Evening star., 1936-03-24

MOOREFIELD. w Va. March
24-For so miles between two high
ranges Of the Alleghenies winds the
South Branch Valley.
1t is a fertile strip from a mile
and half to Ave miles wide, through
which runs the swift, green Potomac
not the slow. yellow Potomac that
washes past Washington. Last week
this young river, wild with the melt
ing SHOWS Of Spring. went on such
rampage from the mountain town of
Franklin to Green Springs, 20 miles
from Cumberland, as the oldest farm
ers in the valley did not remember.
The damage will run well over
81 100000.
Between the mountains it covered
the farm land with water from 3 to 7
feet deep. Scores Of sheep, pigs and
cattle were drowned. Almost every
bridge was washed out. Farm families
escaped from their homes in boats.
There Is hardly a fence left in the
valley. Mountain sides we're washed
down on roads. Towns are just now
receiving their first mail Here at
Moorefeld diet Is still pretty much
restricted to country ham and fried
potatoes, for provision trucks have
been unable to get through. The raging
river swept some Of the most valuable
farms in the valley clean of loan,
and strewed rocks over the fields
They now are worthless for agriculture
and probably never will be worth any,
thing again. On the other hand. the
river deposited loan a foot thick on
other acres that hitherto were wastes.
Wayward River Left.
Worst Of all, the flood tore out river
walls and left the valley from Peters
burg to Moorefield at the mercy of
another flood-and the high noun
tains still are white with drifted
snow. Some places still are almost
entirely out Of communication. unless
their residents walk into Moorefield
or Petersburg. 1t will be months, en-
gineers estimate, before the road down
the south fork of the south branch
of the Potomac, one Of the most pic
turesque little valleys in the East,
with its quaint swinging bridges over
the river in front of every farm
house can be repaired. 1t long has
been q favorite retreat for Washing
tonians in search of the primitive.
1t all started early last Tuesday
morning up near Franklin, on the
edge of the George Washington Ma
tional Forest, where the south branch
Of the Potomac normally is not much
bigger than Rock Greek at flood stage.
All the mountain brooks were pouring
their melting SHOWS into it and bear
ing down masses of cord wood and
lumber. The fiimsy mountain bridges
soon gave way under the constant
smashing Of the debris and long sec
tions of roadway down the valley were
washed out. Most of the farmers had
plenty of warning to get their sheep
and cows to safety ON the mountain
sides, but the flood caught one c. c. c.
camp by surprise and the boys were
up to their waists in water in their
barracks trying to rescue their pos
sessions.
Petersburg Dixie Breaks.
1t was q real food by the time the
waters descended on the prosperous
valley town Of Petersburg. site of
big tannery. Petersburg took the worst
blow Of any town in the valley after
the stone and earth bulwark, erected
to keep back ordinary floods, broke.
Practically the entire business section
was flooded. Streets were covered with
mud. A swift current ran through the
streets. through which it was dan
gerous to wade up to the knees. The
proprietor of the principal drug store
yesterday pointed ruefully at his stock
Of medicines and cosmetics, rendered
practically worthless by the waters.
Some cattle in the towns leading
pens were drowned.
The damage in Petersburg alone will
amount to well over 100000 it is
estimated. Only the houses and stores
On higher ground escaped. For four