The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-01-25
OF
THE FLOODS
Great Damage Averted in the
Allegheny and MOnOnsahela
River Valleys.


In a great measure passed this point,
but portions of the two cities are still
submerged and will not be freed from
the water for some time to come.
The MonOngahela gauge at 8 o'clock
registered twenty-three seet and falling
at the rate of about siX-tenths of foot
per hour.
The biting cold weather that has pre-
vailed all day Augmented the distress
which exists in the flooded sections.
In Allegheny the gas supply was err
ratio, and the distribution of coal by
the city authorities in the poorer neigh
bOrhoods brought about riotOus con-
ditiOn When the fuel was dumped In
the streets men, women and children
fought for its possession, requiring a
strong guard OF police to restore order.
Desolation exists in all parts Of the
two cities from which the waters re-
coded. Wreckage and huge cakes of ice
strew the streets. A thick settlement of
Shiny mud mingled with Ice makes
many districts unfit 10 walk through.
Huge timbers, portions of doors, stair
ways, barrels, boxes, cans and other
debris washed upon the streets by the
food have rested where the water left
them.
Street car service has been resumed
between Pittsburg and Allegheny, but
Is operating under difficulties in some
Of the lower lying portions OF the roads.
The big coal companies have been
busy all day preparing their fleets for
coal shipments to the south. There are
thirty towboats in TIE harbor ready to
start, and it is estimated that fully
100000 bushels of coal will have
started by noon.
Much excitement was caused by a
fire which completely destroyed the
packet Elizabeth, the towboat Olivette
and two house boats. These craft were
mOored In the Allegheny for safety just
above the Union bridge at the Point.
From some unknown cause fire started
In the Olivette, and in spite of desper-
ate efforts by the crew to control the
flames they soon had complete posses
sion Of the boat and quickly spread TO
the Elizabeth and the two house boats.
The Elizabeth was sent adrift and in
passing under the Union bridge set fire
to that structure. This fire. however,
was soon controlled. The burning hulk
of the Elizabeth continued down the
Ohio until she sank.
The continued rise in the Allegheny
river caused the water to force its way
into more than fOrty-three manufacture
Ing establishments, including mills,
furnaces and factories az various de-
scriptiOns, that line the banks Of this
stream from the Point out 60 the
Sharpsburg bridge at Sixty-first street.
On account OF the condition brought
about by the high water most Of the
works will not be in shape for reSump-
ton for II few days Some of the
plants are better located than others
for high water and will not be seriously
affected
From the heNdwater points on both
the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
the reports show them to be either sta
tionsry or falling. At Oil City the Al
legheny is thirteen feet and falling six
inches an hour, and at Warren the riv-
er is stationary.
At Greensboro, on the Monongahela,
the mark is Is Feet inches and falling.
Colder weather, with snow, prevails.
A roundup OF the damage done in
the Pittsburg district demonstrates
that owing to the timely warning given
of the approaching high water the &C
tual damage done will not reach the
high figures at first given out and will
probably not exceed 100000. To this
amount, however, must he added the
loss to the factories and mills through
forced shutdowns and TO workmen
through suspended wages, which will
run the total close to the $l,000,O00
uaark