Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-17
FRESHETS CAUSE LOSS
OF LIFE AND MONEY
Continued From First Pagcl
RiUer Expected to Go to
Is Feet; West Branch and
Juniata Are Out of Banks


Flood conditions unequaled for this
month since the record high water
mark of 1889 exist along the West and
Juniata branches of the Susquehanna
river, according to reports received by
the United States Weather Bureau and
the State Water Supply Commission.
The river is rapidly rising at the
lower reaches of these branches and
the main river at this point may pass
the hood stage tonight according to
Water Supply Commission officials.
Property loss and crop loss is ex-
pected to be the greatest ever caused
since 1889 by a freshet at this time of
year, the general rams of the last few
days causing rises in every stream in
the state.
Cattle caught in pastures by rapid
rises were drowned fences, dams and
trees torn away and washed down
stream, and heavy landslides caused
by the heavy rains.
The upper North and West Juniata
branches are expected to recede this
afternoon and tonight, while the
lower North and West branches and
the main river will rise steadily until
later tomorrow According to f. r.
Domain, in the local Weather Bureau
office. the river will probably reach a
stage OF l6.5 feet when it crests, but
wire trouble delayed several impor-
tant reports, and Mr.. Domain stated
that an exact estimate would be almost
impossible. The following stages are
expected as cresting points: Towanda,
Is feet; Wilkes Barre, 10; Williams
port. IS; Selinsgrove, 1S. The North
branch will cause the river to main
tain a high stage, il is believed, but
little trouble has beer. reported along
this reach of watershed.
Every effort is being made by the
Robert Grayce Construction Company.
hn nd
Railroad bridge, to anchor all of the
network which has been erected across
the river for transporting the concrete
and other materials used in finishing
the work. These supports will prob
ably be inundated early tomorrow,
result is doubtful. The front steps"
of the city were covered before noon,
the water going over the wall.
Cloudburst Reported
A report of a "cloudburst" at Re-
novo. received early to-day by the
State Water Supply Commission has
not been confirmed at noon to-day
owing TO a break in communications
with that place, and the stage of the
river at that point when received will
be big aid in forming an exact esti-
mate of the height of the water at
this point
At Mount Holly Springs the heavy
rains sent the creek over its banks
and caused a break in the dam at that
place. Employees of the park watched
the break during the night and many
of the people prepared to leave their
homes at once. The dam at Laurel is
also being watched with anxiety, as
the quick rise in the stream may take
1t away.
Warn Town of Flood
r. II. Hosmer, flood forecaster in
the State Water Supply Commission,
this morning wired to many points
of high stages, as follows: Wilkes
Barre 21 feet; Danville, II; Newport,
25. and Towanda. Il.
Creeks in Dauphin and nearby coun-
ties overflowed their banks in many
places, flooding large sections of farm
land and damaging crops and causing
big losses in property. At some places
the water reached stages unequaled in
recent years.
According to records in the local
Weather Bureau office, there were
only four clear days this month, three
partly cloudy and eight cloudy. A
total of feet inches of rain fell
the excess of rain over the normal
since June is almost 5 inches
Juniata Suffers Heavily
Huntingdon, Pa. June II. - Not
since the devastating flood of 1889 has
the Juniata Valley sustained such ma
terial property loss as the present
widespread sweep of the Juniata river
and Raystown branch are making.
Three days of incessant rainfall has
raised the former stream sixteen feet
and the latter eighteen feet, with both
still rising. All contiguous lands are
overf1owed, with accompanying de-
struction of crops, outbuildings and
many cattle.
The residents of Birmingham and
Spruce Creek, west of here, sought
shelter and safety during the night on
the hills and in the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Companys station buildings.
Many cattle, caught II pastures by the
quick rising stream, were drowned.
Heavy slides have occurred on the
line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, but
fortunately leading to no serious re-
suits.
South Huntingdon is inundated to a
depth of seven feet, the sewage system
deranged and much household prop
erty ruined. The farmers on the Rays
town branch have suffered heavily in
the destruction of outlying crops,
fences and in the loss of stock.
Fvs UsTY T.