The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-09
WHAT FLOOD DID FOR AUGUSTA.
Graphic Picture Of Scenes In the
GeoeGis City-Questlon of Relief
Now rsramouns--watcr Supply Is
Cunsing Deep Concern.

WAS uiking OF Its Hood. Now the
water 10 gone and Augusta behoids
obstruction and disaster almost un-
bslievable. The paramount question
u now relief. quick relief. for the
homeless. the half-clad and the hun
sry.
All attempt at accurate estimate OF
the food damage h given up. Daily
is u seen that all previous approxi-
mates fell short Of the mark.
The city OF Augusta Is entirely de-
pendent upon her canal for tho water
suppiy. electric lights and trolley SER
vice. for motive power In the mills.
That canal b now dry ditch. Above
ths city pusnpins station its banks
Dove way before raging waters and the
WAssls Of Industry are parslyssd.
Nesult: For three hours each
u(oening ms~grs supply Of muddy wa
~ : turned into the pipes. The pres
sofs = noe suf1cisnt to force It higher
than the second moor OF any building.
purins that brief period there h .
ePewling current In the sewers. For
~ rsss of ths day they are stagnant.
Ths water y not AZ to drink.
1ns strests are In utter darkness,
seve for the feeble light Of . young
moon ana the ficksr Of house lamps.
Ths nrs sisrn system b sntansIsd and
ooofussd- a small blase just now
1i6ht - fAnnsd BY high wind into
oAmss tzat would prey upon . city
practically unprotected.
1solSsy car service 10 inadequate.
but al that may b reasonably sx-
pss>sd, when the railway company are
ussns auzsiiary steam power to propsi
naehinss that stood three days in wa
~ and mud rrs
Four large and several smaller oot-
see mills stand IDLE along the banks
of ths Augusta Canal not hundred
0oolarS worth OF their machinery In
5ureds but unable to turn wheel un-
sfs ths motive power 10 furnished Five
eAeusaad mill operatives are IDLE.
nany of thsm homeless hungry and
Without . change Of rsiment all OF
then rsstisss and discomfort il
= fearful stsnch covers the food
osva liks pail. odor Of deoayed veg
e>Ahls ana animal matter. the vile
otAejl Of unfiushsd sewers. the smell
g olthy mud that ID many places lies
>u1lsd In great heaps waist high-these
90 . dozen other odors are every
wnees. inside doors Il II Oppressive.
oueg(ds rs worse. When one leaves
sAS esV ne leaves its stencil behind.
but not until then.
Down scores OF streets the water
swept like . mill race. Around cor
nsrs the current terksd water plugs
from the oonnsctions: undermined
eurbstones and ripped up great squares
oe cement sidewalk: prised up thou
sands Of pavement bricks and swept
them together many blocks In great
heaps IKE driftsd snow: scooped out
tons Of Macadam gravel and washed
u miles away: washed gullies down
Green street. Augustas most beautiful
rsstdsnce thoroushfare. a. deep a. q
mau's waist; tore down buildings.
brick walls. fences. hedges: carried
away furniture: cspsissd boats: caught
men In the mighty current and swept
them away IKE straws, to finally sink
and drovp or dash out their brsinO
against distractions they may have
sssn. but could not avoid.
with situation more desperate and
dangerous than Il has ever before or
ever viii confront again. the proud
city OF Augusta II srappiing with en-
fssblsd strength. but undauntsd cour-
ass.
The funds OF her municipal govern
msnt have been placed In the hands
Of tirelsss workers. who shall relieve
the destitute. the sick and the dying.
are being paid 70 an army of laborers
who are toiiing like Turks to bring
order out OF chaos.
Temporary repairs In the canal may
put u In shape to hold water today.
while tomorrow . contract will be
awarded by the city for complete re-
construction Of the dama9ed s1,ctsops
The street railway authorities are
sparing no effort to equip their ma
chinery for full work ~ soon as pos
sibie. Expert electricians are here.
aud work has not ceased since the
water went down. night or day. Hun
dreds OF men are at work on the city's
streets. steam and gasoline engines
line both sides Of Broad street. pump