The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-22


and will keep out higher stage OF
water.
Two Islands Submerged.
vandruff's and Big Islands are
entirely under water and have been
deserted, the few families there
having escaped 10 homes In Milan
and kock Island. The six or seven
homes on the west end OF VAN
drnff's island are filled with watei-
The water over the two islands
Is deep and they will not be 1T Tor
occupancy for more than G week
The Sears power plant has ceased
its operations. Tie river mas TAI
len about 3 of a foot in the last
several days, but the power plant
has o fall of less than two feet.
The tail water, that which - COM
ing In from the Mississippi, is
about six inches higher than the
dam proper. Operations at the
plant will not be started until the
water drops considerably.
Lock Gates Open.
Gates at the lower lock on the
Hennepin canal were opened Tues
day when the backwater reached
level of the lock wall. Today IL
inches of water is going. over the
canal. Big Island is under five feet
of water and the few homes on the
island are flooded to depth OF TWO
feet.
Only the locktenders' residence
is above the water level. The house
Is not in danger of being flooded,
the floor being now more than two
feet above the water level.
WATERFOWL Fears Crest.
The food waters commenced TO
reach over roadbed of the Milwau-
kee tracks in Watertown this morn
ing and gave warning of a condl-
ton which the residents of the
town dread. Every precaution is
being taken by the railroad COM
pany to prevent the roadbed being
washed out Hundreds of sand bags
line the right of way on one side,
while on the other side ties bound
together have been fioated in an ef-
fort to break the force of the waves
as they lash over the tracks. A
fat car heaped high with sand bags
and an immense pile of baled hay
are nearby to be used in an emer-
gency.
The back water from the creek
has reached a height within IS
inches of the first floors of houses
bn Eleventh street. The amount
Of water that will flow over the
tracks will widen the flooded area,
but, it is believed, will not reach
The first floor of the houses.
Should the water rise to height
of IT'S, as predicted it will, the
Possibilities are that the power
plant of the Rock Island Lines at
Watertown would be put out of
commission. This plant supplies
current for the shops at Silvis. The
water is said to be Is inches below
The danger line.
The Tri-City Railway company
bridge, although weakened by the
extreme force of the water. was
still intact at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing.
Trains are moving slowly over
the tracks of the Milwaukee road
that are endangered by the high
water and officials of the company
are not greatly alarmed over con-
ditions.
In Moline there was no rise noted
from 8 O'Clock this morning until
noon. George Gould, 1850 River
drive. has been keeping a, record
Of the rise along that road. Be-
tween o'clock yesterday afternoon
and IL o'clock last night there was
rise of 1.75 inches, according TO
Mr.. Gould's measurements, and a
rise of inches between IL O'Clock
last night and 9 o'clock this morn
ing.
In a little cottage at the foot of
Forty-eighth street lives John Pc
terson, fisherman. Having lost
both of his legs he is practically
helpless, yet he steadfastly refuses
TO move out of his little house
Water surrounds him, water is on
the floor to depth of several
inches. Friends and neighbors
have tried to prevail upon him to
move out, but to no avail
NEW RnST0N MIXES u0Un