New-York tribune., 1919-07-24
Wet Spell Six Days Short of
1897 Record, Nor Does
1t Equal the Precipitation
Mark in July of 1889
Crop Damage Is Heavy
New Jersey and Long Island
Meadows Flooded; Rail
Lines Have Much Trouble

Even the Office boy at the headquar-
ters of the local Weather Bureau, atop
the Whitehall Building, was smiling
yesterday afternoon. The sun, true to
Forecaster James H. Scarr's promise,
was shining brightly and making New
Workers forget the eight days OF rain.
On St. Swithin's Day. July Is, ram
started falling, and continued, with
broke through the clouds yesterday.
This period of little more than eight
days of rain fell short by six days OF
equalling the record for consecutive
days of rain, which was established in
July, 1897. The total rainfall in inches
for the month so far is about three
inches short of equalling the July high
record. In July, 1889. the records here
show, total Of 9.63 inches OF rain fell.
Flood Peril Abated
The weather changed just in time to
prevent serious flood conditions in the
lowlands of New Jersey and Long Isl
and. Commuters had been warned to
expect delays on account Of washouts
aud submerged tracks.
The rain swelled many rivers out of
their banks. Long Island meadows
both in New York and New Jersey were
reported to have sustained material
damage, particularly grain that had
been shocked in the fields.
Fifty feet of the roadbed Of the New
York, Susquehanna & Western.
branch of the Erie Railroad, was
washed out near Butler. N. j., yester-
day. Two hundred feet of the roadbed
went under water. The town of Butler
itself was dark Tuesday night, light
ming having put the electric system out
of commission.
The dam at Grants Park, on the
Whippany River. broke during the
early morning hours. The lower sec
tions of Morristown and Speedwell
Park were inundated, causing losses
aggregating $780, 900.
From Butler also came the report
that the Ramapo River, between Pomp-
ton Lakes and Oakland. had overfiowed
large section of the valley. Heavy
crop damages were recorded in that
vicinity. The Pequanoc River rose at
rate of more than foot an hour for
time. At one period it rose thirty
inches in twenty minutes, according to
Mayor Joseph Mclean of Butler.
Tent Colonies Suffer
The Pompton River branch of the
Passaic, was eight feet above it's nor
NAL level yesterday All along this
stream summer tent colonies were
washed away. At Mountain View the
floods cut off all approaches to the rail
road station. Commuters at this point
were compelled to abandon their usual
trips to the city or reach the station
via canoe.
Streets also were flooded at West
Elizabeth, where residents were busy
ali day pumping out cellars.
Some delays were experienced during
the early rush hours by the New York
central. the New Haven and the Long
st.and .t..od Tailroads N At one time, it was
stalled for two miles beyond the Mott
Haven yards.
Pennsylvania and Long Island rail
road linemen repaired the damage
caused by the short-circuiting of power
nnes Tuesday night. A short circuit
oue to the downpour came at the Hack.
ensack portal on the New Jersey end Of
the Pennsylvania tubes. The entire
signal system of the East River tubes
was deranged by the same cause. Re-
pairs were made quickly, and both sys
TENS were working Yesterday morn;n -