The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-06
The Walnut and the Verdigris
Continue to Rise Slowly.
MUCH DAMAGE is DONE
Continuous Sweep of Water
Ruins Crops and Land.
COffeyyiIle's Loss Will Be Much
Greater Than Last Year.
Damage to Property at Winfield
Will Be Easily 100000.

Kansas City, Mo. June 6.-All Kan
sas rivers except the Walnut and the
Verdigris in the southern part of the
state. continue to fall today. The
streams named are rising slowly and
are driving families from the lowlands
around Arkansas City and Coffeyviile,
but it is not believed that they can go
much higher. But little rain is re-
ported for this part of the southwest
today.
AS the waters subside the great
amount of damage wrought becomes
apparent The continuous sweep Of
water over the farms in the past
month has practically ruined many OF
them, much of the soil having been
washed away. The water has been
over the wheat corn and alfalfa fields
so long that the farmers believe that
crops are completely ruined. The loss
to stock will be heavier than at first
expected, and as most of the farmers
on the bottoms lost their cribs Of corn
the stock that escaped drowning is
suffering for food. Train service is
still demoralized in the southern part
of the state, although it is gradually
AT Winfield.
The Walnut river is reported to be
falling north of here. Timber creek,
which flooded the north part of town.
is receding and the people have been
able to return to their homes. The
Missouri Pacific is the only road
which is getting trains through the
town The damage to crops in the
I Walnut valley is considerable. Many
farms are submerged. Much wheat
| has been ruined in the Grouse creek
! valley east of here Unless the Wal
nut recedes rapidly this place will be
without water and light. Both the
water and gas plants are under water.
reach 100000.
At Emporfa.
The flood situation grows better daily
The Cottonwood river has dropped con-
siderable since Saturday.
The continuous sweep of water over
the farms is doing great damage, and
it is feared the river is making new
channels. The water has been over the
wheat, corn and alfalfa fields so long
that the farmers are pretty sure every
thing is ruined.
William Myers. a straw berry raiser,
is a heavy loser. Just as the stra w her
ries We're ready to pick the water COW
cred them and may carry off the vines
as well as fruit. His loss is $1,000, he
said.
The losses in hogs are even greater
than at first expected. Much stock is
suffering for food. as most farmers on
the bottom lost their cribs of corn. A
I
longing to Doris Fowler, was carried
away. Herbert Hiatt lost 100 cords Of
wood Losses of wood, stands of bees.
corn cribs and vegetables stored in
caves and cellars are on nearly every
farmers loss account.
The Santa Fe railroad ran a number
Of heavily ladened boxcars on it's Ne
OShO Rapids bridge to prevent it from
topping over. A deep cut on the Santa
Fe, just completed last year near Neo-
sho Rapids, began to cave in and the
I Ir=~er n tod
with 5000 sacks Of sand to hold the dirt
in position.
The principal complaint from the
farmers is the scarcity of food and
At Florence.
The Cottonwood river at this place is
almost down to normal again and all
danger of high water is past. Reports
of heavy losses Of farm property are
The Rev Mr. Fitch. of wichita. had
20 head of cattle killed by one flash Of
lightning on his ranch southeast Of
here. The family of Arthur Ice u in
number near Clements, took refuge in
the upper story of their home. the wa
ter reached the ceiling of the first story
and ffoated the building down stream.
The building lodging in the trees was
the only thing that saved the entire
family from drowning.
At ConeyvfIIe.
The Verdigris river began rising
Thursday night and has been coming
up steadily ever since. Sunday after
noon it attained the high water mark
Of last year. the highest in the history
of the town. Dozens of families have
been driven from their homes. The
! North Star Paper company plant is
flooded and the loss viii amount into
the thousands. The Coffeyville Vitrifed
Brick and Tile company plant is pro-
tected by dilzes which an army of men
are reinforcing all the time. Last year
this concern lost thousands OF dollars
/ by the flood. The ice plant is inundated
and the oil fields northeast of town are
many feet under water. The river is
still rising slowly and il is feared hun
dreds of families will yet be driven
suffering but the town is caring for the
destitute.
At Burlington.
] The highest water ever known here
/ did much damage Saturday night, when
/ the NeOshO went sixteen inches higher
] than ever reached A mile and a half
/ of the Santa Fe railway track east of
/ town is out. Trains cannot get in for
several days. The Throckmorton bridge.
north of town, is reported out. The
water ran on the floors Of some Of the
stores Sunday, but is slowly falling
At Junction City.
The Smoky Hill river continues to
4 go down slowly. 1t has fallen a little
I more than four feet since Saturday
| morning and is now FIVE feet above its
I normal level. The Republican river
is a little more than four feet above