The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-26
MOST THREATENING
STAGE IS REACHED
Jordan River Rose Over Five
Inches Yesterday, High
est for Year.
DAMAGING FLOOD SURE
MOUNTAIN STREAMS ON RAM
PAGE-TROUBLE EXPECTED.

With the continued warm weather
and rain Of yesterday, the Jordan river
assumed the most threatening stage
since the floods of last year, and made
certain a damaging flood in case the
conditions continue Rain fell foaS.
time late yesterday, and more IS prom
ised for today by the weather bureau
In many places the Jordan went over
its banks yesterday, though no serious
damage was reported
The warm weather and slight ram
brought the canyon streams TO hood
proportions in startling manner ana
with the rising of the streams from the
mountains came the resultant nse IN
the Jordan Reports were received
that the streams in Big and Little Cot
tonwooi. Parley's and other canyons
are tearing along at a rate not seen
since last spring, and the general be
lief is that they will continue I" rise
rapidlv for the next few days unless
changes comes in the weather.
The dredge of the Utah Sand, Dredg-
ing & Construction company Is now at
work in the surplus canal widening
and deepening the course, but II Is lelt
that this will be of little benent IN re-
lievIng the flood conditions at the pres
the canal at its junction with the Jor-
dan. and this viii be kept there TO give
the dredger better chance TO get
much Of the earth out of the way, ana
provide q better flow in the canal. But
if the river continues To rise as II dld
Thursday night and yesterday, the Dam
will. in all likelihood, be taken out
and az much water as possible diverted
through this channel.
Unable TO Prevent Floods.
Because Of the threatening condition
of the river yesterday, it is felt that
nothing can be done to prevent one Of
the worst floods IN the history of the
city. which will be upon the people OF
the west side within few days at the
most. The only thing that will save a
great property loss at this time, IL IL
stated. is turn I'm the weather, tTeez-
ing the ground, and thus stopping the
Hoods coming into the Jordan.
The wagon and street car bridge
across the river at Seventh South
street was threatened yesterday, as the
water is only about a foot under the
ties. The same condition is found at
the Saltair bridge over the Jordan at
North Temple street. The belief is
that. owing to the great quantity OF
water i'm Utah lake. and the deposits OF
snow and ice in the mountains, that
many bridges along the river viii be
washed out Precautions are already
being taken to guard against the de
struction Of some of the structures, and
every attention viii be paid to this II
the water continues on the rise
Men Watching River.
More than two score men were busy
Yesterday on the surplus canal, work
ing ahead and with the dredger, many
of them with teams. They are under
the supervision of Street Supervisor
Jake T Raleigh, and are working hard
Other agents Of the city have been set
to watch the Jordan in some Of the
places where it is felt II viii go over
its banks in q short time, judging from
the present fast rise. and when these
points become in danger men viii be
rushed to the scene to fight the flood.
1t is estimated that the Jordan river
rose five inches yesterday, and the rise
was continued during the night. This
Is chiefly explained through the fact
that now, for the first time this year,
the canyons are beginning to give up
their water through the melting Of the
SHOWS.