Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-26

inches of rain fell between o'clock
last night and o'clock this morning
according to the observations at the
city weather station and although lit.
tie damage resulted it caused the river
to rise rapidly and the streets were
flooded for few hours. This is the
heaviest rainfall of the year in Ottum.
wa
At noon today the river was about
five feet higher than Saturday and
the guage at the Market street bridge
registered a trifle over ten feet. The
heaviest rise occurred last night when
the water went up about three feet and
during the morning the rise averaged
about two and a half inches an, hour.
In Central Addition, one of the low
est residence portions of the city, there
is reported to be considerable back
water from the race but 1t is thought
that G. rise of several feet will be nec-
essary to make the situation serious.
The business men are watching the
stage of the river closely and are pre-
pairing for an emergency.
The people OF South Ottd,s,ffs55ss--.cs
becoming alss'nntal seIbeatts fiie sewer on
Richmond avenue. If the river Keeps
OH raising 1T is feared that 1t will give
way and much damage will be done to
the property of the residents. 1t is
impossible to get on Gladstone street
now from Richmond avenue.
Railroad Washouts.
Several washouts are reported along
the railroads but none Of them are se.
rious. The Rock Island had a small
washout near Des Moines and ran its
fhn Ill ~, 4.
Avon. The Burlington had small
washout near Thayer and the Milwau-
kee one In Missouri but traffic was not
blocked and the trains are running
close to schedule time.
Lower Than Last Year.
Last year at this time the river was
several feet higher than at present but
thus far this year the rainfall exceeds
that during the same period last year
by 5.32 inches. 1t is said also that in
the northern part of the state there Is
less moisture in the ground than a
year ago and there is not as much wa
ter In the sloughs and lakes. In April
OF last year the rainfall was 2.23
inches as compared with 4:27 inches
thus far in April Of this year. The
4 heaviest rains Of last year, however.
came in May the precipitation during
that month being 7.90 inches. Tho
Following table shows the amount Of
rainfall during each month this year
and the same period Of last year:
1904 1900.
January ..2O5 inches 81 inches
February. 200 inches 2.6 inches
March BIB inches .95 inches
April Ito date) 4.27 inches 2.23 inches
Conditions at Des Moines.
| In Des Moines Saturday there was
an unusually heavy rainfall and a
/ fifth of an inch of rain is reported to
have fallen in trifle less than five
minutes, establishing record for the
year in that city. Regarding the stage
lof the river the Des Moines Register
and Leader says:
Yesterday morning the river meas
ured an even 5 feet on the govern
ment gauge on the Locust street
bridge. A year ago, at the same time
the river was So higher.
The chances for another flood are
not necessarily increased by the rain
fall of yesterday though the total for
the month thus far exceeds that Of
a year ago by 2.36 inches. Thus far
uufihS tle !SaT IHe ralnIall exceeds
that of the same period in 1903 by
LEO inches The river is lower and
there is not as much moisture in the
ground as year ago. Less snow fell
during the winter and throughout the
northern part Of the state there Is
less water in the sloughs, lakes and
creeks than a year ago. At the wealth
er bureau the officials do not expect
another flood, though unexpected guam
titles of rain during the remainder Of
| the month and in May might make the
situation serious again.