories in the city
have been obliged to close and thousands
of men are out of work. Easements of all
the large buildings in the wholesale district
are flooded and the damage is already very
heavy.
The entire southwest section of the resi-
dence district Is under water and people
are using rafts to go about. Three lives
have been saved at Wealthy avenue-a man
who came floating down the river on tim
Der was hauled ashore and two boys were
taken from drifting cake of ice.
One-Third Of Town Under Water.
Towns further up Grand river report un-
precedented floods At Lowell one third of
the town is under water. The Grand and
Flat rivers. which join there. are so swol-
len that they meet In Main street, one mile
from their regular confluence.
The trestle work of the Pere Marquette
bridge Is under water, and the old bridge is
SO weakened that it is probable traffic will
have to be suspended over the Saginaw d.
vision of the Pere Marquette until the wa
ter recedes
Portland reports that the greater mart of
the electric light dam there has been
washed away and that the rest will follow
The city will be left in darkness.
Washouts Stop Traffic.
Through traffic on the Detroit branch Of
the Pere Marquette has been checked by a
washout of eighty rods of track near Port
iand through the rising of the Looking
GLASS river. The west side Of the town is
under water and many persons have been
rescued by boats. At Lyons the water is.
Inree 1eet deep in the village streets and
Waears electric plant has gone out.
Reaches Highest Point at Lansing.
LANSING, Mich, March 25.-The Grand
river has reached the highest point in it's
history here, and the flood has caused
heaVy damage. The water has overf1owed
1or Two blocks to the westward of the river
ana the loWlands on the east side of the
stream are all flooded. The Hake Shore
railroad viaduct Is under thrye feet Of
ruShlng water, and all trains aAs delayed.
Inc kalamazoo street bridgeawent ont
during the night fioa ting down And bring
ing up against the Michigan asekae bridge.
which was not injured
Fires Started.
Gasoline floating down on the flood from
leaking tank ran into the boiler fires at
the Gates and Edmonds Gas Engine Com
pany's plant, resulting in a fire that Quilted
the plant. The loss is $4,000
Two other. fires along the river were
caused by shaking lime. At all three the
fremen fought the flames in water waist
deep. ""'''
Serious at Battle Creek.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, March 25-
Flood conditions here as a result of the un-
precedented rise of the Kalamazoo river
and Battle creek, both of which run
through the town, are the most serious in
the history of the city
All street cars are stopped by the high
water the barns being flooded The three
depots, the Grand Trunk. Michigan Central
and Detroit, Toledo and Muskegon. are sur
rounded by several inches of water and one
or the three bridges connecting the business
and residence sections of the dity has gone
out.
Boating in Business District.
The water is now within a few inches of
the Jefferson avenue north bridge. Owners
OF uptown stores are moving their stocks
out OF easements and lower fioors while
many of the down town stores are already
flooded and their owners are getting about
the district with boats
1t is feared that the Kala ma zoo river and
Battle creek will continue overfiowing their
banks until the two streams meet
There is much danger of buildings along
the river, built on foundations of piles
going out with the flood Several small
bridges over the creek went out during the
night