The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-05-03
SOMERSET COUNTY SUSTMNS TERRIFIC FRESHET WITH
ALARMING CONDITIONS AND BIG LOSSES
Local Industries Closed for Lack Of PowerTa Service Crippled
People Vacae Homes Upve Sweep Down Kennebec

tne ice went out later tnan uSuat anu
people crossed the ice later and now
comes the record of water. Before
the ice left the kennebec everyone
was looking for a freshet as the ice
was so very thick and the snow SO
unusually deep all through this sec
ton, but instead of the freshet COM
ing when the ice started it has come
at this time. Stories of damage to
up river towns will appear in other
columns but just what Is happening
in Norridgewock is bad enough. The
fats near the ice house on the Show
hogan road looks like an immense
lake and Monday night the water lack
ed only short distance of being up
to the ice 7ouse itself. The two
small houses ON the so called ferry
road just below the Bracket & Rus
sell grist mill have been vacated and
the household goods and stock re-
moved to higher land. All the cui-
verts in the roads along the river
banks are covered and some unsafe
for travel The farm home Of II. G.
Albee is now situated on an island
at the foot of the so called Grave
yard Hill" and II the river rises much
more Mr.. Albee Is planning to move
his large stock of creatures to an
other place. On the north side OF
the river the water has come up to
within a short distance of the houses
and the two bungalows situated near
the Fuller farm are partly under.
Old residents of the town have seen
the river higher than now but 1t Is
plenty high to suit the majority OF
people at the present time.
ALARMING CONDITIONS AT
MADISON
| The heavy rainfall of Saturday, after
noon and night caused the Kennebec
Mt this place to rise to freshet pitch
Sunday about noon owing to the gates
being raised In some of the upriver
| dams it is claimed, the river came
| up rapidly until at three O'Clock II
was the highest 1t had been since the
old wooden bridge went out in Dec
ember 1901. The river road to North
Anson from just above the railroat
crossing at Anson Lower village, foi
over a mile was completely under
water coming up around several nous
es. The family of Charles Henry
were obliged to leave by boat. Tht
Walker ice house was surrounded
with three feet of water and 1t wat
fedred II would go out. On the
Madison side the channel OF the river
had turned above the railroad into
Water street. which was a raging tor
rent, The families living in the three
houses on this street were warned ou
Sunday morning, but refused to leave
Late Sunday afternoon they we're tax
en- out in boats as the water was
pouring into their windows. AL tht
end of Water street dam OF sane
bags. crushed rock and heavy timeb'
was made to turn the water into the
canal and keep 1t off Main street. Tht
mill yard was completely submerged
and water was flowing into the base
ments of both the Madison and Ameri
can Wooden mills The Great North
ern closed down and hoisted theil
boilers to safety. At 10 a. M. the
II. & w had to shut down, but ne
serious damage at that mill was re
norted. Although 1t is claimed tha'
%. 900 cords of their short logs drift
cd out to sea. The big construction
Job at the Anson end of the bridge
was under water, but as they had beer
preparing for high water, no serious
damage is anticipated. although II
cannot be determined as yet. Mon
day morning after another night o
steady downpour. brought no relief
The American Woolen mill was th'
only one to even start up. AS they
run on a motor they started but closef
in the afternoon. There were fee
of water In the wet finish room at si'
n. m. While most of the stock mac
f1oated down the river where part o.
II was rescued at the II. e. w. mill
From 2 to 4.30 p. m, the water ros'
10 inches making 1t eight inches high
er than was ever known at this place
Above the canal bridge jam OF shor
logs formed. The floor of the bridge
was taken up to allow the jam u
mass under. Teams or automobiles
Continued on Page SIX