The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-08
RAGING RIVERS
IN MIDDLE WEST.
Continued from page One.

Continued from page one
II Is not believed that the terrible
losses OF last year will be duplicated as
the water is not expected to reach so
high a stage Merchants too, had taken
warning from their experiences OF year
ago and removed their goods TO higher
ground or TO upper stories. This morning
a heavy rain started In at West Topeka,
which will send the Kaw still higher
Late yesterday the Kaw at Armourdale
had become stationary. West OF here at
Lawrence and Topeka II was reported
falling at midnight and while a two and
one half foot rise was predicted for some
time today as a result OF the tributaries
in Kansas pouring their waters into the
Kaw, II was believed that this would
come very slowly and be carried of with
out entering the west bottoms. where
such disastrous results followed last
years overflow.
The water became stationary. It was
stated by Observer Connor. because II
was spreading out above here and no
great damage might be looked for.
BRIDGES IN DANGER
At midnight, however, the large steel
bridges OF the Union Pacific and Mis-
souri, Pacific railroads, across the Kaw
from Armourdale, formed dam
against which a great quantity OF lumber
and wreckAge formed. The water defect
ed by these barriers, forced It's way into
the west bottoms through the railroads.
This morning the Kaw had reached
height of z74 feet, a rise OF one foot and
ten inches in the "A hours up to that
time. The high mark reached in June,
1908, was 81 feet
The belt line bridge, the Rock Island
bridge and the new Metropolitan Street
Railway bridge. connecting the bottom
with Kansas City. Kan, were damaged
severely during the night but are still
intact. They are new steel structures and
IL is believed will be saved. Six hundred
men are working to protect their ap-
proaches
CARING FOR THE HOMELESS.
In Convention hall on the Missouri side.
which had been opened to the people
driven from Armoordale and Argentine,
temporary cots and bedding were ar
ranged for the homeless and preparations
started to feed them.
In Kansas City, Kan. also hundreds
were cared for In churches. public build
ing and In many private homes. On the
Kansas side Mayor Gilbert ordered all
saloons closed and sent an appeal 10
Secretary of War Taft TO direct the COM
mander at Fort Leavenworth to issue ra-
tions to the thousands of destitute men,
BUSINESS PLANTS SUBMERGED.
All business was suspended at the stock
yards where the water had covered the
pens to the depth OF five feet and food
ed the basement Of the livestock ex-
change.
At the packing plants at Armourdale
the water stood two feet deep In the
Offices OF Swtfts packing house, and Hike ,
conditions prevail at all other plants.
Practically no trains came in from the
West today but those to the East moved
without trouble.
Besides teiegraphing Secretary Taft for
help, Mayor Gilbert wired Senator Long
and Congressman Bowersock, asking
them 70 assist in securing aid from the
government.
Many families were unable to secure
wagons, and along every street trudged
men and women carrying bundles of
clothing and other hastily collected
valuables. The water continued to rise.
spreading across the river in Missouri
from Kansas City towards the east bot
toms. where are the yards of the Mis-
souri, Pacific, the Chicago and Alton. the
Kansas City Southern railroad and many
grain elevators and few factories.