The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-23
New EngLdnd Scared
 OfDisease Epidemic
CcOntinued from Page D

without waiting for legislative ap- proval. He directed Public Works Commissioner William F. Callahan to ask Attorney General Paul A. Dever to rule if such construction would come within the state of emer- gency decreed by the governors council.
 One Danger Spot
 Last of New Englands six larger rivers to begin 70 recede were the Saco and Androscoggin in Maine. The Connecticut, Merrimack, Penob- scot and Kennebec went down steadily. One danger spot remained in Vermont. Ice in slowly rising Lake Champlain isolated villages and threatened the Rouses Point bridge.
 A huge ice jam in the Androscog- gin, behind which were thousands of cords of logs, still threatened Lewis ton and Auburn and 1t was feared the only remaining bridge between the twin cities might be carried away. A third of the jam broke loose yesterday and caused Q slight rise in the river.
 Picture of Desolation
 Retreating waters disclosed a pie ture of desolation without parallel in New England history.
 Probably hardest-hit in Massa- chusetts was Springfield, sixth larg- est city in New England, where only six downtown blocks escaped flood waters of the Connecticut river. Governor Curley estimated 1t would take 0,0oo men eight months to re- construct Springfield and other Con- necticut valley communities.
 Springfield streets were cluttered with debris, telegraph poles and mire. No bridges were open to West Springfield, parts of which were still under water. At Northampton 5000 refugees will be unable to return to their homes for several days and some will have to wait two weeks.
 Similar Conditions
 Similar conditions existed in the Merrimack river valley section of northeastern Massachusetts. Low ell, Lawrence and Haverhilll worked desperately to clear streets and even houses and stores of mud and wreck age left by the receding Merrimack. Train service was partly restored. Power was restored in Haverhill.
 Merrimack river communities in New Hampshire reported flood losses high in the millions. At Manchester the Amoskeag dam, fortified with 100000 sandbags, finally was out of danger. Had this dam burst, loss of life and property would have been even higher.
 Plant Suffered
 Havoc was wrought at the Amos- keag Manufacturing company plant at Manchester, largest single cotton textile unit in the country. For a mile along the river, windows and castings were torn out by raging wa ters. The plant is closed because of financial difficulties.
 The Merrimack scored new main channel through thet center of Hooksett. Many residents probably will be forced to seek new homes.
 Keene refugees still were cared for at churches. The city was without train service, but trucks brought mail by roundabout routes. Electric service was partly restored in Nashua.
 Tn the western part of the state, the Connecticut river was subsiding rapidly. Wilder dams, three miles north of White River Junction, was out of danger.
 Still Acute In Maine
 The situation was still acute in some parts of Maine, where the flood peak was reached last night. Ninety one bridges have been destroyed and damage was set at $25,000,000 All highway communication between Saco and Biddeford, Me, were sev- cred when two spans of the Somes- vile bridge were swept away by the turbulent Saco river. Debris piled up against Roosevelt bridge, which was condemned along with two others.
 Saco's water supply was gone and drinking water was carted from Scbago lake.
 The Kennebec river at Augusta fell 10 feet in 24 hours. Highways to Portland, Lewiston and Auburn were open again. The Kennebec was believed clear of ice and logs from Bingham to the sea. Brunswick, Au- burn and Lewiston on the Andros- coggin reported slightly improved conditions.