The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-26
Central Works Are
Compelled to Cease
Operations by a To-
Foot Stage in River
SO. HARRISBURG
CELLARS FILLED
Residents of Low Sections of the City
Move Their Belongings Up Stairs
Forecssters Say the Danger Mark
of IL Feet VIII Not Be Passed

When the flood in the Susquehanna
river reached the sixteen-foot stage
here this morning at O'Clock. water
started backing into scores of cellars in
South Harrisburg. Many of the resi-
dents worked during the night rem0v-
ing to upper floors anything that might
be damaged by water. This occurred in
placed where there are open sewers in
the cellar floors.
This condition existed as far east as
Cameron street where water backed
into the cellar of the Susquehanna fire
engine house to the depth of six inches.
Water also backed into the cellar of
the Paxton fire engine house, on South
Second street 10 the same depth. The
river stage here at s o'clock this morn
ing was 1874 feet and had reached 16
feet an hour later. There it remained
for time.
Prospects of serious damage here
from the flood is remote. The State
Water Supply Commission TODAY fore
casted maximum stage well within
seventeen feet, the danger limit.
NluCi1lS nAoH rle
maximum at seventeen feet.
Flood Closes Central Plant
The open hearth furnace of the Cen
tIal Iron and Steel Company plant be-
gan TO be flooded at river stage of
fifteen feet early this morning and
work at the plant, including all of the
various mills, had TO be suspended.
Work will be started again as soon as
the water goes below fifteen feet,
which will likely be late tomorrow
morning.
The State Water Supply Commission.
which yesterday forecasted a food stage
for Harrisburg by this afternoon, is.
sued the following to-day:
Ion this particular freshet or high
water stage the Susquehanna river at
Harrisburg will crest before the maxi
mum stage of the North Branch
reaches Wilkes-Barre, owing 70 the fact
that the West Branch and the Juniata
food waters were considerably ahead of
the North Branch fiow.'i
The contractors on the two subways
and the new bridge of the Cumberland
Valley railroad at Mulberry street re-
ported to the railroad agents this
morning that the water had not inter
fered with the work on the subways or
the bridge. Should the water go above
the danger point to any extent, it will
interfere with the work, but on being
assured bv the Weather Bureau this
morning that the crest would not be
above II feet fears in the direction
were dispelled.
Crest Late This Afternoon
The water in the upper branches of
the river is reeeding somewhat and :.
IS believed that the crest of the flood
will pass Harrisburg late this after
noon. Selinsgrove reported a rise OF
3.3 feet and Wilkes Barre 3.9 feet in
the twenty-four hours preceding s
@ clock this morning. Wilkes Barre was
the only city in the watershed expert
encing food stage last night.
The rise in Harrisburg was greater
than at any place, amounting to Sc
1eet in the twenty-four hours preceding
s o'clock this morning. Weather Bu-
Teau officials to-day foreeasted a flood
stage, which is seventeen feet. for late
this afternoon.
Slight falling action is expected in
the river tonight, Weather Bureau Of
metals foreeasting stage of 1876 feet
oy o'clock tomorrow morning. This
will still keep water in the cellars in
South Harrisburg.
Traction company officials watched
the river for a rise sufficient to cause
a baek-iow into the Market street sub
way, as this would make necessary the
running of the Allison Hill ears on a
block signal system on Thirteenth
street, between Market and State
streets, and the Steelton and Middle
town ears by way of Hemlock and
Race streets. 1t was believed late this
afternoon that there would be no seri.
Gus food in the subway.