The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-10-01
Great Damage to Crops,
Streets, Stores and
Other Property
MONTPELIER HAD
GREATEST LOSS
High Water Call Was
Sounded There, But Some
Merchants Were Late

!
One of the heaviest transforms of
the season eliminated in downpour
during last night which caused consid
cradle damage TO roads, raised water
in streams until bridges We're endan-
gered and seriously affected wire serv-
ice in various sections. The most seri
ous damage was reported from Mont
pelier, where merchants and the muni-
cipality lost thousands of dollars from
high water Hill street in Barre was
/ considerably washed out and other
| damage was done.
| At the South Main street bridge con
struction there was high water because
of the temporary obstructions in Jail
| branch and the water got so men
acing on the temporary wooden bridge
| that traffic across the structure was
suspended for a time Barre officials
were at work early making temporary
repairs to damaged highways and side
walks.
Street Superintendent Freeman was
out practically all night with part of
his men, cleaning leaves off receivers.
pumping out water and doing other
things TO protect property Of the city
aud of individuals, Members of the
Barre water department were also busy
during a part of the night in meeting
the attack of the rainfall
Traffic between Montpelier and Mid
dlesex was entirely cut off for time
A bridge was washed out near Worces.
ter 50 that the stage driver did not
come to Montpelier this morning
Trainmen on the Central Vermont
trains reaching Montpelier from the
north reported high water between Wa
terbury and Richmond which did much /
damage to crops. There was slight |
washout at slip hil' on the Central
Vermont line and one near the water.
house at Montpelier Junction.
Much Damage in Montpelier.
In Montp peher it was called the worst
rainfall since the flood of Oct. 4, 1869 !
Estimates of the losses sustained by
Montpelier merchants ran as high as
$4,000, and there was probably dam.
age Of $1,000 TO the streets, sidewalks
and sewers.
The Montpelier police and fire de-
partment watched the conditions and
about , this morning commenced
TO notify persons whose property was
the most in danger of water damage
These responded 10 the calls but some
Of those notified later, il is understood,
did not and some delayed after the
high water call so that the damage was
found TO be pretty high when they
reached their stores.
NJ e. Ferry, water commissioner,
was out all night with some of his
men. looking after sewer CRATES, while
Z A. Witham. street superintendent,
arose shortly after midnight and with
MS men worked until morning. but in
,pite of their efforts, considerable dam ,
,ge was done On Winter street the
hubbard brook went over IL banks; ,
IN Mortified street similar condi
Jon occurred, but the new road there .
ield in good shape lower State street
ng; North street and several other I
,laces received damage
The chimneys on the sewers on =
Barre street would not take the vol {
ime Of water that was coming down a
hat street so Main street was flood
d from Barre street TO NJ L. Woods
ouse for time. A Mrs. Martins au-
omobie became stalled in the water :,
car the Unitarian church. Another
machine was stalled in the water on
pper River street where some dam.
&c was done Policemen were watch q,
NJ the rising water in their spare mo- Z,
rents from regular duties and when q
he water commenced 70 rise very :,
ist the high water alarm was sound IL
! at $3.50 o'clock n
Many Of the merchants either did NJ
OF hear the alarm or did not think
here was any danger Of water get te
ng in their cellars and some had to ia
G notified by telephone even after n
,e alarm had been sounded of
About o'clock the wall on the r,
'orccster branch. back Of the Mont Ia
llier Argus office caved. CARRYING with NJ
an electric light pole upon which Ps
ere transformers These went into tn
le stream and set the roof of the Bs
arris garage on fire. Firemen put
II the FIRE rapidly. The high tension
ires came in contact with a light
2 circuit and the lights in the Odd a.,
flows block we're burned out -'
Some Of the Montpelier merchant,
d the goods in safe quarters before
e water reached the cellars while br,
hers did not arrive early enough TO col
* after their interests an
The Montpelier and Wells River dis
ssenger train did not leave Mont m
lier until about ? o'clock this morn "a,
z due TO repairs having to be made riff
q Washout near Barre transfer b.. hoi
-e trains could pass over H. The va at
/ was over lhe trolley track II the 70,
-er curve v Berlin and the state riff
rage Wa wen nigh surrounded bv bul
ter en-
The Lane Manufacturing Co. Wa the
thout power this morning while the co
W Edison printing plant vas also tin
sed BY the transformers coing into 81,
! Worcester branch va