The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-08

Taking in the probabilities of
local rains, Rock Island is the most
seriously affected of the quad-city
community from the continual rise
in the Mississippi river.
The river stage today is 16.9 feet
above low water mark, a rise of
seyen-tenths Of a foot over yes
' terday which is within one-tenth
of foot of the crest stage of II
feet that was predicted at this point
Tor tomorrow, according to the pre-
dictions given out by j. NJ. Sherier,
government metero)0gist at DaYen-
port.
At this stage OF the flood Rock
Island is in a serious predicament
With various dangers from the
river itself ahead, the main worry
here is now over local rains. 1t is
conceded by city officials that al
most any degree Of rainfall within
the next few days will be sure to
food every low spot below the bluff.
East End Endangered.
Until today fears over the situa-
ton in the west end district were
kfaramount, but today all attention
Is directed to the east end district
situation ON account Of the backing
up OF the sewers which it is said
Will cause a sure overflow Of low
spots in the east end district if a
ram should come.
Every sewer and storm drain in
'he city is now tied up. The west
ehd situation is being alleviated by
'he action of two electrical driven
sewer pumps at the Fifth avenue
pumping station. However, the
east end district is without such an
accommodation, and, therefore, a
pigger fear is being directed to this
situation on account of the backing
up OIL the east end sewers over
night.
Two Sewers Ch0kcd.
me main sewer flow of the east
enu district is on Fortieth street,
winch has a four-foot and two
.oot sewer. The two-foot sewer is
she lowest and is badly choked by
oack water from the river. The
.oaf-ioot sewer is in but little bet
'ef condition. This sewer is back
eu up as far as Fifth avenue, where
street opening was left to take
~ surface water at the low spot
44aerheath the railroad viaduct.
"aer sewers in the district are
y aS bad a condition. prophesying
SERIOUS menace in case of rain.
r, Inc west end district, with the
Eleventh and Nineteenth street
'eNefs out Of commission on ac-
t tounl OF gates having to be closed,
seeu a further setback today on
s.sOaht OF one Of the flow pines
,h toal The pumps being reached by
,L9 ss5 rise i ahe river. The pump is
@s. ~s.e 10 iosce the water, out. but in
II. Se .ae pump should cease operat-
ea Ls Tue water from the river would
wy. soW INTO the sewer. Arrangements
MY e being made to extend this
s ~pe further into the air to over
''ea The river stage.
Lmhankment Holding.
h,1 .le Rock Island railroad EN-
on,. ,AAetit In the west end is the
sr y obstruction between the river
Inv. @ 'he rest Of the west end dis
/ ~ Inc east side OF the tracks
s,,t, ts,Heady flooded to a consid-
tbro, ie extent, due to water getting
s,agh nough the Sixteenth avenue
med off o'o' t TINS was oai'i-
ohlsv;SeFer, the embankment is
fion lug regardless of the wave ac-
We, VI the flooded district to the
w., ffoteet Ninth Street,
sin, niie the railroad embankment
ei,, w. seems to be standing firm the
Of ohcials are taking no chances
as,s "asllont that would flood the
jara e west end. Cement sacks in
ia sc numbers have been obtained
sro, e hiied with sand to fill low
tbo o's along Ninth street to stor
hood there in case the rail-
fe -