New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-06-25
MINNESOTA RIVER
.0VERFLOWS VALLEY
ENTIRE FARMS UNDER WATER
HEAVY RAINS CAUSE
MUCH LOSS
MANY ROADS INUNDATED AND
SEVERAL BRIDGES MADE
IMPOSSIBLE

The excessive rains of the past few
weeks have caused the Minnesota river
again to overflow it's banks. At the end
of last week the waters in the valley near
the city were higher than during any
other food in the last seventeen years, it
is reported by the Eagle Mill which keeps
log of the river stages. In the short
period Of four days the water rose a
dozen feet, the level advancing at the
extraordinary speed of three inches
per hour. The heavy down pours which
followed one another at short intervals
swelled the peaceful, sluggish Minnesota
current to food proportions. N.
Out Of Banks
The rise began as early as Saturday
week ago and soon the roads from Mic
collet county leading to the bridges were
under water, thus cutting off from the
city all Of the farmers who have been in
the habit of coming from that section to
do their trading here.
Cottonwood High.
+ The Cottonwood also began rising
early last week and reached its crest
Thursday and Friday when it started
to 20 down slowly inch by inch. On
Friday it fell about fifteen inches in all
going further down on Saturday and
Sunday. It may be some time, though,
until it reaches it's normal stage again.
When the river was at its highest level
on Thursday and Friday morning it
came up to the floor Of the bridge near
the Cottonwood Roller Mill, without
however doing any damage to the bridge.
Mills Closed.
On Thursday the turbulent waters of
the Minnesota river entered the elevators
and the basement under the engine
room in the powef plant Of the Eagle
Roller Mill. A drain pipe loosened and
permitted the water to rush in. The
water stood five feet high before it was
possible to check it. The pumps were
soon set in motion, getting all the water
out during the following night. During
this time the mill had to be shut down
because it was found necessary to remove
the big belts on the fly wheels. In all,
the disturbance lasted about 18 hours,
the wheels being set in motion again
Friday morning at 10 o. clock.
Traffic Closed.
The traffic across, the Minnesota river
to and from the city of New Ulm. IS
closed again all roads leading to the
bridges being many feet under water.
Some people whose business forced them
to make the trip, crossed the stream in
boats or launches.
Considerable damage has been done
to the crops in the lowlands in this
section of the state it being impossible
to enter the fields to cultivate. In many
cases crops habe veen blighted and even
the crops on some higher ground have
been partly affected.
In Other Towns.
In Springfield the water Of the Big
Cottonwood river oyerfowed into the
Riverside Park and the road between
the bridge and the creamery was under
water, according to the Springfield Free
Press. At the brick yard the water
flooded the lower side track and got into
most Of the new kilns.
Wahasso and other Redwood county
towns were equally hard hit by the storm
and rain. The village Of Marietta in
Lac Qui Parle County was flooded by a
scloudburst and set under water making
the use Of row boats necessary.