Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-06
FALL IN RIVER IS
NOT TO Be RAPID
Mississippi Reaches Crest and Is at
Stand. Registering 15-9 Feet
Above Low Water.
TO RECEDE SLOWLY FOR TIME
Stream VIII Not Lower Very Much
For Three or Four Days, Prof.
j. VI. Sherier Predicts.

VITA the MISSISSIPPI river al STANG
today, 15.9 feet above low water, and
predictions that a falling tendency
would set in beginning tonight, Rock
Island today passed through the crest
of the highest river stage in the past
quarter OF a century
Not since June, 1892, when the river
went to 1914 feet, has the water been
as high as it is today. Because of a
weeks warning the property damage
in Rock Island has been cut down to
the minimum. 4 great amount of in
convenience is being suffered, how
ever.
THE river is at a stand today"
Professor j. NJ. Sherier, meteorological
of the local government weather bu-
reau, said today. "A falling tendency
will set in tonight and the river will
slowly lower unless we have heavy
rains. 1t will only fall a tenth or two
a day for the first three or four days,
but after that it will drop at the rate
Of half a foot day"
Hundreds of people have viewed the
river from First avenue. The current
is so strong that the ferry is carried
a block and a half down stream on
each trip. The Mississippi from Sec
ond avenue appears as though it was
at the level Of First avenue.
While only one pump was necessary
at the Harms hotel yesterday, two de-
vices were placed at work today lift
ing water from the basement through
pipes onto the pavement on Eighteenth
street. The water flows into the river
near the ferry landing. There are nu-
merous other buildings on First ave
nue. that have water in the Easements
Sewer System in Order.
The sewer system of Rock Island
has not been greatly affected by high
water. The mouths of the mains have
been closed and the sewerage is beins
pumped from the drains at the foot of
Fifth avenue. The pump has been at
work for weeks.
Water covers the floor of the Rock
Island Bridge and Iron works and
also the Blake Speciality company,
both of which concerns stopped opera
tons earlier in the week The entire
Mill street district is flooded. but the
Standard Oil Cloth plant has not clos
ed down. Entrance to the plant is not
cut off by water at the north end, but
the southern end of the building Is
surrounded by water.
Fear for the municipal detention
hospital is allayed today. Municipal
authorities are confident. that no dam
age will result to the pest house. The
water is not high enough to seep into
the first floor of the building. Should
heavy rains come and the river con-
tinue to rise, it is thought that the pa
tients would have to be removed in
boats.
More families further south along
the Rock Island & Peoria tracks have
been forced TO leave their homes be-
cause the river has caused the slough
TO rise a half foot over its stage OF
two years ago. Those driven from
their homes yesterday and today have
joined others forced to leave earlier
in the week and have erected tents
on higher land east Of the slough.
Hope is now entertained that no
heavy rains occur, as with the river
at its present high stage continuous
downpour would cause the stream to
rise perhaps to the extent that a new
high water mark would be set.
Relief in Drury.
Drury drainage district, in the
southern end of Rock Island county,
is covered with from TO y feet Of
water today. Indications at noon were
that the water which has covered the
district, due to the break in the bikes
which occurred three weeks ago,
would lower, as there is a falling ten
dency in the Iowa river. Another con-
dition which will relieve the Illinois
drainage district is the occurrence Of
breaks in bikes on the Iowa side
The Drury district contains 5000
acres. The Union drainage district,
which is situated in the southern end
Of Rock Island county and the north
ern end of Mercer county. containing
$4,000 acres of land, is still dry
Farmers living In the district saw re-
lief today in the lowering of the Iowa
river. This, coupled with the breaks
on the Iowa side, it is figured, will re-
lieye the strain on the walls of the
Union drainage district. The farmers
have taken every precaution possible
TO prevent break in the dixie Thous-
ands of sacks of sand have been plac-
ed against the bikes to reinforce them.
The sack supply in the tri-cities has
been exhausted because of the demand
for the bags for use In protecting
dikes Rush orders from Chicago and
St Louis have been wired and it is
expected that by Monday more bags
will be available Only one fear re
mains for the Union drainage district
Farmers figure that high wind would
cause the river TO become choppy and