Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-31
Heavy Storm i'm Midwest

Chicago. Mar. 80. - Gardeners
dreams of fresh vegetables faded
out today as heavy snowstorm.
succeeded heavy rains and high
winds of the last few days.
The snow began falling Saturday
night and continued today. The
havoc wrought by the windstorms
preceding the snow was being re-
paired with wire communication
approaching normal.
The effect of the rains has begun
to appear. Guards were stationed
on the levees when the Illinois river
began rising more than a half inch
an hour. The Ohio river also had
risen to dangerous levels.
Weather bureau officials held out
little prospects tonight of a return
to warmer weather soon.
Cumberland, Md, March 30-The
flood waters of Wills creek and the
Potomac river were returning to
their channels today leaving scenes
of desolation in their wake. Only
one small section was under water
in the city proper and the water was
receding rapidly. Ridgely and Dixie.
however. two towns on the West
Virginia side of the Potomac, re-
manned inundated as was n wide
area in the low Potomac valley.
Great havoc was wrought by the
flood but SO far as could be learned
no caSulties resulted. Many miles of
railroad track We're washed away,
two big steel bridges and n number
of smaller structures were destroyed
while hundreds of buildings and
houses were damaged and in some
instances washed away.
Preparations were under way for
relief work but it was believed that
local organiZa tons would be able to
handle the situation. Until the plans
for relief work are perfected those
in need were being cared for by the
people of their respective communi-
ties.
Railroad traffic in and out of
Cumberland was at standstill.
Five Baltimore and Ohio passenger
trains. including the Capitol Limit
ed, were BLOODHOUND at various points
while one Western Maryland train
Keyscr. w. Va. The passengers
from that train spent the day at
keyser
The railroads were the heaviest
hit by the flood, The four-spa
steel bridge of the Western Maryland
across the Potomac here was swept
away as were other structures at
Maple Run and Ookmont and its
shops were under three feet of water.
In addition to roadbeds and tracks
of both Western Maryland and
Baltimore and Ohio being DESTROYED
many freight cars were washed
away.
The greatest damage in Cumber.
land was the destruction of four
miles OF newly paved streets Foun-
dation of many buildings were
weakened. plate glass windows brok-
en- and much damage to merchandise
was caused by flooded Easements.
In the territory adjacent to Cum.
/ berland the greatest loss was the
| destruction of the interstate bridge
connecting Westernport, Md, and
Piedmont, w. Va, that bridge. q
structure more than half mile long
was swept away when the Potamoc
Hooded an area of q mile from each
bank.
The only section of Cumberland
under water tonight was the tene.
ment district where the river broke
through the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal and flooded Wineow street
The water there reached depth o.
nfteen rect but had receded to five
feet and was falling rapidly.
Three men, who were reported
/ lost when the Western MARYLAND
bridge was washed away. jumped tt
safety moment before it went
Three policemen were injured wher
their automobile overturned while
answering an emergency call.
Cumberland was without light OF
power again tonight. owing to The
failure of the power plant during tht
| flood. Tonight a few of the princi
pal streets were lighted by a loca
tire manufacturing company, but tn,
remainder of the city was in dark
ness.
Mayor Thomas w. Koon placed al
estimate of $1.OOO,0OO upon the in
dividual property damage in Cum
berland and $20O.OO0 upon the dam
age to the city streets.
The damage to railroad propert,
was estimated at another million
dollars.
Relief to families flooded out wa,
! afforded by the Red Cross and Sal
walton Army.