Evening star., 1928-04-30
SWOLLEN POTOMAC
CONTINUES TO RISE
Flood Stage Neared at Viii
IiamSport-Much DAM
age Is Reported.

Fed by melting SHOWS on the noun
tainS of four States-MarylaRd. Viz
gInia. West Virginia and southern Penn
sylvania-and by water from innumer-
able streams swollen by recent torren-
tial rains. the Potomac River continued
TO rise along almost its whole course
above Washington today
While still below the official flood
stage and not likely to reach that
height, unless more rain falls IN the
mountains. the swiftly rushing high
water is doing much damage at many
points northwest of washington.
The river Is so full ar Great Falls
that the falls have almost disappeared.
and in the contracted portion OF the
river below Little Falls the water Is 50
high that work has been suspended
upon the Chain Bridge excavation on
the Virginia side At Hancock. Md.
residents were moving out OF the lower
section Of the town.
Rise At Key Bridge.
At Key Bridge when the tide was
high this morning the level OF the water
waS~-4Ls feet above the zero mark on
the gauge and was still rising. The
food stage az this point Is feet, o
point which Is not likely to be reached.
according 10 the present outlook. be-
cause the river broadenS out near the
city.
DR.. H. c. Frankenheld. in charge OF
the river and food division Of the
Weather Bureau, said the swift current
was tearing loose many small boats
along the river in the vicinity OF Cum
Nn~f0rS Elav los
other points in Maryland. Virginia and
West Virginia II was also interfering
with the operations Of sand and gravel
companies and other business along the
river. Apparently. however. the water
has not risen high enough at any point
TO interfere with railroad travel or en-
danger any railroad bridges or EN-
bankments.
From Cumberland the Weather Bu-
reau received q report this morning that
there was sttll feet of snow ON the
high mountains in that vicinity.
IAN the water from this melting snow
must run OF through the Potomac
River" said Or. Frankenfield. "but If
the snow meltS slowly and there are no
more heavy rains in the next few days,
there viii be no danger of . food. The
river viii probably continue to rise.
however, IOF q Gay or TWO
Capt, II. C. whitehurst, Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner OF the District,
visited Chain Bridge this morning and
far as work on the repairing of the
bridge Is concerned He said that exca-
vation had been stopped for the present
on account OF the high water
We do not look for much more ele-
vation of the water at Chain Bridge. Z"
said Capt WhitehurSt we have been
flooded out OF the bottom of the hole
for the new abutment at the Virginia
end OF the bridge. but there Is Sttll >
OF 3 feet to spare To the top Of the old
abutment. We have another 8 or 3
feet to the A frame footing, 50 there
is no danger"
Chain Bridge Mark.
The water is between Is and Is feet
above the aero mark on the gauge at
Chain Bridge. but Capt Whitehurst eN~
planned that when 1t reaches Is teet
the water viii begin 10 spread out over
the great expanse Of fats at this point
and the subsequent rise viii be very
slow and much less than IL would be
at q narrower place in the river basin.
At Cumberland this morning the
water was Sis feet above the zero mark,
with 2ss feet still 70 SO before the
food stage Is reached Al Hancock,
Md. where the food stage Is IS feet
the water has reached Is feet, while at
Harper's Ferry. where the flood stage
Is Is feet. II has reached IA lilo 1eet
No official report was available as IL
the height Of the water at Great Falls.
but Il was unoffieially reported to the
Weather Bureau that Il was from 90
TO a5 feet above the Hero mark
In the marrow gorgeS below Great
Falls the water Il much higher &C some
points, and the raging torrent Is tear
ing away small boats and landings
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