The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-04-20

to patrol the banks was a great
handicap yesterday. Many of the
landholders and renters of the dis
tr1ct we're busy taking their fani-
lies and livestock to safety and
could not participate in the work
With less than one hundred men
to protect three miles of river
front, they were forced to rush
from one place to another, when
bags numbering in the thousands
bags numceing In the thousands
now line the banks that are under
bombardment of the waves.
Today all ohtainable brush and
logs are being cut and placed along
the levee banks. Hundreds of
yards of woven wire are being
strung and in some places wooden
walls are being built to protect the
banks. The moderating OF the wind
is in favor of the workers and un-
less rise of more than a foot
takes place tonight and tomorrow
the levee will hold.
Tracks Under Water.
Train service on the D. r. I. L
N. W. between Davenport and Bet
tendorf was suspended today Wa
ter covered the tracks to a depth
of a foot Holy City and all the
riverfront territory of Betterdorf
is inundated and workers are en-
gagged day and night in barricading
the tracks and factories against
the water. The iHterurban service
to Clinton is not affected yet by the
water.
The Mississippi overf1owed into
LeClaire park last night and to-
day the greater part of the river
front park was under water.
Hundreds Work on Levees.
Aledo, April 20.-A general cali
for assistance from the residents
OF the Bay Island district, north
of New Boston last night, was ans
wered by hundreds of people in
the west end of the county VINO left
early this morning for the threat
ened districts. Ten carloads of
workers left from Aledo and many
from other towns and communi-
ties.
At the most dangerous section
along the river front levee the
water is IS inches below the top
and with hundreds at work today
protecting every foot of the levee,
chances are bright for saving the
district The last families in the
bottom lands moved out last night
Should the levee break, people
are prepared, for until today it was
the opinion of the workers that
only a miracle could keep the dikes
from giving way to the pounding
of the waves. All livestock an1
many wagon loads of grain have
been hauled out, bat should a
break occur, damages will run into
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to predictions the
highest stage of the Mississippi
will reach the New Boston district
Friday night of Saturday morning.
1t is thought the levee will stand
an 1S-inch raise but if A wind like
that Of yesterday comes with it,
the dikes are sure to give way. In
PLACES the dikes were beaten a
third of the way through, but today
danger of this course is lessened,
Ship 75 Tents.
Springfield. Ill, April 20.-Sev-
enty-five tents have been shipped
to New Boston for relief of flood
sufferers. Request to Adjutant
General Carlos L. Black last night
came from Sheriff John Fleming,
Mercer county.
5000 Acres in Danger.
Drury, April 20.--Men are pa
trolling the levee here day and night
and it is thought thay will hold.
unless some unforeseen calamity
trises. A six-irch rise was noted
in the river at New Boston last
night Special reipforcepents are
being placed On the Drury landing
a short distance above the Musca-
tine high bridge. Over 5000 acres
of fall wheat in the Bay Island dis
trict will be destroyed if the
Ievees break.