Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-23

One of the worst OF these floods In
recent years was In 1912, when 200
lives were lost md n property loss Of
45,0O0,OOO was caused in Bolivar
county, Mississippi. The property loss
each year In the lower Mississippi
region runs into millions. The year
Of greatest loss was 1908, when
millions Of dollars in property were
destroyed at Kansas City, Mo-, and
other river towns.
Great as have been the loss OF
life and property In floods In the
United States, they have been almost
infinltesimal In comparison TO losses
In life and property in other countries,
particularly in China
In 1876, 100000 persons persisted In
a tidal wave IN Bengal Hundreds OF
thousands were drowned In the China
provinces In the same year. In 1897,
two years before the Johnstown food
In this country. millions were drowned
in a food of the Hoang-ho in IIonan,
China. In 1896, 27,OoO lives were lost
in Japan In n flood.
In 1911, 100000 lives were lost in
food Of the Yang-tse KIang In
China and in the same year 5000 lives
were lost in lIoang-ho river flood.
In 1912, 400 were lost in Japan and
2S2 IN second food in the same year.
The Philippine islands also have had
many similar disasters.
One Of the large floods preceding the
Johnstown food In 1874 inundated the
NH river valley In Massachusetts
when n dam broke. Nearly $50 per
sons were drowned. In the same year
and In the next year disastrous floods
In Western Pennsylvania and In the
Ohio river valley caused the loss OF
hundreds OF lives.
In the West river valley of China
serious floods occurred in 1914 and
1915. In the first year the loss was
$500 lives and $4,000 900 in property.
The following year 10000 lives were
lost.
Two years ago floods and cloud
bursts in Guanaiuato, Mexico, killed
1000 persons and caused a property
loss of S20.OoO,OC0. Two cities were in
undated and crops destroyed over an
area of 10000 square miles.
Pueblo Flooded In 1894.
The recent disaster at Pueblo was
the second in the history of that city.
On May 81, 1894, Pueblo was swept
10,
swollen to torrent by downfall Of
rain and series of cloudbursts all along
the eastern slope of the continental
divide. According to reports printed
at that time the flood Of 1894 was
similar in every way to the one early
In June.
The previous downpOur of rain on
the Eastern slope covered a wider
area of territory. extending as far
south as Abilene, Texas. Heavy cloud
bursts were reported at the same time
in the Pacific Northwest. Other cities
in Colorado heavily hit in this same
storm were Boulder, Denver, Mani
tou, Colorado Springs and Butte
Approaches to all the bridges over
the Arkansas river and Fountain creek
were washed away in the flood and
sections of the city were cut off from
communication with one another
The flood of water in Pueblo in the
1874 inundation was at least fifteen
feet deep, and remained at high level
for more than a week. Much of 1t
had 10 be pumped away. Many rail-
road bridges near the city, and particu-
larry between Pueblo and Canon City,
were destroyed. The heaviest loser
was the Denver & Rio Grande Rail
road.
More than 10000 persons were in
distress following the flood, because
the supply of food ran low, and it
was impossible to repair the railroad
bridges for several days. Passengers
on railroad trains were marooned be
tween bridges and went several days
without food.
7 The death list in this flood was
about thirty. Reports said that the
number would have been larger If the
inhabitants had not hurried to the
hills when warning was given.