Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
Yuma Valley Under Four Feet
of Water; Many Buildings
Washed Away.
ARIZONA CITY'S MAYOR
HEART FAILURE VICTIM
Rising Rivers in West Menace Many
Communities, and Snow Adds
to Traffic Troubles.

YUMA. Ariz.. January 22.-Yuma val
ley was covered to depth of from one
to four feet by food water from the
Colorado river tonight. as a result of
the breaking of the government levees
near here today.
Business houses in the main street
were flooded to a depth of four feet,
and many of the older buildings here
were washed away or badly damaged.
Residents were sent to the hills back
from the river.
The city of Yuma was in darkness to-
night and without supply of drinking
water. as the plants supplying gas,
electricity and water were flooded
a citizens committee maintained or
der here. Mayor Charles c. Moore hav
ing died of hear failure during the eX-
citement that prevailed shortly after
the levees gave way.
Thousands of Acres Inundated.
Thousands of acres of agricultural
land both on the Arizona and the Cali
fornia sides of the Colorado were mum
dated. The irrigation canals were fill
ed to the breaking point. and it was
feared that serious damage would re-
suit to the gigantic irrigation project
that supplies the Imperial valley of
California
Communication to the farming sec
tions near here was cut off. preventing
the receipt of definite reports on the
situation in many communities Sew
eral thousand head of stock were in
the low sections of the Yuma valley
and il is feared that a large proper
tion of them have persisted.
The river appeared to be falling here
late today, but il was thought this was
caused by the breaks in the levees.
Traffic Resumed in California.
Los ANGELES, Cal, January 22-
Flood waters of Arizona rivers and
streams were reported to be somewhat
lower today Bisbee. Douglas. Nogales
and other towns were without COM
munication most of the day
With the exception of the Atchison
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line to
San Diego and few branches of the
local electric railway system, all rail-
stored traffic today.
Three Trains Stalled in Snow.
ALBUQUERQUE, n. NJ. January 90
-Transcontinental traffic over the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe lines
hampered by flood conditions in Ari-
iona. was further impeded today by
heavy snowfall in the vicinity of Clio
rieta. northeast of here. Three passen-
ger trains are reported stalled there
and three westbound trains are being
held here because of washouts in Ari-
IONA At the local Santa Fe Offices it
was said, it was uncertain when
through traffic would be resumed
Arkansas River at Flood Stage.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, January 22-
Rain that fell steadily last night and
continued today over virtually all of
Arkansas caused flood warnings to be
sent out from this city today to resi-
dents of the White river region. The
river is near the danger point at
Georgetown. Clarendon and McClelland,
where extra gangs of men have been
sent to repair levees.
The Arkansas river entered flood con-
ditions today, when urgent warnings
were sent by the local weather bureau
of impending rises. The warning pre-
dicted twenty-four feet at Dardanelle
tfood stage. twenty feeO, Sunday
night; twenty-four feet, Little Rock
thood stage. twenty-three feet). Tues
day night: Pine Bluff. twenty-six feet
tfood stage, twenty-five), Wednesday
night
Reports from White river are that the
stream is flooding near Calico rock, but
wires are down in that direction.
Traffic Demcralized at Peoria.
PEORIA. ILL.,. January 22-Restora-
tion of railroad traffic by night was
predicted by officials here today. For
twenty-four hours traffic in and out of
Peoria has been demoralized. washouts
and weakening of tracks in all direc-
tons. making train operations precari-
Gus. \ food which yesterday tore
through the kickapoo valley was sub
siding today.
Kansas City Bridge Safe.
KANSAS CITY. No, January 22-
Fear Of further damage to bridges in
this vicinity diminished today with
the announcement of the weather bu-
Teau that there would be no great rise
in the Kansas river. The foes that
yesterday pushed away a portion of
Kansas City, Mo, and Kansas City,
Kan. had passed down stream, and the
rest OF the bridge was believed safe
In southeastern Kansas high waters
s.ill prevailed along the verdigris.
Aeosho. Elk and Cottonwood rivers.
out the heavy rains had ceased
Fox River Back in Channel.
AURORA. ILL.,. January 22-The Fox
river. which flowed over its banks yes
terday into the Aurora water works
pumping station. cutting off three
fourths of the city's water supply. was
back In it's channel today. having gone
down more than four feet since yes
terday afternoon. when ice in the
stream was dynamited for miles up
and down It's course. The pumping
station resumed operations last mid
night. Thousands of persons, driven
from homes in lowlands yesterday. be-
gan to go back today.
This afternoon the pumps were
started again at a well in South Aurora
and the danger was lessened.