Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-02
NEAR HIGH MARK
At DES MONIES
CREST OF FLOOD BELIEVED TO
BE PASSED. HOWEVER, AS
THERE ARE FALLS ABOVE.

Des Moines, April /. Relief
from flood conditions was indi-
Gated here early today when the Des
Moines river stood at Ill, with pros
poets of fall Flood stage here Is
eighteen feet, but the river was re.
ported to have gene down two feet
at Boone since yesterday and the
lower stage was expected to reach
here by noon or a little later.
In several places near here the De5
Moines river Is more than mile wide.
Railroad tracks are inundated and
train service badly interfered with.
The force of the water has caused 1t
to back up in many homes through the
sewer pipes and thousands OF base
ments are filled.
The Fort Dodge, Des Moines and
Southern Railway Co.. was forced to
discontinue service because of the
high water In some places the tracks
were under four to six feet Of water
Highest In Six Years.
The stage of the river early today,
according to the local bureau, was the
highest in six years.
Big losses already have been sus-
tained by Polk county and numerous
railroad companies because OF the
many bridges over small streams IN
central Iowa that. have been washed
away during the past few days. The
report that the large bridge which
spans Beaver creek near Herrold sta
ton had been washed away was con-
firmed today. The bridge was one Of
the largest in the county and 1t will
~ RI
place it. ~
The Des Moines river at Boone
stood around the twenty foot mark
late last night but was reported to
be stationary. Much damage has been
done in that vicinity. The Raccoon
river which meets the Des Moines
river here, is reported to have flooded
large tracts of land few miles west
| Of here and Walnut creek, which
flows through Valley Junction and
usually Is a small stream has gained
the proportions of river and has left
it's banks in numerous places.
| Cedar River Also on Rampage.
The river is being watched closely
made for caring for those in the low,
lands in case the water goes over the
levees. A slight lowering of the stage
was expected to be recorded before
night. The city has large number OF
workmen patrolling the levees in max
ing hasty repairs where weak places
are discovered.
Reports from Cedar Rapids say the
Cedar river reached the fifteen foo,
stage there and that the fast construc
ton of dykes probably has prevented
a flood in the north part Of the west
side. Back water in the sewer caused
| a number of families to vacate their
homes.
/ Walter Downing, 21 years old, was
drowned at Waterloo yesterday when
! the swift current Of the Cedar river
upset his boat. His younger brother
had a narrow escape from drowning
| The body was not recovered.
Reports received at Mason City say
the large fountain lake dam at Albert
Lee Mimi, gave way, flooding hall
the town.
/ Less Alarming at Davenport.
Davenport, April l. The stage o
the river and prospects here are less
alarming today than Saturday. The
stage today is III feet, one foo
lower than Saturday. The declines
came following the breaking up Of the
ice gorge six miles below Davenpor
Saturday night.
/ There is still considerab water il
the Cedar river, emptying into thu
Iowa and thence into the Mississippi
.Ibelow Muscatine. The Rock lslans
bridge at Bayfield, on the Muscatins
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