Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-03
Yesterdays DOwnpour Was in the
Nature of a CIOudburSt and
Did Much Damage.
WAS GOOD FOR CROPS, HOWEVER
Deluge Flooded Easements and Played
Havoc Generally--Street Cars
Affected.

There was something Of ralnstorm
| yesterday ana before II was over con-
siderable damage had been done. The
downpour began about o'clock, and by
o'clock this morning 80 of an inch
of rain had fallen thoroughly soaking
the ground. The first precipitation
along the north foothills was in the ma
ture Of cloudburst, for shortly the
water came rushing down the streets I'm
miniature torrents, This made OF
south Temple street a chain of small
lakes, and south Of there First and
Second South, but especially Second
South street, were flooded. The water
came down through Eagle Gate in "A
regular freshet and spread all over
South Temple street intersection, con-
tinulng down State street. The inter
sections of Second South and Second
and Third East streets We're trans
formed into lagoons. and eventually
much damage was done there.
EASEMENTS FLOODED.
Contractor r. j. Moran is raising the
Second South street grade between Sec
ond and Third East and his precautions
against possible trouble from water APP
pear to have been insufficient against
such downpour as came yesterday af-
ternoon, The impromptu dam on the
south side of the roadway gave out,
and let a flood of water over the ada
cent properties. The basement OF the
Huddart Floral company was speedily
flooded with four feet OF dirty water
which eXtinguished the fires, and dam
aged the heating apparatus over $50
worth, The green houses were only
saved from serious damage by the ac-
tivity of Mr.. Huddart In building dykes
TO turn the food. He has registered a
large and healthy vow Of vengeance
against the city for raising the grade or
the street, and against the contractor
for not taking adequate measures fol-
protection Of property OF abutters.
The basement Of Mrs. Green's resi-
.dence, 232 east Second South, was flood
ed with five feet of water, and the
premises Of j. w. Houston were also
badly flooded. The grounds Of the Re
organized church were covered with
water and mud, and property generally
along the south side OF the street was
damaged, greatly to the wrath of the
owners thereof. The recent city ems
gineer came in for good share Of
emphatic criticism, and incidentally the
contractor. The fire department was
called upon early In the evening by the
superintendent Of streets for relief ana
the flooded easements were pumped out.
GRIEF FOR STREET CARS.
The street car service got into trou-
| BILE bright and early, especially the
| South Temple, First and Third street
| lines. The rising Of the water from the
| bench covered the rails with gravel
| and debris so that cars were easily de-
| rallied, although the motormen used
every precaltlon, and the Red Wagon
was kept on the jump. Four
| Third street cars and two South Temple
street cars were punched at the II
street junction, with one South Temple
car partly dumped into the mud. A
First street car was deralled at ID
street, blocking west bound travel for
some time, despite the frantic efforts of
| the car men to get the car back oil
| the track. a big Third street car
| plunged into the mud near * street,
! enforcing an abandonment of the north
| track for the time And on other lines
| cars we're I'm more or less difficulty, ana
| it was almost impossible to keep
switches free from mud and gravel. The
| carmen did the best under the clrcum,
| stances and passengers as general
| thing took the situation good naturedly
| The bench streets Of the city were bad
| ly washed,