The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-04

gested condition of improvised sleep
| ing quarters set up in churches school
| houses, halls and even barns.
Excepting those engaged on RELIEF
work, every able bodied man has been
I impressed for service on the levee. A
deputy sheriff rode through town to-
day and ordered groups of idle negroes
to the levee, threatening to shoot those
who disobeyed.
Disaster confronts some of the mer-
chants by reason of loss of their stock.
loss in the contributary territory and
the idleness of factory employees, who
will be out of work for weeks.
Near StandstilI at st. Louis.
ST. Louis, April 4-The Mississippi
rise of 8 feet in "a hours 1t is
predicted that the river will go to
81 feet by tonight and will remain
stationary at 81 feet for several days.
From Hannibal, where the gauge
stood at 1913 feet today, a rise of 1.3
feet. in "a hours, to ST. Louis the river
is rising rapidly and has spread over
the Iowlands. No great property dam
age has been done as the people were
prepared.
The Missouri river is reported to
be falling slowly.
Above Flood Mark.
Cincinnati, April. 4.-The Ohio river
passed the flood stage here last night.
This morning the gauge registered 50.6
feet, which was 6 of a foot above the
flood mark.
The weather forecaster predicted the
river would reach 50 or SO feet by to-
night, but as all tributary streams
above Cincinnati are torrents, he was
not prepared to say how much higher
it would go.
Not Train Since Sunday.
New Madrid, Mo-, April 4.-Business
is at a standstill here today, the same
as it has been since Sunday, because
Of the unprecedented food. No mail
has been received and the two rail-
roads into New Madrid have not moved
train since Sunday.
! Mayor Conrad telegraphed Congress
man Russell that government aid is
needed. One death. that of negro,
has been reported. Only one residence
has escaped having it's first floor flood
ed. On the streets the water is from
six inches to five feet deep.
The public schools have been closed
for instruction but are open as places
of refuge, as are the court house ana
the churches. The two weekly papers
will not publish this week because their
offices are flooded.
Three Feet Above Record.
Washington, April 4.-With the Mis-
sissippi at Memphis three feet above
the high record mark and at Cairo Ii
feet above the highest previous mark
weather bureau Ofhc1aIS today were
unable to predict any cessation in the
constantly rising flood below Cairo.
Reports to the bureau indicate the wa
ter would continue to rise slowly and
no prediction was made as to when
the flood would turn.
The river at Cairo stood at $50 feet
a rise of two-tenths since yesterday
The previous high record was 52.2 feet,
made in 1883. At Memphis the stage
was 43.4 feet, a rise of eight-tenthS
The previous record was 1913 feet. a
Vicksburg the river stood at AZ feet,
a rise of hve-tenths.
President Taft directed the quarter
master generals department to fur
nish rationS to any flood sufferers
who are found to be in want. He also
promised Senator elect James and Rep
representative Russell of Missouri, tt
do anything in his power to aid those
made homeless and deprived of the ne
cessitfes of life.
A resolution is now before the house
committee on appropriations which
would place $250,000 at the president:
disposal for the relief of the home
less. His order for the distribution of
army rations did not call for any spec
ial authority by congress.