The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-07
River ice Will co OUT
here IN next "A HOURS


C08tAnueu rage
in the Susquehanna region together
with the forecast for the next twenty
four hours, which was issued from the
local Office of the weather bureau this
morning follows:
''As forecast yesterday, the general
and moders tely heavy rains and high
temperature during the last twenty -four
hours have caused ice movements in
some of the streams in the Susquehan-
ma river system. The ice broke at Re.
nova at $40 a. nj. to-day and moved
out on eight feet of water. 1t broke at
Clearfeld about a. m. and moved out
on stage of about feet. The ice has
also moved out of Pine creek at Water
vile.
Substantial rises have occurred in
all streams and further movements of
ice are likely to occur in the next
twenty hours in all streams of the
system where ice remains except pos
sibly the North Branch. All streams
will rise during the next thirty six
hours except the upper portions of the
main tributaries which will probably
begin to fall tonight. No flood stages
are likely to occur except where gorg.
ing occurs. stage of about 6.5 feet
is indicated for Harrisburg Friday
morning.
The food stage in Harrisburg is II
feet. Until the river reaches that
stage there is no inconvenience here.
When it reaches that point, the Market
street subway begins to fill with water
and some of the low lands in South
Harrisburg become flooded.
Mercury Rose to 81 Degrees
The greatest increase in the river
stage over night was reported from Re-
novO where the river rose So feet The
greatest rainfall occurred there, the
precipitation amounting to 2.10 inches.
The Clearfield report that the ice moved
out on six feet of water after the oh.
servation was made lealis Weather
Forecaster Demain to believe that the
only flood stage in the system may be
reached there.
According to advices reaching the 10.
cal office of the Weather Bureau the
ice from the West Branch has gorged
some place in the vicinity of Williams
port. Should this gorge give way dur
ing the night and release great body
of water greater increase than an.
tlcipated In the stage of the river at
this point may result.
The storm broke over this city yes
terday morning and light rains occurred
all during the day until last night
when the rain became heavy, falling in
torrents about 8 clock. Under the in
fiuence of this storm the temperature
rose, reaching a maximum of 54 de-
grees at last midnight 1t had dropped
to As degrees at o'clock this morn
ing. 1t is likely that the temperature
just after last midnight will be the
maximum for to-day Although it was
an exceedingly high temperature no
records for the month were broken. The
depression, responsible for the rain, has
,, moved north eastward and was central
in Michigan this morning. No further
rain is expected here.
Ice Wrecks Temporary Bridge
The ice on the Swatara creek, which
flows into the Susequehanna at Middle
town, broke shortly after midnight and
moved off on from six to eight feet OF
water. The breakup of the ice on the
Susquehanna river, between Highspire
and Buck Lock, point two miles be-
low Middletown, occurred this morn
ing and this afternoon the ice is gorg-
ing in the rifles just below Royalton.
The ice is piled several feet high
and while it would require a rise in the
river of six or eight feet to carry off
this lee, no serious results are antici-
pated.
The framework under one section of
the temporary bridge which the Ferro-
Concrete Company provided when it be-
gan the construction of the permanent
concrete arch bridge over the Swatara
creek, between Middletown and Royal
ton, was swept away by the flood of
ice this morning and pedestrians now
are Obliged to use the uncompleted con.
crete structure.
River Closed On December f5
The river became icebound on De-
cember 15, closing earlier this winter
than in most years. December was un.
usually cold, all temperature records for
the month in the last twenty seven
years being broken, but the clbsimg of
the river here at such an early date
was partly due to the new dam at the
southern limits of the city, which re-
tarded the flow of the river to some ex-
tent. Golfer dams around the piers of
the Cumberland Valley railroad bridge
served to stop the slush ice which first
formed in the river.
temperature of degrees on the
night of December 10 closed the river
at this point From that time on until
the close of the month the minimum
temperature each night was below
freezing, the minimum temperature for
the month occurring December 81 when
the mercury dropped to one degree
above zero. That put the finishing
touches on the river and from that time
on the ice afforded excellent skating,
particularly above the dam.
Skating is over on Wildwood lake
for the present, the ice being covered
with water, but when the next freeze
comes officials of the Park Department
expect to have CLASSY sheet of lee for
the steel runners. The red flag, which
indicates skating on the lake, was
hauled down from the top of the Offices
of the department in the Herman build.
ing on Tuesday.
Howell-Do you believe that the