Evening star., 1944-09-20
James and Dan River
Floods Threatened
BY Swollen Creeks
1y the Associated Press.

BY t0e ASSoc1Atec Press.
Virginia communities Dor dering
on the James anI Dan rivers pre-
pared today for flood conditions as
rain-swollen creeks In the western
part Of the State fed the turgid
waters Of the two larger rivers.
At Richmond engineers prepared
for a crest of ~ feet as flood waters
reached an all-time high at Colum-
hia, so miles up the river, at 10
o'clock last night, while a cloudburst
at the Pinnacles Of Dan was ex-
pected to send the Dan River to a
high level at Danville.
Foy N. Hibbard, Richmond meter
eologist, held out some hope that
the waters would not reach the rec
ord level Of 283 feet shown In that
city in 1886, basing his assumption
on the fact that some of the water
would be dissipated as it flowed
downriver to the capital.
Dikes Reinforced.
Owners of water front property
in Richmond last night worked
late preparing for the rivers rise,
reinforcing permanent dikes with
sandbags and removing all stores
and equipment above the antici-
,pated high-water level.
From South Boston and Halifax
it was reported that rainfall from
6 pm. Monday until 6 am. yester-
day had reached a record precipi-
tation of 7.3 inches, blocking several
main highways from South Boston
to Richmond and Lynchburg and
disrupting train service.
Route 800, from Halifax to Rich
mond, and Route 304, from South
Boston to the Capital, was un-
passable and traffic was rerouted
by way of Clarkesville on Route
SOL, but the threat of high water
in the Bannister and Dan Rivers
led engineers to believe the Clarks-
vile route would be abandoned by
tomorrow morning when the cres
of the flood was expected in that
vicinity.
Southern Railroad Service Curtailed.
The Southern Railroad service to
South Boston was suspended, but
the Norfolk Il Western continued
to maintain service from that COM
to Richmond and Danyille.
Southern trains still were being
routed over Norfolk Il Western and
Chesapeake & Ohio tracks to detour
washouts between Charlottesville
and Danville. Of1icials of the rail-
road said the entire line would be
open by noon tomorrow.
High water in the terrain between
the Bannister and Dan Rivers had
destroyed all low ground crops.
Engineers of the State Highway
Department continued a close watch
on all bridges as receding waters in
the Western section Of the State
showed mofe than. 200 bridges had
been destroyed, highway and rail
lines washed out and train service
out OF Roanoke disrupted.
The State counted one fatality as
a result of the flood. Rufus P. Brad
shaw, about 10, a retired mail car
rler or Faber, in Nelson County. lost
his life when his automobile plunged
into Coves Creek after running into
the washed-out approach to the
bridge.
Water Rationed in Chatham,
Chatham was without water for
drinking or cooking last night, de-
spite the rain which fell during the
day and the vast acreage of low.
lands which are inundated by sew
eral feet of water flowing from
Greek.
The 1900 residents Of that COM
were rationed to a bucket of
water per person, and schools were
ordered closed for at least the re-
mainder of the week, because the
lack of water affects the sewage dis
posal by water from the creek flood
ing the pumphouse.
Chatham was virtually isolated.
No trains had passed through town
since 6 pm Monday.