Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-03

will investigate 10 locate Tie NE!
of the gorge. and ii 1t is thought
relief will be given the obstruc-
ton will be removed.
The danger point in the food which
threatens Rock Island is not past.
While some relief has been given
through a drop of one foot IN the
stage of the Mississippi and Rock
rivers, and the bridges at Milan are
still standing, the gorge five miles be-
low here, which is the key to the
trouble, is daily strengthening
through zero weather and unless re-
moved by artificial means untold suf-
fering and damage will result, it is
believed.
The cities Of Rock Island and DAY.
export have temporarily abandoned
the plans for dynamiting the gorge
and unless the war department will
take the initiative to remove the OBJ
struction it is quite likely that the
gorge will break only when thaw
comes.
With thaw the Rock and Missis-
sippi rivers will swell perhaps higher
than. at any time this season. 1t will
require a heavy thaw to break the
gorge and heavy thaw will mean
that large quantities of water will be
deposited in the present swollen
streams
To river authorities it appears that
before relief eventually will come
through natural sources more havoc
will be caused by the two rivers. They
say that the only act which will
bring relief is to remove the ice OBJ
struction down the river.
Engineers inspected the gorge at
the head of Peterson's island yester
day. The obstruction, it was reported,
extends to Andalusia and that only
huge quantities of dynamite will re-
move it. This would entail a heavy
expense.
Asking Relief.
The Davenport Commercial club
has sent telegram to the war de-
partment at Washington asking i'm
mediate relief, stating that the situa-
ton here at present is bad, but will
continue to grow worse unless the
gorge is removed.
An effort is also being made In the
two Cities it is said, to raise funds by
subscription among the business men
in order to meet the expense of dyna-
hitting the obstruction.
This step is being taken in view of
the claim that neither the city of Rock
Island nor the city of Davenport was
jurisdiction over the territory on
either side of the obstruction
With the ice becoming thicker and
heavy volume of water back of it.
the situation is very grave, although
slight temporary relief has taken
place since yesterday.
Following is the situation today:
Mississippi river is IA feet above
low water, drop of one foot from
flood stage yesterday
Rock river receded II feet in the
last "A hours, the reading being PA
feet above low water today.
Mill creek swollen by overflow from
Rock river yesterday, recedes several
feet during the night
Water in Easements in a number OF
buildings in the business section OF
Rock Island recedirg.
Lowering Of water in west end fac,
tory district but three plants still
closed
Slight relief being given to Third
Fourth and Fifth street section, which
is inundated
Forecast of weather bureau, promis
ing no thaw, interpreted to mean in.
creased danger for Rock river bridges
The Mississippi river at no time yes
terday reached a point higher than II
feet, food stage, although it was
thought yesterday morning for time
that the stream would continue t.
swell. The river remained at flood
stage until 3 O'clock in the afternoon
when IT began falling.
Many Sightseerers at Bridges.
Exaggerated tales concerning Rocl
river were given wide circulation il
YES
terday. Hundreds late in the after
noon and in, the evening made the triI
to the bridges to observe the condi
ton Of the stream. The river reached
its maximum stage at noon, when 1
was recorded at 22.5 feet at the lower
lock. The ice at that time was ever
with the floor beams OF the bridge
With the Mississippi receding, Rocl
river lowered also. The dam was no
visible this morning, although Their,
was a slight ripple in the stream, in
dicating its location.
The situation at the second bridg,
is perhaps the most serious. Ice IL
some places above this structure Il
piled higher than the floor of tn,
bridge
Mill creek started swelling earl,
yesterday afternoon, due to an overflow
from Rock river at Lock 80. one ant
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