The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-21
RIVER STILL
 IS BOOMING Lowlands of This Section Are Under Water. THE WATER IS RECEDING At Montgomery the Flood Reached
 44.4 Feet. Warnings of Weather Bureau Were of Great Service to Outlying Dis tricts Where Farmers Pro-
 tected Their Interests.

The developments of the flood sit- uation along the valleys of the Ala bama, Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers yes ,terday more than justified the fears expressed by officials of the Weather Bureau and others. when the extent of the rainfall Sunday and Monday be- came generally known Monday eve- ming.
 For miles along the banks of these main streams, all the low lying ground was under water. Farmers along the river bottoms were forced to retreat with their families, stock and nova ble property to higher ground, leaving their homes to be surrounded, and in many instances, submerged by the ris- ing flood. Communication with the dwellers in the outlying districts was interfered with. and many locaitles were cut off altogether Although up to a late hour last night, no fatal re- suits had been reported from the in undation, the ravages of the deluge to property and to the early planted crops was known to be very great.
 Reports from the different points along the rivers affected by the rains showed that the river situation yester- day was a complete verification of the warnings issued by the local office of the Weather Bureau on Monday. The stage forecast for Wetumpka was about fifty-two feet At o'clock yes terday morning, the water reached It's greatest height at this point. the tide reaching 52.1 feet at that place, after ward failing slowly to 51.5 feet at, o'clock. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon it had sunk to 50.6 feet.
 River Out of Its Banks.
 At Montgomery the river continued to rise steadily during the day, as the flood tide approached the city. Early In the morning, the river had risen above the banks opposite the city, and was overflowing the fields, yellow muddy stream. miles wide. The read ings on the water gauges at the foot of Commerce street registered height of 39.5 feet at o'clock in the morn ing. At noon the flood had reached 41.5 feet. A rise of foot was marked within the next two hours and by o'clock in the evening, the tide had reached 444 feet
 At this time the flood was still ris- ing, and it was prophesied by the local weather authorities that it had fail prospect of reaching forty-nine feet the maximum height estimated the day previous. It was expected that the greatest height of the flood would be reached during last night, and that the worst would have been passed be- fore dawn this morning. Reports from down the river also told of continued increase and of over flowed river bottoms. At Selma tho water stood at 34.2 feet on the gov ernment gauge at ' o'clock in the morning. The Weather Bureau officials estimate that it will reach height of about fifty-ono feet on the present rise. As the danger stage at Selma, as at Montgomery. is tiiirty-five feet, it maybe seen what damage Is bound to result.
 The river bank about Montgomery yesterday was again crowded with sightseers watching the turbid watei of the Alabama in their southwarl course All day long the people kept streaming down to the banks to view the broad curront. The trees on the oDpnsite hank were all half-submer9ed, their branches trailing in the current. Roat owners had made their craft fast to various stationary objects along the banks with heavy ropes and chains. The steamer which r1oored sFainst the onnasIte bank Sunday . quarter of h to be in the middle of the crrrent.
 Water in the Subway.
 The stage of A feet which was reached vesterdav afternoon brought the water we'll uu into the subway nj the foot oF Commerce Street. and those who wished to view the flood at It's height. were forced to 20 around bv way of Coosa Street. ar through the car shed of the union depot
 ..N- kLA aA-lAI NF local situation had greatly increased. Rv 9 o'clork the water had hacked un into the old ravine under the Lnu's- vilio and Nashville tracks. coming with in twelve feet of the level of the tracks of the Central Railway oF Georgia and the Seaboard Air Line Patiwav. Much Tear was expressed that ChanUeit' 5 flats on the northwest outskirts of the citv would be under water before morning.
 Reports from the country last night were meagre. Nevertheless if Is known for certainty that tho damage done to the annall fnrvnerS has heen inca leu Iahie The carly planted crons have all been washed away. As these "rUos were already late owing to the fre- ouent rain nf the winter and early spring. Althoueh 1t is not thought that there has heen absolute sufSSrln z. the inconvenience and discomfort caus- ed has been very great. That the loss would have heen much greater except for the warnings sent out. iS deemed certain.
 Temperature predictions issued by the Weather Bureau last night promise added discomfort to those whose homes have been made untep- antable by the water. The thermom- eter reached 34 degrees In MontRon,erv yesterday morning although m frost formed. owing to the brisk wind then prevailing According to rho Weather Bulletin of last night. the tNrunArature may drop to freezing here this morn ing. with conditions favorable for damaging froSts.
 With the highest point of the flood reaching Montgomery during tho night. or early this morning. IL may he ex pected that the river stage will drop during today the flood tide rroceedinG down the river toward Selma. which point it is expected to reach tonight or tomorrow. It may take several days for the water to reeede untU it Is again within It's banks.
 Water in West End school.
 Through the heaviness of the recent rains, the accumulation of small amount of water in the basement of 'he West End Scrool yesterday incon-
 fenced pupils and teachers of the
 ne water made 1t impossi-
 GV.ep .Nav.- c