The Washington times., 1936-03-19
OF FOOD,
EP|DEMICS
FEARED
CONTINUED from Page II

to search for marooned persons.
DR.. Homer Tabler, chairman OF
the state roads commission OF
MARYLAND, estimated the flood had
done $1,000,000 damage to the
States roads.
Hancock, where city councilmen
estimated 100000 damage mao
zen done, still had nine feet OF
water in the streets, q drop OF
eight feet overnight.
Two Million Damage
Cumberland's streets were re-
ported clear Of water and early
estimates of the damage ranged
from two million dollars upward.
The Potomac and Wills Greek at
Cumberland were said to be al
most back in their banks.
virginia, too, was checking up
on widespread damage and surfer.
ING caused by the James ana
shenandoah Rivers, principal Oh
tenders in a series Of floods that
swept large areas Of the State.
The James River Is UP "a feet
at Richmond, with water front
properties under water and the
flood crest not yet in sight.
However, the Rivers and FLOODS
Division of the Weather Bureau
reported all rivers falling at their
headwaters. The crest Of the Po-
tomac flood was reached AZ
Harper's Ferry, w. Va, at 5 o'clock
this morning, when the gauge
showed a 36.6 foot flood stage.
Bring Typhoid Vaccine
DR.. w. Ross Cameron. Washing
ton county, Md, health officer
and other physicians left Hagers-
town early today for Hancock to
administer typhoid vaccine to
flood refugees there. Similar work
is being done at WilliamSport.
The bridge over the Potomac
at Point of Rocks, Md, was
swept away during the morning
TWO spans that were left are
covered by five feet Of water,
the greatest flood ever seen on
the river. old residents said.
The Coast Guard had q life
saving crew working at Point OF
Rocks to evacuate families
trapped on house tops on the
island. The river was carrying
houses, parts Of buildings and
the bodies Of many cattle down
stream at high rate Of speed.
It is estimated the island at
Point of Rocks is under is feet
Of water and the river Is rising.
Harpers Ferry was slowly
emerging from the most disastrous
flood in its history. The highway
bridge to the Maryland shore was
washed away and a string Of
loaded coal cars is standing on the
railroad bridge to hold that Struc-
ture down. The highway bridge
linking Harpers Ferry with Lou
doun county. Va. also went out
yesterday and damage at Harpers
Ferry Is estimated at one million
dollars.
Asks Federal Aid
Electricity failed at Harpers
Ferry last night; 40 families are
homeless there and are being
quartered in the high school which
is On an elevation. Mayor C. E.
Marlett has appealed for Federal
aid for the town.
A mile Of the Baltimore and
Ohio main line between Sandy
Hook and Brunswick, Nd, has
been washed out. The highway
bridge there is expected to go out
at any time.
An airplane trip from Washing
ton to Hagerstown made by Ed
ward Jones. Washington Times
correspondent, showed the vast
freight yards at Brunswick, Md,
completely submerged as were
trains standing on the tracks.
The yard normally Is almost 20
feet above the river.
Great Falls Park, Va, Is under
water and there is approximately
five feet Of water swirling around
the hotel on the Maryland side at
Great Falls.
The Potomac is as much as
five miles wide in some places,
Jones reported. Williamsport,
Md, presents a forlorn appear.
ance from the air, with the Poto-
mac Edison powerhouse standing
in the middle of the flood and
with Hagerstown's pumping sta
ton likewise surrounded by
water and completely out Of COM
mission.
Rain began falling during the
morning over much of the
Potomac watershed and the river
began to rise again at Williams.
port. It previously had been fall.
ing at the rate Of eight inches an
hour. The bridge across the Po-
tomac at Williamsport was open
to pedestrian traffic.
The Hagerstown pumping sta.
tion at Williamsport is reported
under water, shutting off the city's
water supply. Health officers have
urged the boiling Of all drinking
water.
Highways and railroads west of
HagerstoWn continue impossible
and there is little possibility traf.
fic can move over them before to-
night.
Relief agencies have been set up
at Williamsport to care for the
more than 1O0 families that have