The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-31
RURAL DISTRICTS SUFFERED MOST
DAMAGE IN CITY ABOUT $4,000
NORTHWESTERN GAS 8 ELECTRIC CO. HEAVY LOSER
Damage Waa Waa River and Mil Creek Plants May Reach $4,000
ports From WaNa Wa River District State That Whole Farms Are Laid
TO Waste and Families Had 10 Flee TO Higher Ground

and business houses suffered slight in
dividual losses but in the aggregate
the damage will total large figure.
The damage to the Clinton and Park
street bridges is placed by city Off
cials at $780, Frank DAWN, owner of
the building at No. As Rose street,
which was demolished, estimates his
loss at $4,000 and the two wooden
buildings adjoining that were pulled
down were probably worth $500.
Water Superintendent Knight this
morning could not state the actual
damage to the city water system al
though it will not be large. All the
pumping plants except the Boyer ave-
nue. plant were closed down. The su-
perintendent with crew of 80 men,
by working nearly 36 hours in a driv-
ing rain, saved the system from being
entirely out of commission. The SUI
perintendent installed number of
gasoline engines at the various pump
ing plants today and stated that with
in 4S hours the normal supply would
be furnished consumers.
Lawns Badly Damaged.
A number of lawns along Alder,
Birch and streets west of Park street
were badly damaged by flood water
which left the ground covered with
slime and broken bits of wreckage.
The cost to property owners in clear
ing up their places will aggregate a
large sum. The worst break in Mill
creek occurred at Merriam street and
all day yesterday a big stream flowed
down Alder street, spreading to the
residence district on the south and
west In many streets pedestrians
found it impossible to effect crossings
and were compelled to take round
about routes to reach the business dis
trict. Business in the city yesterday
was practically suspended. Thousands
of people lined the banks of Mill
creek watching the work of the flood
and the efforts of the city officials with
crews of men to save buildings in the
tenderloin district from being washed
into the stream. Every plant in the
city depending on electric power was
forced to close on account of the
wrecking of the Northwestern Gas &
Electric company's power plant. There
was a great demand for gasoline en-
gines and every machinist in the city
was engaged in installing auxiliary
power in many plants.
Fire Alarm ParaIyzed.
Owing to the shutting eff Of electric
power at the Electric company's plant
the city fire alrm system will be out
of business tonight. There was suft-
cient Juice in storage to keep the sys-
working until late this afternoon. City
cient Juice in storage to keep system
tenn would be out at o'clock and In
case of fire the citizens are requested
to use the telephone lines and not
attempt to turn in an alarm through
the boxes. Probably a gasoline engine
will be installed to furnish power t6
run the motors for the system in fe"
days.
Firemen Work Hard.
The Walla Walla firemen did siren
uous work all day yesterday ana
greater portion Of the night in assist
ing the merchants in getting the wate'
out of cellars and easements The three
steamers were brought into play. The
engines were run until a late houi
this morning when the tired fremef
were given a short respite until toda!
when the work was resumed again.
The employees of the Davis-kase'
company put in about - hours work