The Forrest City times., 1907-01-11
Heavy Rains Cause orea. Damage.

The heavy rains throughout Central Arkansas recently, were the worst known in many years. The worst damage seems to have been done in the vicinity of Little Rock and Hot Springs. The two cities are practical ly isolated because of the many wash outs on the railroads entering the two cities. Many families in the bottom lands have been driven from their homes. Hundreds of head of cattle, hogs and live stock have been drowned and reports are expected of loss of hu- man life. Fourche bottom, south of Little Rock, is filled with water and water has backed up into a number Of houses along the southern border of the city.
 No report has been received of loss of life as result of the flood. but it is feared in the southern part of the city that one or two negroes who live near the Fourche river may have been lost. One old negro lives alone on an island at the junction of Fourche creek and Fourche river and reports are to the effect that when last seen he was on top of his house with no possibility of getting to the bank on either side. Another negro was re- ported to have been sighted in tree near this point. The stream at this place is two or three miles wide and is deep enough to hide all but the tops of trees. No attempt has been made to cross in boats at any point other than along the Iron Mountain right of way.
 Both the Rock Island and the Iron Mountain railroads have been badly tied up as far as service into Little Rock is concerned. Neither road at tempted to run any freight trains. The Iron Mountain was in worse con dition than the Rock Island, as it's lines in three out of the four direc- tions in which they run were out of | commission. Train service both north and south on the main line was at a standstill, owing to the washouts. and the same condition prevailed on the | line between Little Rock and Pine Bluff. The only branch of the Iron Mountain on which there was train service was the Fort Smith road, and trains arrived and departed over that line close to schedule time.
 The first estimate of damage sus- tained by Hot Springs has been re- duced by later reports. It is belieyed now that it will not exceed $25000, although this estimate may be in creased when detailed reports are re- ceived
 A report which has been in circula- tion that the Gardner bridge across Ouaehita river, recently constructed at cost of $60 1000, was washed away, been many reports of lives lost, but they are untrue.
 Nearly every business house on Central avenue, the main thorough fare of the city, has been damaged from $3,000 to s5000 The greatest loss has been sustained by the street car company. The tracks for con siderable distance on Wilmington avenue have been washed out and the grandstand box seats at Wilmington park have been washed away. Both Wilmington and Government parks have been badly torn up. Many trees have been uprooted and washed away in Government park.
 No mails were received for several days, on account of washouts.
 Black river in the vicinity of Poca- hontas is rising rapidly and a record breaking overflow is predicted by old river men. All the mills along the river have closed down and will not resume work for three weeks if il does not rain anymore. At least twenty-five per cent of the cotton along the river, which has not been gathered, will be completely destroyed The tracks of the Frisco are washed out and the local trains north from Pocahontas are discontinued for the present. The water is over the tracks for distance of several hundred yards and it cannot be determined just how bad the washouts are.
 Just how much damage has been done to bridges and highways in the section visited by the heavy rains, and the swift rise of the rivers and streams, is not accurately known, but the money loss will be considerable.
 Arkansas Prosperous ia 1906.