The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-29


pcake and Ohio gauge atColumbia read
IT'S feet. and still rising. At midnight
the Enugc was 28.3 feet, Indicating "a
rise of 1.J feet In two hours. The con-
tinued rising at Columbia indicates n
more serious frcshet at Richmond than
at first anticipated.
James River will overflow it's banks
early this morning. and during to-day
will rise from seventeen to eighteen
feet above normal high tide according
to indications from the upper river,
where serious freshet conditions OBJ
tained yesterday. At IL o'clock last
night the Chesapeake and Ohio gauge
at Columbia stood 25.6 and rising at
the rate of about six inches an hour
The crest of the flood at Richmond
Will probably not reach here until to-
night. where water will rise In Cary
street. in Franklin Street around the
Old Market, over the wharves and
Dock and at other low points along the
water front.
With the ample warnings given il
Is believed that the loss at this point
will be reduced to Il minimum. though
any freshet rising above the fifteen
foot stage at Richmond is regarded
with some apprehension. Work has
been suspended the new Mayo
Bridge. City Engineer Boiling has en-
Free Bridge, with a gang of men to
clear away driftwood and as far as
possible relieve The strain on the tenn
porary wooden props that support that
ancient and tottering structure.
Wharvcs Cleared of Freight.
The Old Dominion Wharves were
cleared of freight liable to injury by
water last ni&bj, ana ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
made that boat service between here
a IL
freshet conditions.
With the clear day Yesterday. and
indications for continued fair weather
to-day, there will be no flood water,
in local streams to swell the freshet
all Of the water coming down from
the mountains. With no local freshet
water. il is believed that there will
be less backing up in tho valley of
Shockoe Creek than would be the case
IL that creek was swollen, and although
water will fiji the cellars and NAV
back through the culverts to some
extent, freshet conditions in Main
Street in front of the Chesapeake and
ONO station are hardly anticipated.
Worst Since 1870.
The freshet in James River at
Lynchburg yesterday WAS the worst
since the great food OF 1870. The
crest was reached there yesterday
morning at 1880 o'clock, when the
government gauge stood 24.6 feet, four
feet lower than the flood Of 1879 bur
hiSh enough to Hood all railway Yards
suspend operation Of trains, carry
away 20O-foot wooden railway
trestie. cause the closing down of
many man factories and property loss of
S250.Oo0. At least 5000 people at
l.ynchburg are reported out OF en-
ployment because of the food over the
lower part of the city
Inc water was falling slowly at
Lynchburg last night. but was still
rising at Columbia. considerable sec
tiohs oil track on the Chesapeake and
ohio Railways James River division be :
ing submerged, making 1t ~lpossible
- estimate inc damage TO the railway
right of way. I've pipe founlries i'm
IIynchburg arc heavy losers.
No Local Rnins.
Thc kivanna River was reported as
within its banks last night, 50 that the
HOOD VIII receive no addition to its
force, but in fact will lose somewhat
of its pressure before reaching Rich
mond. With warm sunshine and a
favoring wind. rivermen express the
nope that the flood may pass by Rich
mond without causing greater damage
than the necessary cessation Of bust
ness along the water front. The most
serious apprehension felt by the CITY
is for the safety OF the shally old
Free Bridge, which has long outlivcd
Its period Of proper use, and by the
contractors for the framev ork and
temporary structures in connection
with the new Mayo Bridge. Owners
OF motor boats had ample warning
and have anchored safely within thc
slip, where the force of the water Is
not usually dangerous.