Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-20
TEMPORARY LEVEES MADE.
Gangs of Laborers Worked All
Night for Protection Of
East st. Louis.
Situation nj Venice Grave--Farming
Lands Inundated from One to
Ten Feet Deep.

St Louis. June 2O.-Sweeplng through
the valley at the rate of IA miles an
hour the food tide of the Mississippi
river. It is believed has reached its
crest, and after remaining stationary
for a day will slowly begin to recede.
The stage measured 349 here this morn
ing, rise OF little more than one
inch during the night. The slight rise
was sufficient to dislodge diiftwood and
whereas the river yesterday was dotted
only here and there by trunks OF
trees la2ily bobblng on the surface, a
steady stream of debris is today surg
Ing through St Louis harbor on its
way toward the gulf This indicates
| that since yesterday considerable addi-
| tonal ground has been inundated UP
| stream.
Ceaselessly toiling through the night.
| gangs of laborers piled thousands of
sacks of sand to form temporary le-
wees for the protection of East St Louis
and today, viewed from the Eads
bridge long lines of the white sacks ex-
tend out as far as the eye can reach,
with scores of patrol watches on guard.
Venice. Madison and Granite City,
Immediately north of East St. Louis
and situated along the river, are suffer-
ing from the food.
A GRAVE SITUATION
In Venice especially the situation is
grave The food has covered the halt
mile of territory between the center OF
the town and the river. Main street
| paraleling the river and itself an eli
| bankment Ave feet above the other por-
| tons Of the city. Is only foot above
| the water line. Houses west OF Main
| street are standing in water feet deep
and many have been abandoned. The
occupants are living In tents wherever
| nigh ground can be found in the viciu-
ity. Should additional heavy rains send
the river up another foot. Venice
| would be entirely under water and traf-
| fc on the railroad arteries leading to
| the north would have 10 be abandoned.
| In Madison and Granite City, both
| towns occupying for the most part
| higher grounds the food has en-.
| croached only into the outlying por-
| tons.
Between all three of these towns
| the low farming lands are inundated
| from one to 10 feet deep. Street car
traffic between Venice and East 81,
| Louis has been abandoned and the
| tracks are under water.
| The Mckinley system Is still under
| water, but in places the cinder EN-
| mankment. forming the roadbed has
| been covered with sand bags and fun
| ther protected from the tapping waves
| by strings OF telegraph poles Joined end
| to end.
| Much OF the fertile lowlands between
Madison and East st, Louis is devoted
| 10 potato raising and bands of farm
ers worked all night vallantly striv-
| Ing to build embankments 10 protect
| their potato fields, But the water re-
| sistlessly moved onward ms the rise
| OF an inch was sufficient to inundate
| large areas OF the fiat ground and
much Of the work was in vain.
FLOOD WATERS RECEDING.
!, Kansas City. June 20.--An absolute
absence OF rains throughout the vail
leys OF the Kaw and tho Missouri riv-
| ers during the past "a hours has given
the flood waters OF these streams and
| tributaries an opportunity TO recede.
| and again hope that the flood of 1908
| will soon be a thing OF the past has
been established Both rivers at this
point have been stationary since yes
terday afternoon the Kaw at 247 feet
and the Missouri 2s.2 feet. Business
in the food districts is assuming nor
nal conditions and train service in and
out Of the city Is improving rapidly.