Evening star., 1937-01-27
EVANSVILLE FACES
WATER PROBLEM
Acute Sanitation Conditions
Also Harass City Hit
by Flood.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
EVANSVILLE. Ind, January 27.-
The menace of the Ohio Rivers ugly,
yellow flood tides lessened here today.
heartening residents of this industrial
city of 10000, but acute problems OF
O pure water supply and sanitation
harassed the city.
John Hagan, acting Weather Bu-
reau observer, revised downward ms
prediction of the foods crest which
had been expected Friday. Instead of
the 81 or SIS feet expected, the crest
will not exceed 535 feet, he predicted.
And he said it will arrive tomorrow
instead of Friday.
At noon the river stage had climbed
slowly to 527 feet.
Evansville went on water rations
yesterday after the food put the
pumping station out of commission.
Last night leak was discovered in
the 0,000-gallon reserve supply.
Mayor William Dress sent for divers
to stop seepage into it.
Water remaining in the reservoir, S
miles from the city, was being ra-
toned daily from Z to am. A water
administrator was appointed to ration
water supplies en- route by train.
$4,000 Are Homeless.
Unofficial estimates of Evansville's
homeless passed the $4,000 mark to-
day.
Col. L. L. Roberts, martial law area
commander. appointed a committee to
undertake the rehabilitation of the
part of the city.
Coast Guardsmen and boatmen had
removed virtually all persons in i'm
mediate danger in Evansville and
neighboring river towns.
Col. Roberts said the troops were un-
der orders to shoot to kill "if necessary
to prevent looting" There have been
no fires, he said, adding:
THE people are not hysterical or
frightened unduly. There is no panic.
think everything that can be done is
being done All relief agencies are CO.
operating to the utmost"
The city pumping station, MSyor
Dress said, probably will be out of op-
Grafton for a month. Provision will
have to be made for fire protection
after the flood backwaters drain from
the sewers, he said.
Meanwhile, hood-groggy Southern
Indiana citizens intrenched as best
they could against crests yet to strike.
Upstate Quick to Aid.
Mass movements to the north are
under way all along the water front
and only a handful of persons remain
In some communities. The uncon-
trolled stream already has driven
more than $4,000 residents from their
homes. At least nine persons have
died. No one attempted to estimate
the huge property damage.
Spurred by Gov. M. Clifford Town.
sends statement that evacuation "has
only started on major scale"
Hoosiers outside the stunned sectors
took an "all-for- -one-and- d-one-for- all"
attitude.
Upstate the doors of relief opened
wide. Towns mustered adults and
children to provide assistance. Pub
lie buildings and private homes were
turned over to refugees. State, Fed
eral and local agencies concentrated
in a great move to bring quick, effec-
tive aid.
At New Albany and Jeffersonville,
National GuardSmen prepared for
complete desertion Of those towns.
At least rs per cent of New
Albany Is inundated, and shocked
refugees are being shipped north
ward as quickly as possible. Jefferson
vile is almost completely isolated
and refugees fear the town is doomed.
The high waters make difficult any
exodus. Many persons are i'll from
exposure.
Whole Towns Under Water.
Southeastern Indiana Ohio River
towns are battling cold, hunger and
sickness. At half-submerged Aurora
more than 125 persons require hos
pital care, and National Guardsmen
plead for additional medical sup
plies and help. Parts of Rising Sun,
usually unaffected by whims of the
Ohio River, are under water. Only
three houses are out of water at
Patriot. Throughout this area ref
ugees unable to go northward huddle
in churches, barns and business build
ings.
The upstream towns expressed hope
the worst had passed after the Ohio
remained somewhat stationary for the
first time in days.
Desolation of the stricken regions
and despair of the terrified refugees
defied description. Relief agencies
predict the rehabilitation will take
months, perhaps years, in some local
ities.