Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-07
DANGER IS SLIGHT
CONDITIONS ARE uNFAvoRABLE
FOR A DEVASTATING FLOOD
THIS SEASON.

Only An Exceptionally and Excessive
Amount of Precipitation in Next Few
Weeks viii Cause ottumwa to Suffer
Severely From High Water.
Only an excessive amount of rain
fall in the next few weeks will cause
Ottumwa to suffer from another de-
Wasting flood and at present it is con-
sidered that the prospects for non
repetition of last seasons disaster are
most encouraging. Unless there is an
unusual amount of, precipitation dur
ing April and May it is not probable
that the residents of South Ottumwa
and the lower portions of the North
Side will suffer as in the high water of
the past two years.
It is stated by those who have kept
close watch on the stage of the riv-
er for several years past that the Des
Moines is nearly three feet lower than
at this time last year. Tho absence
of moisture from the ground Is an
other encouraging feature which in
spires the hope that there will not be
another disastrous food. During the
past winter and the fall preceding the
precipitation was considerably less
than the year before. Last fall there
was but little rainfall and only small
amount of snow fell during the winter.
With the ground in such condition it
will require great amount Of precipi-
tation to bring about another siege Of
high water.
Conditions Two Years Ago.
Two years ago, however, the condi-
tons were similar to those now exist
ing, The summer and fall of 1901 were
exceedingly dry and little snow fell
during the winter. In the early spring
many farmers we're put at serious
inconvenience to secure sufficient wa
ter for their stock. In the latter part
of April and during May there were
heavy torrents, followed by an excess
sive rainfall in June. The flood came
in July and did great amount Of dam
age to the crops of the farmers along
the river. The indications are that the
rainfall this spring will not be as
heavy as year ago or two years ago.
1t Is considered as unnatural and I'M
likely that there will be three success
siye years of exceptionally excessive
wet weather.
Precipitation Ligh:.
Locally the precipitation during
March was slightly in excess of a year
ago but reports from up the river
show the contrary to be true. North
of here last year the river remained
high during the early spring and the
fall in early May brought on the big
flood. Beginning in May the river rose
slowly until the guage on the Market
street bridge registered 16 feet. For
several days it remained close to that
point and then commenced to recede,
when heavy rains in the north sent
1t racing up until the maximum of %
feet above low water mark was reach
ed. For several days the river was
above twenty feet and then began to
recede at the rate of two feet a day.
River improvements.
The residents of South Ottumwa es-
pecia1ly feel much pleased with the in
dioations Of an absence Of high water
this season. South Ottumwa did not
suffer as much during the flood Of last
/, year as some other portions Of the city
but for a time it was feared that the
river would leave its channel and cut
| now one through Church street and
the best residence district of that por-
ton Of the city. The rapid subsiding
Of the river however, after it had
reached the danger point, averted the
threatened danger.
Since the flood the citizens of South
Ottumwa have been active in trying
to secure improvements on the river
that will prevent a repetition of the
overflow Of that portion Of the city
| While 1t was impossible to have the
work done last year it is expected that
during the coming summer the south
bank of the river from the bridge tc
point above Richmond will be rip
raped and system Of dykes con
structed that will prevent a recu1
renee of the flood conditions in South
Ottumwa.
| Ground Is Dry.
During the past few weeks the river
has risen but slightly and for the past
few days has been slowly falling. The
guage at the Market street bridge to
day shows the river to be but foul
feet above the low water mark, which
| 10 oDOuG ChAS lCSL loWCl lud1l d IGN
| weeks ago. A South Ottumwa mar
| who has lived along the river nearly
all his life and understands the condi
tons. stated today that the prospect:
for flood were not good. He sale
sit all depends on the amount O.
precipitation in the next few weeks
and the condition of the ground in the
northern part of the state. A year age
last fall there was heavy rainfall al
over the state and large amount O
snow SO that in the spring the GROUND
was thoroughly saturated. Then dur
ing April and May came the heav.
rains and there were few days in thu
two months that it did not rain. AL
of the ponds, sloughs and creeks alons
the Des MONIES valley must be fillet
with water before the flood conditions
exist and considering all the conditions
it seems highly improbable that ther,
will be another food this year
i PRIMARY MEETINGS.