The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-27
$50O,O00 FLOOD FUND IS
ASKED BY INDIANA WPA:
UPSTATE DANGER GROWS
Local Threat Fades as Ice
Jam SWirIS Safely
Over Dam.
DAMAGE IS MODERATE
White River Within Banks
Again at RavenSWood,
Other Resorts.

An appeal to Washington
for 100000 for emergency
flood control work in Indiana
was made by Works Progress
Administration officials here
today, as the high water
threat in Indianapolis was re-
moved.
The flood fund would be used as
a pool from which to draw funds as
flood emergencies arose. If the to-
tai amount requested was not used.
the remainder would revert to the
WPA.
Moderately heavy rains in north
ern Indiana during the last "a hours
drove the Wabash River to higher
levels.
The special funds, if apportioned.
would permit assignment of 10000
WPA workers to aid in rescue and
reconstruction work in the flooded
areas, John r. Curry, state WPA
director of projects and planning.
said.
Two Projects Started
Relief workers already have been
assigned at Peru and Logansport to
construct temporary dams and
strengthen levees and at river COM
munities northeast of Indianapolis.
The White River threat here was
erased early today when the ice Jam
that had backed water into river
colonies broke and went over the
Broad Ripple dam.
The ice jam started to break yes
terday afternoon, and at 2 this
morning was wrested from its moor
ings. BY $3.50 all the ice either had
deposited on the river bank or had
f1oated away.
Almost Immediately there was a
decided lowering of waters in
RavenSwood, Terrace Beach. Exeter
Park and other river resorts from
which residents were rescued yes
terday. The tension on Rocky
Ripple, where 200 families live, also
was removed.
Lowlands Shipping Water
Downstream there are reports of
higher water, but there is little like
lihood that the ice will Jam again.
and only the lowest of lowlands are
shipping water
Moreover, the mile and a half
ice jam that moved toward Indian
apolls yesterday from Noblesville
apparently had disintegraced.
The river bank all the wav down
Is loaded with large slabs of ice.
AT 71st-st the most distressing
damage that was done was to bushes
and shrubs.
All bridges downstream apparently
are safe. The ice is floating in the
sWltt9current, but is staying in the
deeper middle channels.
Dynamite Plans Dropped
Mayor Kern surveyed the high
waters in and near INDIANAPOLIS bv
auto, and City Engineer Henry B.
Steeg and Nish Dienhart, Municipal
Airport superintendent, made an
aerial survey today.
WPA workers who started yester-
day afternoon to blast the Ravens
wood jam arrived on the scene
about the time it started to break
up and abandoned their plans.
G. T. Nankervis, Terrace Beach
resident, said today that it had not
been necessary for any persons
living in Terrace Beach to leave
their homes because of high
waters.
Predict High Levels
The crest was reached at Bluffton
last night and the flood waters are
receding slowly. The river is ex-
pected to reach crest of 10 feet.
three feet above food level, at Lo-
gansport today.
The bureau predicted the Wabash
would rise to Is feet, IL feet above
flood stage. at Lafayette, and to %
feet, also IL feet above, at Coving-
ton by late tonight.
| Forecasters anticipate the Wabash
| at Terre Haute will reach "a feet
eight feet above flood level, within
the next 36 hours.
AS the swollen waters are carried
downstream, the river is expected
to leave its banks at points below
Terre Haute during the next three
or four days, the Weather Bureau
, said.
Fort Wayne Families Flee
On the west fork of White River.
| above flood stages are expected ri.
/ Elliston and Edwardsport. The
river still was rising at Indian
apolis today but it is not expected to
go above 10 feet, five feet below
flood level,
The east fork of White River re-
mains low, but Weather Bureau
officials anticipate trouble at Peters,
burg and Hazelton on the main
stream.
Both the st. Mary's and the
Maumee Rivers went out of their
banks in Fort Wayne late last night.
forcing families in low areas to leave
their homes.
One family was removed by boat
when water from the st. Mary's
filled the lower floor of their dwell
ing. The Maumee stood at 20 feet.
five feet above flood stage. It was
receding slowly this morning.
Thirty families were rescued from
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