Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-27
SEVERE STORM
FLOOD STREETS.
New Brunswick Avenue Be-
tween Division and East
Avenue ResembIed River.
HEAVY THUNDER HEARD
Sewers and Receiving Basins
Blocked; Cellars Flooded
Considerable Damage.
HEAVY THUNDER HEARD

lfi
In the first real thunder storm
of the winter which, old residents
claim, heralds the approach of an
early spring, considerable damage
was done to property in this city and
vicinity last night by the heavy and
continuous fall or rain. Sewers and
receiving basins were blocked with
refuse early In the evening. long
before the four hour storm had
abated, flooding cellars in resi-
dences on New Brunswick avenue and
other sections of the city. The rain
fall by inches can not be estimated,
but 1t is conceded by all that last
nights downpour surpassed any pre-
vious efforts this year by Jupiter
Pluvius.
Street Turned Into River.
Unestfmated damage to property
In cellars of residences on New
Brunswick. avenue, between East
avenue and Division street, was
caused by the blocked sewers and
receiving basins. The residents
along that thoroughfare are highly
incensed by the near-f1ood, which
spread from curb to curb last night
and poured into cellars without re-
gard for valuable property located
there. Alderman Richard J. Calvin,
of the third ward, was called In con-
ference this morning by the property
owners, lead by Coroner James J..
Flynn and J. s. Hanson and told OF
the damage done by the blocked ba-
sins.
Mr.. Calvin told a NEWS reporter
after the conference that the trou-
BILE could be attributed to the un-
paved condition of Division street.
A petition Is now out for the im-
provement OF this street and will
probably be acted upon In favora-
BILE manner, Mr.. Calvin reports. The
mud from this thoroughfa fare washes
down on New Brunswick avenue,
clogs sewers and does increasing
damage at every rain storm. At one
time last night there was foot of
water in Mr.. Hanson's cellar. Coro-
ner Flynn suffered the loss of valua-
BILE property used in connection with
his undertaking establishment, which
had been moved into the cellar to
make room for morgue when Mr.
Flynn had been elected to the coun-
ty office.
Cleaning Out BASINS.
Men are at work today under df-
rection OF Street Commissioner
George NJ. Adair, cleaning out the
basins and sewers In ev-
cry section Of the city. Shovels,
buckets and fire hose are used In the
process. Huge piles of dirt on near
Iy every thoroughfare tell the tale OF
blocked sewers and flooded streets
during the height of the downpour.
Troiieys are Hampcred.
Delay was experienced in trolley
traffic, to- a great extent, by both the
Public Service cars and then trans
traction companies. The New
route CT the former coTh
pany was hampered continually
throughout the night, especially at
Metuchen, where, frequently. trans
fers were made by passengers to
other cars and thus sand piles avoid
ed. The Jersey Central company ex-
perienced a blockade in South AM
boy, near the Pennsylvania railroad
station, when a huge sand pile wash
ed upon the tracks and tied up traf-
fic on that line until s o'clock this
Passengers were carried
to the blockade from this city Dy
Public Service cars. and tthen trans
ferred to the South Jersey cars on
the South Amboy side to continue
their journey.
All Kinds OF Weather.
After a beautiful snow storm yes
terday morning, which was featured
by extra large flakes, the weather
man turned his thoughts to rain and
furnished drizzle for the afternoon.
1t then cleared and pedestrians en-
joyed several moments of real sun
shine. Late in the afternoon, how
ever, the first taste of rain was expe-
rieneed. BY o'clock In the evening
It was coming down to wet the earth
in torrents, while at 10 o'clock last
night the first real thunder and
storm of the year passed
over the city at pace none to
quick for the restless. 1t poured
until early this morning, when the
skies cleared and a high wind de-
The air today is piercing
and more bitter, perhaps, than In
several days past.