The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-10
WICHITAFLOODED
BIC RISE EN- ROUTE
Great Bend and Arkansas City
Report Big Rise.
Crest Arkansas River Flood
Five Feet High.
MUCH PROPERTY DAMAGED
No Loss of Life Reported
Santa Fe Trains Halt.
Crest of New Rise Is Expected
at Hutchinson Tonight.
MUCH PROPERTY DAMAGED


Wichita, June 10.-Warning that
flood conditions here were expected to
be worse than at first anticipated was
issued this morning by S. P. Peterson.
weather forecaster.
The Big Arkansas river will over
flow its banks in the low places in
Wichita in the next twelve or twenty
four hours. he predicted. This pre-
diction was based, he said. not only on
local conditions, but upon the unex-
rected turn of events in Great Bend
yesterday.
Took Sharp Jump.
The river took sharp jump of ST
feet last night, bringing the total rise
here during the last two days up to
6.7 feet above the normal low water
stage of about one foot.
''The rise will continue slowly for
the next two days." said an announce
ment by the weather bureau, land
will amount to l II to 2 feet more
than the present stage.
Flooding Oh the lower places in
the vicinity of Wichita and also in the
city of Wichita, especially on the
west side, will probably be rather ex-
tensive. The flooding probably will
begin within the next twelve or
twenty-four hours"
1t appeared that the flood will not
rise high enough to invade the main
business district.
Hutchinson Rise Two Inches.
Hutchinson, Kan, June 10.-The
Arkansas river is stationary this
morning at 81 above normal. 1t was
two inches higher in the night for
few hours. 1t is within the banks at
Hutchinson and no danger is in sight,
even from a farther rise of a foot or
more. There is no loss here up to
this time tho scattered low grounds
have little back water.
Service on the Santa Fe lines at
,, Great Bend was suspended as the re-
suit of several miles of track in low
lands being under Arkansas river
flood water, according to word here
today.
Another rain was reported up the
Little Arkansas river, but precipita-
ton mad stopped here. The water was
reported considerably lower today at
Hutchinson and Dodge City.
Expect Crest Tonight.
The crest is expected tonight or to-
morrow morning and persons living
along the river are moving out. In
dustrial plants so located are prepar-
ing for an inundation. No loss of life
has been reported but crops have been
damaged all along the river valley.
The river is two miles wide at Ell
unwood, being nearly up to the edge
of the business district, which is near
ly mile from the stream.
There was rise of two or three
inches last night in the river at Great
Bend and from six to twelve inches
in parts of the city and surrounding
country, from the back water from the
river and Walnut creek. Water is III
main street of Great Bend to within
a block of court house square. 1t is
the highest ever known at Great Bend,
but the lower lying lands along the
stream below that city seem to be TAX
ing care of the higher waters. A rise
of a foot or more in some places near
here would add greatly to the width.
South Great Bend Flooded.
Great Bend. June 10.-The entire
southern portion of Great Bend was
under water today as the result of an
overflow of the Arkansas river. I'M
provement was expected within the
next twenty-four hours with reports
from west Of here that the flood level
was falling, despite a rise of several
inches here during the night.
Mills, elevators. the railroad yards
and the city light and water plant
were flooded but the pumping station
and power plant were still running
The main business section has not
been reached by the high water and
probably will escape damage. The in
undated area extends as far north as
Twelfth street and back water reaches
around the western edge of the town,
Easements of residences in the
south section of the town are filled
eervice on the Santa Fe railroad has
been suspended indefinitely The NJ s.
souri, Pacific, which enters from the
north. however. has not been affected
Big Rise at Arkansas City.
Arkansas City. Kan. June 1O.-The
Arkansas river at this point has raised
-FOUR feet in the past twenty-four hours
due to local rains. while the four foot
rise which struck Wichita late last
night is not expected to reach here
until late tonight.
The distance from Wichita to this
point by river is 10 miles. Plans are
being made here to guard the bridges
and the city water plant which is To-
Gated IN the lowlands in the west part
of the city
The Walnut river directly on the
east OF the city is also on the rise due
TO the local rains and heavy down
pour IN Butler county. There is now
great danger of both streams over.
flowing the lowlands here and caus.
ing great damage to growing crops.
SHOT BY MASKED MEN.