The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-14
FLOOD TROUBLES
IN SALT LAKE


the southwestern part OF the city were
inundated yesterday with the first
overflow OF the Jordan river, spread
ing the word OF warning to residents
along the river, from the south to the
north limits of Salt Lake. No dam
age was done yesterday, as only fields
were flooded. but the rise OF the wat.
ers yesterday proved a portent which
will not be without its warning to
the residents, especially OF the north
western part OF the city During a
period OF 1S hours up TO last evening,
the river rose 4 IL inches
Th first waters of any abundance
from the canyons was seen, owing to
the thaws of Friday and Saturday.
with the light SHOWS Of last week.
Much of the snow in the lower part
of the hills and In the canyons melt
ed during the last few days, and the
result made itself felt In the rise OF
the river.
1t is feared that with continued
warm weather the water will reach
serious flood stage today and tomor-
row, overflowing tho banks Of the
river and causing much damage Fields
10 the southwest were flooded with
the first break of the river yesterday,
but the most serious damage will come
when the water overflows It's banks
TO the north, as far as Ninth North
street.
A. F. Cooley, who lives at Ninth
North and the river, said yesterday
that the water was much above any
level last week, and that percept-
ible Increase was shown during Fri
day night and Saturday MIR. Cooley
is watching the rise OF the water as
an agent for the oity, and in case of
threatened danger. close at hand, will
call upon the street department A
series Of such sentinels have been set
along the river by Jake T. Raleigh,
street supervisor, and news of the
rise of the stream will be conveyed
to him when any new change Ia made.
Street Supervisor Ready.
Arrangements have been made by
the street supervisor TO rush large
gang OF men to the river at the first
note Of danger from residents north OF
Ninth South street In past years
there has been comparatively little
damage done to the property In the
southwestern part of the city, though
hundreds. OF acres have been flooded.
The fact that nothing was done with
the surplus canal adds to the danger
of a sudden rise In the Jordan. Ii
was hoped that the surplus canal could
be so deepened and widened that It
would carry the water of the Jordan
river from Utah lake. and thus leave
the river bed to take care of the wa
ter from both Cottonwood canyons,
from Parley's Mil Creek and City
Creek. But with the surplus canal IN
out against the worst flood in the his
tory Of the city
All Of the mountain streams, too.
have begun 10 rise. and yesterday
showed something approaching flood
proportions. These streams are tear
ing down at a fairly turbulent rate.
and it is believed that within another
few days the water which they carry
to the Jordan, added with The out
pourings OF Utah lake and the streams
to the south, will have but one re-
suit, flood OF enormous proportions.
Flood Cannot Be Averted.
City Engineer George f, McGonaglc
has been investigating the condition
of the river for some time, and said
yesterday that he felt certain a flood
would come within short time The
Jordan river does not now carry much
more than half the water II did few
years ago, 1t Is claimed by experts
who have been investigating the mat
ter. This is explained through the
fact that the river has carried great
quantities Of sediment down the
stream from the south. which. added
to the sewage from Salt Lake, has
stopped the flow of the stream TO
great extent The Jordan river. run.
ming through Salt Lake, Is seldom
more than sluggish stream, and the
force is not great enough to carry off
the amount OF waste matter which
comes down the waterway.
The first notice of the flood year
ago came In the rising of the mountain
streams. but this year the great guam
titles Of water pouring into the Jordan
from Utah lake is given as the cause
Of the overflow thus early The lake
at the present time is 16 inches or
more above the stage year ago, and
enough water Is coming into the Jor-
dan TO nearly I'LL IL 10 the tops or It's
banks, Thus, with the first thrush OF
waters from the hills, tho overflow
came at once,
May lnundate Many Homes,
The slight thaws of the past few
days are considered very small to
what will he felt within another day
or two, and with warm weather OF
warm rain. nothing can he done TO
prevent a flood such as was never be-
fore experienced In tho history OF the
city. Preparations are already being
made to combat the flood as well as
possible, such as heaping earth upon
the river banks in places where great
damage would be done If no fight were
made, but for the most part there
win be little effort made to stop the
surging waters. more than keeping
them out OF houses
In fact, it is feared that In many
places residents along the river VIII
be flooded out Of their homes, and
warnings have been sent to all Of
them by the street supervisor 1t is
felt certain that the water from the