The Washington times., 1924-05-15
POTOMAC NEARS
ITS NORMAL
STAGE
Work Starts in Sea Of Mud to
Repair Flood Damage
Of Millions
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CONTINUED from Page I'D
flood win be suffered by the canal
owners. No definite estimate Of the
damage to the canal can be had
until tomorrow, when complete re-
ports Of the condition are received.
Reports that the canal owners
would not attempt to rebuild were
denied by canal officials when they
awarded contracts for repair wofk.
Canal Boats Sunk.
More than score Of canal boats
are sunk in foot or two Of mud.
In some parts there is foot or
more Of water in the waterway, but
for the most part it is empty ex-
cept for soft and deep mud.
Since the canal went dry all
power stations along its banks
have been shut down.
The water today emptied out Of
lighthouses. river homes and camps.
It barely reaches the, sea wall
around Potomac Park. Arlington
Beach. Va. and other points on
that side Of the river are no longer
overlooked.
The damage in and around Wash.
ington will easily reach the million.
dollar mark. Boat clubs, boat.
houses and river residents must
spend thousands Of dollars for re-
pairs.
There was a crowd along the
river today, but they were not sight
seers. They are the men, women
and children who suffered the great
Hood. They are rebuilding.
Sea Of Mud to Clean Up.
There is much work to do. At
every point where the river over
flowed its banks there is a sea Of
mud which must be cleared away.
An some sections along the river
banks the flood left deposits Of
thousands Of gallons Of water which
the river.
Hundreds Of canoes lining several
hundred yards of the Potomac's
banks after being taken hurriedlv
from lighthouses Tuesday and YES.
terday were returned to their racks
today.
The suffering of the unfortunate
river residents was increased YES.
terday when, at o'clock, q heavy
downpour Of rain began, lasting for
three hours. Many residents either
did not have time to buy canvass
TO cover their furniture or were
without funds to make such pur.
chase. Thousands Of dollars worth
OF furniture was water-soaked last
night. ~
This section was fortunate in
that not one death or injury was
recorded during the flood. Rivor.
men and others were apparently
mindful Of the death here in April
OF a man who lost his balance on a
xloat as he was trying to recover
boats and other property floating
down the river.
Mystery UnsOIved.
There is mystery surrounding the
report yesterday that a woman,
cnnglng to q small raft, was seen
floating down the Potomac. The
police did not receive the report
even though several fishermen are
said to have witnessed it. No re.
port OF missing woman has been
made, nor had any report of a
rescue Of a woman been received.
r. e. Spencer, Of the flood divi.
sion of the United States Weather
Bureau, who has been on the lob
almost twenty-four hours every day
since the flood began. obtained a
good sleep for the first time in
three days last night.
'The flood is over" he announc-
cd this morning.
The flood was the greatest in
this section since 1889 when the
water rose 1915 feet. In 1895 the
water rose go feet and again in
this height in 1902. The highest
rise recorded here yesterday morn.
ing was when readings showed the
Potomac at 12.1 feet above mean
low tide.
Aid For Flood Victims.
W. B. Moses & Co., have offered
The use of two trucks to flood vic.
TINS desiring to move their furni-
ture. Several persons took ad.
vantage Of the offer today.
Police from the Harbor Precinct
report the recovery Of seven boats
in the river within the past twenty
four hours.