The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-15
Rapid Rise Due to the Remark
ably Heavy Rainfall.
Highest Point 900 Feet at
A. NJ. Today.
OVER THE LOWLANDS
Damage in Bottoms Along Small
Creeks West.
Union Pacific Sends West Bound
Trains Over Rock Island.

inches within two davs which is
nearly double the average rainfall for
the entire month of November. a
rapid rise in all streams in the eastern
third of Kansas and some damage to
Kansas crops in the low lands along
the kaw river, the crest of the flood
water has passed Topeka and, ac-
cording to all reports received in this
city, danger of an overflow here or
west of this point is passed. The Kaw
river is higher than it has been in
November during the last % years.
The government gauge this morning
showed depth of 2O.3 feet, a fall of
six. inches since 2 o'clock this morn
ing when it reached 20.9 feet. The
| highest point reached by the water in
any previous November in the last %
years was a little more than feet.
Rising at Manhattan.
At noon today the local weather
bureau received a report from Man
haitian that the Kaw river was rising
casioned by the continued rise in the
| Blue river there. The rainfall at
Manhattan during last weeks storm
amounted to So inches, which is
greater than the rainfall in Topeka.
| 1t is believed at the weather bureau
that the rainfall up the Blue valley
! from Manhattan was even greater
than this.
At Manhattan this morning the riv-
er stood at 146 feet fall of six
loWlands are inundated. AS to the
damage done by the water which is
rushing down the Blue valley no re-
port has been obtained because of the
demoralized wire service which was
occasioned by the storm.
The barometer at o'clock was fall
-hg rapidly, indicating that the shower
which started at noon was local. 1t is
and that the first snow of the season
will come tonight. 1t is not believed
this will have any perceptible influence
on the local water situation.
The river is falling rapidly here, the
1 O'Clock reading showing the water at
1875 feet. Weather Observer Flora de-
clared this afternoon that by the time
the rise from Manhattan reached To-
,eka the river would have fallen
enough TO enable it to carry off this
:se.
Not Bank Full.
The measurements at Manhattan
show that the river lacks "a feet of
being bank full' at that point.
At only two places along the river is
serious damage reported. At St.
Marys the banks of the river are cav
ing in. and acres of valuable farm
land are thus being lost. The river
at this point was reported at a stand
still, but within two feet of the mark
river bed which was left by the stream
in 1903 is filled bank full. Telephone
companies are employing all available
men to move their lines back from the
ready lost. The river is not rising
there today, but rose last night after
fall yesterday afternoon
At BeIlvue, between ST Marys and
Wamego, Vermillion creek is reported
to cover the lowlands and is said to
be causing heavy losses to farmers
whose corn is still in the fields. Many
fields of growing wheat are inundated
and it is feared that in case the water
is not quickly removed the crop will
be killed. The water there was re-
ported to be slowing falling.
The Topeka Soldier creek has
caused some apprehension but accord
ing to reports from up the stream the
water is not higher than it was during
last summers near flood" and in
that case there is no need for alarm.
The creek is at a standstin here, and
the water is flowing swiftly At
O'Clock the water extended south into
Garfield park far enough to run under
the north end of the pavilion.
According to all reports the crisis
in the high water situation has passed.
EVERY locality reports the water
either falling or at standstlll
River Falling Slowly.
At O'Clock this morning the gov
ernment gauge showed that the KaW
river had fallen six-tenths of a foot in
six hours The water measured 2O.3
feet. the maximum being 20.9 which
was reached about O'Clock 1t was
stated at the weather bureau that the
highest point had been reached and
there was no danger of further dam
age. The river was reported at
standstill in Manhattan Sunday night
and with no additional rain the river
here is expected to fall rapidly.
ir6 Of ynr7
sas and Nebraska sent the Kaw river
up fourteen feet Sunday. Nebraska
rains sent the Blue river on a ram
page at Manhattan and is largely re-
sponsibIe for the high water between
Topeka and that place Added TO this
the heavy rains which fell in this sec
tion the last three days of last week
filled all small streams to the overflow
stage
near Topeka was the KaW reported
ont Of its banks. The levee system on
the North Side was thoroughly tested
and did the work expected OF IL. with
the river at the highest stage reached
last night the water was stu several
feet below the top of the levee along
the north bank of the river.
up. Uses Rock Island.
No serious damage is reported by
the railroads Union Pacific trains
were last night sent over the Rock
island track to Manhattan because of
soft track between Bellvue and
Wamego. vermillion creek, small
stream. was sent out of its banks by
the heavy rain of Saturday and dam.
aged the track bed FROM Manhat-
tan west no damage is reported.
Early last night the Rock Island
feared a washout near Valencia where
Vesser creek, was out of its banks for
several hours. The small bridge which
spans the creek was weakened and for
time it was feared that traffic would