South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-13
ST. JOSEPH RIVER,
FLOODED BY RAINS
NEARING RECORD
Stream, Now High Above Nor
NAL, May Reach 47 Feet
Crops Damaged and Farmers
Are Delayed.

With the gauge in the st. Joseph
river showing at 46.7 feet at noon
wednesday. predictions were made at
the oliver power plant that the stream
would rise TO A feet by night with
indications Of it's climbing still higher
before the food caused by the heavy
rains Of the last few days has been
carried away.
Nearly three feet Of water is now
pouring over the dam, which is 27
feet more than normal. Indications
are that the level will be raised higher
than at any time during the spring
flood when the maximum was AIS.
For the late spring season the river
Is unusually high the floods general
ly coming in February and March.
April showers some years send the
level up a few notches, but IL is sell
dom that the stream climbs up it's
banks as IL is now.
In numbers Of places the river is
out of it's banks flooding farm land
and backing up smaller streams. Con-
siderable trouble is expected before il
is over the rampage. Excessive dam
age 10 farm produce is feared. In
many places on the lOWlands the
crops have been entirely washed out.
The fruit crop has been damaged to a
great extent not only in this vicinity
The floods are holding back farming
and every farmer will be set back two
weeks with his work because of the
rains.
Damage Over state.
Floods are reported in every part
OF the state as well as in southern
Michigan. The Kankakee river is re-
ported TO be nearly a mile wide in
places and several low bridges have
been made impossible as they are un-
Ger water. The Maumee and the Wa
bash are reported TO be climbing. Con-
siderable damage has been done by
both streams as a result Of the flood.
the Maumee is four feet above nor
NAL while the Wabash Is nearly two
and a half. The greater part Of the
water turned into IL has not reached
the main stream and floods are ex-
peCted in the next few hours. The
Ohio is reported steadily rising.
Two men were killed in Michigan
as a result of the storm. Thomas
Graham, "A teamster. was drowned at
Kalamazoo while attempting to rescue
a team of horses from the water. j
j. Dodge, a farmer living near Mar
cellus, in Cass county, was struck by
lightning and instantly killed.
All southern Michigan is suffering
severely because of the rains. Much
property has been damaged. In De-
trolt cellars are Hooded and in the
country lowlands districts have been
washed out. In many districts the
rainfall was the heaviest in years. The
celery crop at Kalamazoo is reported
practically a total loss.
Ford Company Suspends.
The Ford Motor company of De-
troit was forced TO suspend operations
when its plant became flooded and its
$4,000 employees will be idle until Fri
day at least, company officials say. ii
is estimated that the loss there in pro-
duct, wages and damage 10 machinery
will reach $1,000, 900. other losses
will amount TO thousands of dollars.
Scores Of families were driven from
their homes in outlying districts
many being rescued in boats and
some narrow escapes are reported
though there were no fatalities.
Leesburg, Fairview and Highland
Park districts are under from two &c
five feet OF water.