Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-01-28
for River Indi- 1ate City Faces Most Ser X ious Situation.
EAVY RAINS FALL 0 IN UPPER VALLEY
I1se of Seven Feet Recorded at Fort
 fnith Yesterday--Predicted River IEHere Will Go to g Feet, Three E Feet Above Flood Stage.

XWith the already high water find " it impossible to pass into the ssissippi because of flood stages that stream, and with five-foot "a predicted, to reach here by Sun T, Pine Bluff today faces situa- n which, in the minds of conserva- l~e, practical men, may easily be- The more serious than anything T has occurred in years.
 &The stage of the river here yester- g morning was 23.4 feet. Late yes- &fday a special river warning 1s- 1ed from Little Rock by the weather 5ireau predicted the river will go to & feet "or more." Last night the pre- 3ction was repeated, with the further prnation that a five-foot rise will & experienced the crest of the flood & pass here Sunday night or Mon Y morning.
 s8rhe highest mark yet reached by % Arkansas river at Pine Bluff is 9 feet, which was established June 7bf last year. The highest at Fort &ith on that occasion was 28 feet. zis now predicted there will be 30 t record established at Fort Smith fs morning. which will mean about RD feet stage here Sunday evening * night. -. M Grave Fears are Held. Elf the river reaches the height 7edicted, I fear serious damage will 6ult," said Mayor Sjron Bloom last 3xht. "If a five-foot rise comes on l1 of the high water we now have, Ho greater portion of East Pine Huff will be under water, most o1 <e submerged area to lie between river and Eleventh avenue, anu |bm State street east.
 *..It is going to- take the most strenu.
 efforts to prevent great loss. II
 river does what is forecasted,
 continued. ".Just what to do, is Ed to determine. > Engineer Allen
 A conference tonight with Gov kment Engineer Van Frank, and It very likely all forces, city, county, kernment and railroad, will co- brate. Both railroads are likely to ke their tracks under water. It IS likely to mean that every citizen q be called upon to help build ees." %@
 Harding's Bayou a Weakness. rhe one big weakness in any sys- of defense from the high water Hardings' bayou, it is admitted. lees might be built for miles, but h the water backing into Hard es bayou and thence spreading U the city, nothing would be ac- hplished.
 When the high water comes. |rybody admits something must De e." che cynical resident remark Hast night. "When the water goes kn, nothing need be done. It's just
 the Hot Springs man whose rooI ted: when it rained. he couldn't
 1t, when it didn't rain, the roor
 not need fixing"
 Rumors Right and Left.
 here were rumors last night that haze had been done the Plum lou levee, but these could not be stantiated. Plum Bayou could not reached, by telephone. or other
 but Cotton Belt officials report Everything was all right. so far as
 knew. tE. {
 046O WSAS AAA SA>
 trouble was being experienced the Oracle ievee near New cony. No details could be ascer- led, but it is known that work to Arge and strengthen the levee at
 or more points was being start
 will be remembered that dur
 the high water last year there
 a considerable amount of caving r Rob Roy.
 Danger at Cummins.
 lembers of the penitsntiary com sion were worried yesterday over
 situation at Cummins, where 6re was danger of 8 break in the ee.
 The commission secured the coun-
 for sacks, even telegraphing to
 Iron Mountain superintendent at