Aftermath Of The Flood

AFTERMATH OF THE FLOOD

Bridges Should Replace Culverts Says an Alderman

INCIDENTS OF DISASTER

That Have Been Picked Up After Visiting the Deluged  District - How a Cow was Saved

"Should $25,000 be appropriated for the repairing of the damage done to the culverts by the flood, it does not by any means mean that disasters such as occurred on Monday night are to be effectually prevented," said an alderman Wednesday. "I myself am not in favor of this patching up business. In my opinion, these culverts should be replaced by bridges. That is the only practical way of preventing such damage as has just come to us. I know there are other aldermen who feel as I do about the matter."

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"The only flood that I remember that came near approaching this last one in severity occurred about thirty years ago." said City Clerk Harkins. "It happened about this time of year and wrought quite a serious havoc. Of course there was not the same damage done then as now. You see at that time there were no dwelling houses along the line of the creek. At that time there was just a single drive bridge across the creek and there were no culverts. But even then the flood did much damage and was remembered for a long time, principally because of the losses that accrued from it"

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The workshop of Peter Petersen, of 433 Miller avenue was one of the buildings carried off by the flood. It was carried away from its foundations with such a force by the storm that it made a somersault in the air and falling on one of its sides floated rapidly away. It finally landed in the yard of ex-Mayor W. E. Walker. It is thought that the building was not sufficiently damaged to make it unfit for use. Some of Mr. Petersen's tools, however, were lost and others damaged by the water.

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Mrs. Caroline Ross, of 802 Main street, mother of Dan Ross the street commissioner, had to move out of her home it became so badly flooded. For a time it looked as though the building would be completely carried away, but the only damage done was to the foundation and cellar and to some of the household goods. Mrs. Ross displayed a remarkable amount of courage, remaining at the homestead until she was practically forced to leave because of the rapid inrush of the waters.

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Tuesday morning there was considerable carrying away of property in the flooded district by a few persons to whom it did not belong. This pilfering was mainly done by some of the Polish people, who apparently thought they were doing no intentional wrong, since the property was Iying about in all directions. Some valuable papers belonging to Hank Richards were taken by a Pole, who was afterwards made to give them up by Deputy Sheriff Fred Gillen. When it was demanded that the Pole return the papers to their owner he explained in broken English that he found them at Richards' house and thought he was doing no harm in taking them.

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The Ann Arbor Fluff Rug Co. had considerable damage done to their property. Over 14 inches of water covered their main floor, doing much harm to the carpets stored there. The damage was not alone from water, but from the mud which it carried with it. This mud stuck to the carpeting and when the water receded there was hardly a piece of the carpet in the room that the mud had not covered. It will take some time to clean the carpets. Some of them are irretrievably ruined.

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One of the rather amusing incidents of the flood was the brave attempt of Lee Kent, of Broadway to save his cow. When Kent saw that his yard was to be submerged he took his cow from the rear of his house and bringing her some distance away tied her to the sidewalk, while he hurried away to save some of his other property. When he returned the sidewalk was floating down the stream, the cow struggling as best she could to prevent herself being dragged away. After much effort Kent succeeded in releasing the animal and bringing her to a place of safety.

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The Paul Revere of the afternoon was William B. McMillen, a railroad conductor who lives at 128 Felch street. Mr. McMillen was up the valley a considerable distance from his home when he saw the flood coming. He turned in his tracks and ran as quickly as his legs would carry him. On the way he notified everyone that he could of their impending danger. When he reached his house his family were just preparing to move out. With his assistance they were able to protect their property from serious damage.

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The Michigan Central railroad culvert is said to have been the cause of considerable of the damage that ís done. The culvert is said to be altogether too narrow and thoroughly inadequate to permit of a heavy flow of water through it, such as came on Monday evening. This is one of the culverts that the aldermen have inspected since the flood and it is more than probable that the railroad company will be called upon to widen the present culvert or build a new one.