Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-20

er cestions. At noon water was tand-
Ing all around the South Ottumwa
sales barns and the cellars of many
residences situated near the river
bank Of Church street were full.
Many Chickens Killed.
In the west end Of the city the ef-
fects of the rain are particularly no
ticeable. Considerable damage was
created by Harrow's branch. The
stream could not near handle the vol
ume Of water forced upon 1t by the
draining hills and overspread in every
direction. Scores of chickens we're
drowned by the high water and the
basement of the residence of Isaac
Forbes up the branch short distance
form Second street was SO filled with
water that the family had to move up
stairs
The Second street bridge over the
branch was completely under water
for several hours early this morning
and the entire area south Of Second
street extending to the Burlington
tracks Yves covered to varying depth
OF from four to six feet.
The residences on West Second
street between the Ottumwa Box Car
Loader factory and Harrow's branch
we're all standing in pools Of muddy
water this morning and Second street
was flooded from curb to the Afilwau.
kee embankment for stretch Of sew
eral hundred feet.
Water stands in the field at the old
West End fair grounds and all along
Second street through Gravestown
washed into the streets from the
Rock Island tracks Immediately east
in them.
At Schafer's ice house up above the
boat house the river is within eighteen
inches Of the top of the stone founda-
ton and at It's height today had begun
to spread out over the field back Of
the West End Presbyterian church.
Another IL inch raise will p4lt the
Rock Island railroad tracks under
water along the same point, where
the back water from the river now
stands within about ten inches from
the top Of the rails.
Central Addition Asitated.
The ten inch raise during the night
created considerable unessiness
among the older residents of Central
addition The families of Robert Knud-
son, James West John bikes, Dicker-
son and one or two others moved out
early today to higher lands and many
other families packed their house
hold goods preparatory to leaving en-
short notice.
Many Of the homes have been raised
since the flood Of 1903 and tho own.
ers Of such dwellings feel safe but
inhabintants of the low set houses
cannot stand another twelve inches Of
water
At the sand pits the night worked
early this morning, several hundred
and was just beginning to lap over
the Milwaukee sand track. The track
badly in places.
Much Of the corn in Central addi
ton is beaten down by the rain and
hail, though none is seriously injured
yet If the river comes no higher. The
race near the Milwaukee junction rose
about ten inches during the night and
reached out to the banks of the dixie
running parallel with it. In many
places along the race bank another
inch Of water would start the food
into Central addition.
Conditions at the boat house are 1T
! tie changed. Eight more inches Of
water Is in the basement of the dwell.
| ing there but no serious damage is
being feared. At Wapello street the
water in the race Is about seven fest
below the wagon bridge.
Generally speaking, no great dam
age has been done in Ottumwa and
vicinity yet, but the river is just a.
the stage where another IL inch raise
would start things. The current across
Central addition from the sand pits
would soon extend back up to the
west and many Of the families there
would suffer Thirteen feet on the
gauge is regarded as the danger mark
here and if the water gets up over
twelve feet again, a general inunda-
ton of the lowlands can be expect
ed