Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
GREAT FLOOD DAMAGE
Reports From Michigan Show
Heavy Losses.
SURROUNDED BY WATER
SITUATION OF $500 HOMES IN
GRAND RAPIDS TODAY.
Streets Are Converted Into Rivers
Water Nearly at Top of Piers
of City Bridges.
SURROUNDED BY WATER

DETROIT, Mich, March 2S.-The tenn
perature all over lower Michigan has fallen
TO several degrees below freezing, and the
slight freeze has checked the bitches, little
creeks and small streams that have been
pouring floods of water into the rivers and
causing the most serious floods in many
years.
Grand Rapids reports that the Grand
river is still rising, but 1t is believed that
the crest of the flood in the other swollen
streams of the state has been reached
The drop in temperature is causing con-
siderable suffering among upants of
flooded homes in many places but thus far
there has been no extreme suffering or
deaths reported from exposure
Grand River Still Rising.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, March 26.-on
the west side OF Grand Rapids $500 resi-
dences are surrounded by water today, and
the occupants getting about in boats
If at all.
The Grand river continued to rise
throughout the night until 1t has gone be-
yond the top of all gauges and exceeded
anything known in the history of the river
large number of west side streets have
become Veritable streams. with the water
rushing swiftly through them to q depth of
from three to five feet. This current is real
iy part of the Grand river current.
The Grand goes through this city on a
bend which veers at the central part of the
city toward the east. The river is tending
to make for itself a straight channel
cI In the mo northern part Of the city, near the
Grand Trunk bridge, the Grand has sent
out channel due south, instead of follow
ing the usual bend. and the water is sweep
Ing down the north and south streets near
the river
Streets Are Rivers.
% oh
Joined Indian Mill creek at the Turner
street subway under the Grand Trunk right
of way, and has filled Broadway Turner
Hamilton, Quarry, 4th, Sd, I'd and 1st
streets, the Grand Rapids and Indiana right
of way, West Bridge street, Jefferson, Gold
and Sibley streets.
Many west side residents awoke this
morning to find their bedroom floors COW
cred with from one to five inches of water,
although last evening they had supposed
that their houses were in danger. Oc-
cupantS of the flooded houses have moved
their belongings to the second stories
where they will live until the flood recedes
Bridges Are Threatened.
The bridges are In steadily increasing
danger. The Knapp avenue br dge up the
river has lost two spans and the Ada
bridge is tottering
The residents of Plainfield have taken to
high ground and are fearfully expectant
of the giving away of one of the bridges
from above, which would carry the Plain
field avenue bridge before It,
The water is within a foot of the top OF
the piers of almost every bridge In the
city. The Edison Electric Company's large
plant will be put out OF commission by
very little more water and the city will be
thus deprived of It's chief source of ell l-ctri-
cal supply. The river is still rising.
fs lndf
on the Grand river nearer than Jackson
that the fall In temperature has lessened
the flood. Steady rises are reported from
all nearby points. The basement of the
municipal lighting plant has been fooled
and 1t is out of commission. The total loss
here to date is estimated at $1,000 O)O ard
5000 men are out of work.
Situation at Kalamazoo.
KALAMAZOO, Mich, March 26-The
Kalamazoo river rose steadily all night and
today is seven inches higher than at 6
o'clock yesterday evening. and is still ris-
ing. The temperature has dropped below
freezing. however, and II is expected that
the crest of the flood will be reached today.
The submerged area in the lowlands is
much larger than yesterday, being proba-
bly, a mile square.
The police are going about in boats TODAY
taking people from second-story windows
There have been no fatalities as yet. The
Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad tracks
are flooded today for the first time and
the Gull street bridge is also thought to
be In danger today. This is the first time
in the history of the city that the bridge
has been threatened.
Crest Reached at Battle Creek.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, March 90
Both the Kalamazoo river and Battle creek
have begun falling. and it is believed that
the crest of the flood has been reached here
The temperature is several degrees below
freezing, and this is checking the food
During the night Battle creek rose six
inches, flooding the Easements OF stores on
Main and jefferson streets.
Merchants had nnen working all night
and during this forenoon moving goods
out OF their establishments to places where
the water could not reach them. All the
bridges have been anchored, and II is be-
leved that they are safe. About 150 houses
are flooded, the water being about two feet
deep ON their first floors. The total flood
loss here is estimated today at $3OO,OOO.
Receding at Jackson.
JACKSON. Mich. March 26-The food
situation here has materially improved to-
day. At midnight the river had reached the
highest point in its history but the fall in
temperature has proven beneficial and the
water Is gradually receding. The dams
above the city are now pronounced safe.
Worst Over at Flint
FLINT. Mich. March 26.-Although flood
conditions here are very grave and Sagi-
nav street. the main business street, has
three feet OF water In 1t. last nights freeze
has checked the small streams running into
the Flint river, and 1t is believed that the
worst of the flood is over
Communication between the north and
south sides of the city is cut of today ex-
cept by boat. All the bridges except the
one at Saginaw street are under water and
Ahe approach TO the Saginaw street bridge
ts under three feet of water, making Il
impossible to use II.
Sixteen families were removed from their
Hooded homes last night and yesterday
and today twenty persons were taken from
rooms over the business blocks along Sagi-
nav street for fear the water might under
mine the buildings.
Ex-Minister Egan Here.
Mr.. Patrick Egan. former United States
soiniafef to Chile. = at Tia Ralolnh.