Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-28
FLOODS INCREASE.
Conditions on Grand River
 Are Very Grave.
Much Suffering From Cold and Star vation-AH Traffic Is DemoraliEed, and Grand Rapids Ks In Dark
 ness-Thou ousands Are Idle.


 ness-ThousandsA Are Idle.
 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 2S. Conditions in this city and nearby towns along the Grand river are very grave as a result of the unprecedented flood that has swollen the stream far out of it's banks for the past three days. At 9 o'clock the river gauge here showed a depth of 19.3 feet. This is three feet above the previous high water record, that of 1S44. The water has risen six inches since 6 o'clock. It is falling slightly, however, the drop in temperature having checked the small streams and surface drainage.
 The inhabitants of flooded houses are suffering greatly from cold and lack of food. There has been no loss of life thus far, but there is great suffering, and a vast amount of sickness will, 1t is feared, follow the exposure sus- tained by many of the flood victims. There is grave danger of an epidemic of typhoid fever following the flood as a result of the insanitary conditions that the lowering of the waters will expose.
 Interurban cars are running only over portions of the roads out of Grand Rapids. Steam railway traffic is de- moralized. Practically no trains are adhering to schedule on the roads that have their lines open. The city lighting { station is entirely cut off and out of commission, and the city is in darkness again. Many of the west side churches are surrounded by water and were un- able to hold services. All schools on ther notice
 The work of rescuing inhabitants of the flooded houses has continued throughout the day, squad of local militia assisting the rescuers. It is conservatively estimated that the loss to property and business on account of the flood will exceed $2, 900 O,OOO.
 Fifteen thousand men are unable to work owing to factories being com pelled to close because of the high wa ter. Two thousand homes are flooded on the west side. ...
 The flood conditions at Ionia, Lowell. Portland and other points along the Grand river are reported to be slightly improved, the waters having begun to fall. These towns are practically iso- lated by reason of the bridges across the Grand river going out, and it will be many days before anything like normal traffic with the outside world will be established. The flood loss at Ionia is estimated at $10O,O0O.
 Niles reports that no trains have been run on the Michigan division of the Big Four as a result of the St. Joseph river flood, that the greater part of the north end of the city is flooded and that sand bags are being placed on the dam across the river at that place to keep 1t from going out.
 watervorks and TfoIIeys Tied Up.
 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 2S.- . The city street railway and interur- ban system are without power be- cause of the flooding of the power houses near White river. Communi- cation with north and west Indian apolis is cut off by the flood, which has swept away bridges. The city is still without water owing to the food ing of the waterworks pumping sta tion. Many houses have been carried
 
 down White river and shattered against the stone bridges which con- meet the city proper with the suburbs. Kingan & Co.,, the Indiana furniture factory and the Indiana Foundry com pany are closed down because of the flood.
 South Suffers From Storms. LOUISVILLE, Ky, March 2S.-Since the civil war the south has never been so completely isolated from the north as it is now. Destruction or paralysis of telegraph facilities is so widespread and unparalleled that not wire was working south through Richmond, Nashville. Memphis or any of the great centers of electrical control on either side of the Alleghanies from the At lantic westward far beyond the Missisi i. sippi. Eight persons were injured and extensive damage was done to city and suburban property by the storm which swept over this city. The wind at- tained velocity of sixty miles, and the rain fell in torrents, accompanied by a vivid pyrotechnic display. The entire city was for time flooded. Many Trains Tied Up.