Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1904 — FIGURING UP THE COST [ARTICLE]

FIGURING UP THE COST

Floods in Michigan and Indiana Have Caused a Loss That is Heavy. TEN MILLIONS FOR INDIANA Besides Eleven Lives So Far as Known —Somewhat Abating North, but Growing Whose as It Sweeps South. Detroit, March 29.—Encouraging reports from Lansing, Flint, Kalamazoo and other towns where flood damages have beenestimated up in the hundreds of thousands of dolars show that the danger and distress are largely centralized in the Saginaw valley and around Grand Rapids in the valley of the Grand river. And at Grand Rapids it Is estimated that 14,000 people are in distress, and at Saginaw a large portion of the business section of the city is flooded. On the Shiawassee river near Chesaning twenty-five families were rescued from the homes on a sugar beet farm just in the nick of time before their houses were almost entirely submerged. Gilbert Bertram, a foreman for the sugar company, lost his life trying to save some of the property. He was in the water five hours and died from exposure.

Lost HU Life Saving; a Bridge. Grand Rapids. Mich., March 29. —At Lowell Ralph H. Norman, aged about 24 years, of Coshocton, 0., a workman on the Pere Marquette bridge. Was drowned in Grand river. Norman was aiding in anchoring the washed-out bridge which had lodged against the highway bridge. Three men were in the boat which struck a pole and capsized. Norman’s body was not found. Kalamazoo Loss In SIOO,OOO. Kalamazoo, Micb., March 29. —The flood damage in this city will reach SIOO,OOO. The city officials have started a relief system and the suffering of the poor, which has been intensified by cold, has been somewhat relieved. Situation at Saginaw. Saginaw, Mich., March 29. There has been no perceptible fall In Saginaw river, although the Cass and Flint have fallen considerably. All the industrial plants near the river in this city are partly submerged, and 5,000 workmen who are idle are likely to remain so for ten days. There is much suffering in Milwaukee, where 1,300 people are living in upper stories with many domestic animals elevated with them. Only one life was reported lost, that of a Polish boy named’ Stephen Soltysiak. Bettor Outlook at Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids. Mich.. March 29. Flood conditions in the Grand river valley have greatly improved, and unless there should be a fail of rain, which Is threatened, further danger from high water has passed. The flood situation has a better aspect at Grand Haven than for some time. Conditions Grave at Bay City. Bay City. Mich., March 29. Flood conditions are very grave. The ice has gorged at the Belinda street bridge, causing the water to rise in the south end of the city. A score of blocks in the extreme south end Is underwater. WATER IS COSTLY IN INDIANA Satlmate* Put thv Loti at $10,000,000 Eleven Live* Lott. Indianapolis. March 29.—Northern and central Indiana, including the capitol city, has seen the worst of the flood and are now repairing the heavy damage. The crest of the flood will reoch the Ohio riveT in two days. White river at Indianapolis reached seventeen feet seven and three-quar-ters inches above low-water mark, a record height. It is estimated tbe damage in this county will reach $2,225,000 and north of this county an additional $1,000,000. Eleven lives have been lost in the Indiana flood so far and the total property loss in tbe state baa been estimated at from SB,000,000 to $10,000,000. At Madison the county commissioners estimated tbe loss to bridges at $40,000. In Wabash county tbe loss is $50,000, half of which is in tbe city. At Peru the loss is SIOO,OOO. Reports from Seymour say tbe loss in that vicinity will be $35,000. Reports from Bloomington say the ioss intbat county will be $50,000. Sullivan, Ind., March 29.—Gi1l township levee has broken and 20,000 bushels of cribbed corn will be wasbed away. Eighteen thousand acres are flooded. Vincennes, Ind., March 29.—The Russellville levee has broken and 25,000 acres are under water. Petersburg, Ind., March 29.—Tbe flood stiuation in this county is appalling. White river above here is ten miles wide in places and twenty feet deep in tbe channel. Patoka river, which flows through the center of the county, is three miles wide for nearly forty miles, Evansville, Ind., March 29.—The Wabash river Is rising reapidly at New Harmony. White river is sweeping everything before it and much stock has been lost Captain John Comlek, a well-known steam boatman, fell from a towboat In (Green river and was drowned.