Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-04
Receding Of Waters Started
Early This Morning; Six
teen Foot Mark Reached
This Afternoon.
FAMILIES PREPARING
TO RETURN TO HOMES


A fall of eight inches in the Des
Moines river has been recorded by
the official guage from last night until
2 O'clock this afternoon. The river
now stands at the sixteen foot mark
and is falling this afternoon at the
rate Of three-fourths OF an inch an
hour. There is nothing to Indicate that
the waters will not continue to re-
cede steadily until the river once more
returns to the confines of It's banks.
The water started to 60 down in the
early morning hours after remaining
stationary all day yesterday. Many
have voiced the opinion that the bot
tom of the river will drop out" now
that the fall has commenced and ma
terial decreases in the water stages
are reported from up the river.
Others believe that the river will go
down steadily but slowly. The river
reached its danger point this spring
for the first time since 1907.
Tracks Are Still Safe.
The Rock Island tracks In West OF
tumwa that have been under from six
Inches to one foot ;pf wgter Tor the
Il s,ara II II. sJ eatA,es
Fth5 sHeSErGG Wa1hfnx Of the swift
Ewatefs Trains are crossing them
without trouble. This afternoon the
space OF 200 yards OF inundation has
been reduced to 100 yards and the
water Is about six inches deep at it's
strongest point A large quantity of
rock was placed along the tracks last
night to prevent washing The heavy
ballast of the road at this point has
been greatly responsible for the fail
ure of the water to weaken the tracks.
Water is going through the ground un-
der the tracks in many places, thus
necessitating complete overhauling
of the section. A number of men are
still stationed at the overflow to take
care of any damage that may come. It
is thought that by tomorrow morning
the tracks will once more be above
water. The dirt and cinders on the
lower side of the track have been
washed away leaving the tons Of rock
exposed The fall in the water is
greater than in the river proper for
the reason that the outlet Is better
able to take care Of the diminishing
inlet, which it at Wilson creek, two
miles up the river A fall Of ten inches
is recorded by the men on duty.
Families Preparing to Return.
The many families who were forced
to abandon their homes are preparing
to move back today. A number have al
ready returned, having left in antici-
patton of higher water and not
through necessity. It will be some days
before the residents of Central addi-
ton, some sixty families, will be able
to return home. It will also take time
for the water to get out of the houses
in the East end. Myrtle and Bashaw
street residents are in several in
stances re-entering their homes by
means of boats.
% Waterworks is Safe.
Superintendent H. A. Brown Of the
waterworks succeeded in checking the
washing of the levee near the MIL
waukee Junction last night and thus
safeguarded the operation of the wa
terworks filter. The water is still
pouring through the forty-foot gap
with terrible rush but several hum
dred sand bags are been laid SO as to
10TH d SOllu IlpIdp dIONhN Lie SAuCC
of the broken levee. Over a carload
of sand has been used in the past two
days on the levees in the west end.
Had it not been for the timely actfv-
ity of the waterworks superintendent
and trustees, serious damage would
in all probability have resulted.
Damage Of the Flood.
While the flood this year has result
ed in no material destruction of prop
erty, it has nevertheless caused great
damage. All the houses entered by
water will be left by the receding
floods with q heavy layer of sediment
that is hard to clear away. The plas-
tering OF walls is ruined in many
cases beyond repair. Outhouses which
have been moved from their moorings
will have to be replaced on their sites.
Many people were compelled to leave
without their furniture. This will also
be damaged. There are many other
troubles that will be brought to house
holds as result of the waters. The
business houses, whose cellars were
flooded will be put to an expense for
placing the easements back in shape.
Another trouble Of flooded cellars in
in the odor that is left, necessitating
delay in placing perishable goods in