The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-16
'CREST OF FLOOD
|SBYP|TTSBURC
Most Destructive in History Of
The Cib
LOSSES REACH S9,337,OOO
100000 Persons Thrown Out of EN-.
pIoyment-Skiffs Garry Hundreds
to Busness-Damaee In
Country Serious.
LOSSES REACH S9,337OOO

Pittsburg, March 15.-Flood losses in
lows
Loss in output of steel mills, 100000.
Loss in output of other industries, $2,0O0,-
900.
Loss in wages of employees, 81, ,S37, 900.
Estimated damage to Industrial plants,
$25Oo,OoO.
Total loss. $9,3S7,000.
With the rapid receding of the Monon-
gahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers, which
is taking place tonight, conditions are fast
assuming normal proportions, and the
most destructive food in the history of
the city is at an end. At nightfal the
approaches to the bridges were clear OF
water, and several hours later car SER
vice was resumed. Thousands of subui-
banites who have been stranded in this
city since yesterday were able to reach
their homes, while the downtown section,
which has been crowded with sightseers
is almost deserted.
AT o'clock tonight the rivers had fall
len almost eight feet. AT that hour the
stage was 29 feet, and dropping half a foot
an hour
Railroad service is being restored. but
local train schedules have been revised,
allowing each train more time. This ac-
tion was taken because of fear that the
roadbeds may have been weakened by the
water.
In some instances it. is said the tracks
have been washed away, and number of
railroad bridges outside of Pttsburg were
damaged
Ten Square Miles Submerged.
Pttsburgers today are amazed at the
immensity OF the food in the Mononga
hela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers, which
have submerged ten square miles in the
downtown section of the city. After
reaching the highest stage ever known,
which was 81 feet at Market street, the
water is now slowly receding. Enormous
damage to industries has been caused,
over 100000 persons have been temporar-
lily thrown out of employment, every
transportation company in the city Is
crippled, sliffs are carrying hundreds OF
people to their places of business, the
utilization of wagons and horses as con-
veyances which did inestimable service
yesterday were discontinued owing TO
strenuous protest by the Humane society;
twenty fatalities have occurred in Alle-
gheny county directly due to high water
and the most unique sights ever seen here
are apparent today.
Four massive bridges, the Sixteenth,
Ninth, Seventh and Sixth street struc-
tures were threatened with destruction
owing TO heavy ice gorges which came
down the Allegheny river.
That these bridges were not swept away
is considered marvellous by river men to-
day and it is said that these structures
will have been greatly weakened when
the water subsidies.
Women Marooned.
Frightened feminine guests in the Lin
coin, Colonial. Annex and Anderson
hotels located in the midst of the flood
zone are marooned and are watching the
high water from the windows.
Four theatres, the Gaiety, Alvin, Belas-
CO and Bijou, are flooded and will be
dark for several days.
Most of the fire engines in the down
town district are pumping water from
buildings along Fifth avenue. AT the
First National bank building, Fifth ave
nue. and Wood street, the basement Is
submerged to a depth of several feet and
efforts are being made TO protect the
dynamos which generate power to the
Western Union Telegraph company. The
office Of the Associated Press Is located
In this building and momentarily it was
expected through the night that the
wires of the business orga anizations would
fail. Strenuous efforts of force of men,
assisted by fire engine, saved the dyna-
mos but shortly before oclck the elec.
trio light dynamos succumbed to the ef-
feet of the waters.
The situation outside of Pittsburg is
serious Damage running into millions OF
dollars has been done, many towns arc
entirely cut off from this city, upwards
= .f 20, n hao,a
from their homes and these conditions, i.
is expected, will prevail for several days.
At Wheeling, w. Va. great damage has
been done. Trains and telegraph service
Is out of commission and the residents
are panic stricken. The crest of the
flood has not reached that point and the
situation grows serious.
TO add to the confusion in Pittsburg
two early morning fires broke out. The
firemen experienced difficulty in fighting
The flames owing to a shortage of water
in the mains.
Above Flood Stage.
Cincinnati, O., March 15.-Despite the
fact that the weather throughout the
Ohio valley is clear and cold today, and
that the waters at the headwaters of the
Ohio river are receding. Weather Fore
caster Bassler predicts that the flood of
last January will be exceeded at many
points III the CINCINNATI ulStl1ct.
Point Pleasant, Portsmouth,, Marietta,
Parkersburg and other points are now
above the flood stage, and will continue 10
rise tonight and tomorrow. In Cincinnati
the local rise has about disappeared. but
the rise from above will soon begin to
be felt here According to Weather Of
fetal Bassler the water from above will
bring about a ten-foot rise here by Satur-
day night. Sixty feet Is assured and the
chances are that the limit will exceed the
January food, when the stage was 65.1.
Late today Marietta, Parkersburg. Point
Pleasant and Porthmouth were feeling
the effects of the food. Parkersburg and
Marietta appeared to be the worst suf-
ferers At the former place the electric
light plant was put out of commission,
and tine city was in darkness. Added 10
this there were only limited telephone
and telegraph service. and the city was
virtually worse than in the flood in 1891.
Tho river rose so rapidly and with such
little warning that merchants were caught
unawares Their loss Will be enormous.
Water has flooded the main street to the
depth of Is feet. Many residents have been
forced to vacate their homes. There Is
considerable suffering as only a few, scat