The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-07-21

flood damage in the mountain country
from here to Asheville can be made
And when the totals are reached the
chief damage, the major suffering, is
going to be found, not to cotton mills |
and other industrial plants, but with
the plain people, the farmers, mer-
chant, and all who owned land or bust
ness property along the mountain
streams
The Southern, of course, and indus
trial plants have suffered heavily, but
the people are pfoportionately greater
sufferers. Instance after instance could
be recited where the loss is absolute.
The land is in such shape that it's prep
aration for new crop is said to be i'm
possible at this late season. The con-
dition is all the more unfortunate be-
cause drought had curtailed crops on
the high lands. Those losses are not
confined to the Cawtaba. Every stream
was party to the rampage. Branches
that ordinarily would afford fine wad-
ing for children were swollen to the
proportion of rivers. And everywhere
the water backed into the lowlands,
drowning out vegetation and leaving
behind mud and the debris of the coun-
try-s side. "Clearing our fields is going
to be q great problem farmer across
the Cawtaba told me yesterday.
Today several people are leaving
Statesville in hopes of working through
to Asheville. Among these is young
Lipe, whose father met death in the
food waters at Ashevile Sunday. De-
spite railway reports, it is quite evi-
dent that several days will elapse be-
fore the Southern will be able to work
out transfer arrangements.
When the writer crossed the Catawba
late yesterday nothing had been done,
no workmen were at the river and no
start made toward inaugurating ferry
service. Telegraph inemen were max
1 ing bold attempt to throw a wire
| across the Catawba, which at this point
| has cut new channel and formed, in
| effect, two separate streams. A narrow
! strip CT land. the old bank of the river,
stands between. The new channel has
| put a new river here about the size of
the old in normal times. This is going
to cause extra construction difficulties,
it would appear. We walked up the
right -of-way for probably mile after
crossing the river before turning to the
dirt road For this distance all the
Southern has left it's right-of-way. On
up the track toward Statesville we
could hear work engine and it was
said 200 men were at work on the
III track.
II Over across the Catawba nothing had
been done as far down as Morgantor
up to last night. There were only E
and they were without equipment tt
st work with. Passengers OH marOonnr
y. train No 21 asked that it be backe'
- from Connolly Springs to Hickory bu
=, were told the tracks would not supper
y, it. And yet this is the only link from
" the Catawba on to Bridgewater wher
"a the rails lay intact. The work eng lin
70 would not attempt to pass from New
Is ton 10 the Catawba yesterday. So trans
Or ferring passengers from link to link
IT yet a matter of days.
II, The whole section appears to be stl
es pefied Farmers stood on the banks Q
il the Catawba and looked upon the mue
Id dy water. Only one anticipated tha
he people would want to cross, and his il
We dustry in constructing boat was we
re rewarded The Western Union lin
lin men raid him $5 an hour for four hou
cd then he brought our party across. job
all Michaux, Greensboro s handsome eli
be- clerk, says he never again wants
as take passage in such a freaky Graf
In He had felt some desire to ride su
S. marine, but even this ambition is de:
ose now. Mr.. Michaux did not learn it b
fore leaving here last night for Greer
I'M boro, but after bringing him over t.
ay, lone boatman refused to make anoth
ev- trip, declaring the suction in mid-cl
ing rent came near capsizing his boat
ION the last. At that time the river W
in rising again, but this morning 1t is ST
of siding.
hey Statesville looks normal and Is 81
ain. fering now only from loss of train et
,en- nection Service to Salisbury is in eff
ter also to Charlotte. On board the T;
ow- lorsville train this morning are seve
,ver people who are trying to work acr
,ck- to the stricken Wilkesboro secti
ogs. among them a special representative
one the Daily News.-Correspondent
Greensboro News.
'ao Three Children Lost in Landslide
Alexander.
ueS' Tav!orsville, July 19.-Three c
"e dren were killed in Alexander cou1
u ~ eight miles from here, in a lands
''i'e Saturday night. All were children
anu Lonas Russell, well-to-do farmer
iia' ports are current here of other loss
'ne life and tremendous property dam
ser in Alexander Ashe Wilkes and