FLOODS IN GLASGOW.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12042, 16 April 1903, Page 4

FLOODS IN GLASGOW.

BAXKS OF TKK CLYDE BURST.

FACTORIES IXCXDATKD. A Press message from Glasgow to Londoner* February 9th says;— The rainfall in Scotland has been exceptionally heavv. It set in early on Saturday morning, and continued without interruution. till davlight to-day. Serious floods have occurred all over the country, and in the neighbourhood of Glasgow the damage has fceen very great. The Ctvde overflowed its banks near the Royal burgh a ( Rutherglen, submerging upwards of a square mile ot [and, wrecking several works, and paralysing industries of various kinds to such, an extent that at least 3000 people have been thrmm cut o: employment, while damage to property has been done to the extent of upward* of £15,000. The rain was accompanied bv a strong south-westerly gale, which blew"the waters .of the Clyde along the estuary and up tha* Ctuimm, preventing the heavy flood from finding its way out on the top of the tide, as is usually the case. In former times the city suffered from serious floods, and there are marks in sume of. the older portions of the town showing that in by,gone days the water rose to the height of the second storv of the houses, while history relates that people were often obliged to be rescued in rowing boats. Owing to the deepening and widening of the river and harbour bv the Clyde trustees, excessive rises o: tnis description- do not now take place Damage did not result from the heavy rainfall ur.tit earty this morning, when the channel of the river proved insufficient ti> carry off the water, which, came down in tonents from the upper reaches. The Clyde is lined on each side with embankments, and these were not strong enough to resist the force of the water. At Farme'Colliery, near Rntherglen. the embankment was threatened with destruction last night. In order to prevent the inrush frjm. finding its way into the workings, the manager prohibited the colliers from going below ground, and utilised their services in strengthening the bank opposite the collierv. Thev were successful. "

At 6 o'clock this morning the pressure of the water was relieved by a breach in the embankment farther down the river. The scene was very startling, but it was «ot accompanied by loss of life, or with much damage to property. About 8 j o'clock, however, there was a further break in, of the river bank, and the wattrs found their way to> Messrs Stewart and Lloyd's tube works, at Dalmarnock Bridge, wuere the galvanised shed, 100 ft long by 60ft wide, was totally wrecked in consequence of the outburst of steam, caused by the water coming into contact with the molten spelter, with which the dipping tanks were rilled ready for the day's work. In addition the foundations of the foundry were undermined, and other damage was done amounting altogether to not less than £6OOO. Eleven hundred workmen were employed in the establishment, and when they saw the flo<>d coming, as one man put it, "like a mightv wave," they rushed for their lives, and all succeeded in getting away before the explosion occurred. Another tube work adjoining, belonging to Messrs Eadie and Sons, was flooded to the height of the first floor windows,- but no damage was done there by the explosion. Two neighbouring rope works—one belonging to Messrs John Todd and Sons, and the other to Messrs Allan, N Whyte and Co. were also damaged, the former having a --oodeix ropewalk washed away, and the material carried down by the current.

Altogether, the rise of the Clyde was about 20ft, or 3ft higher than on the occasion of the last great flood, which took place in 1863. Both wind and rain abated in. the course of to-day, and the level of the river fell several feet. It is expected, however, that even should the storm not be rene*cu, at least a week will elapse before the submerged lands are free from water.

Glasgow was not the only place to suffer. According to telegrams received from other quarters nearly the whole of Scotland has experienced a "heavy rainfall. Loch Lomond has risen to a height never known daring the last twenty years, and on the public road the water "at places is 4ft deep % JLate yesterday- snow took the place of rain in the Highlands, and so heavy was the fall that 200 telephone wires" were brought dowrx at Aberdeen. A message next day says:—The flood in the Clyde valley at"Rutherglen has subsided, and the river once more flows in its accustomed channel. The damage is more extensive than was at first anticipated, the amour* now being estimated at over £50,000.

A desolate spectacle was presented yesterday. Lake* of water lav in all the* depressions and hollows of tfie area covered by the flood, 'and out of the watery expanse appeared ruined walls and other evidences of the destruction that had taken place. _ The stoppage of the various works is causing- some anxiety in the district, as it means that about oQQQ people have been deprived of their occupation for a time. Workmen have been employed in large, gangs in. cutting channels to drain the pools which have gathered. It if evident, Cowever, that the water will not be cleared from some parts unless pumping is resorted to. Where- the water has been got rid of several inches of thick greasy mud remain. Messrs Stewart and Lloyd's, Limited, tube manufacturers, are the greatest sufferers by the inundation. The damage there was originally estimated at about £6000; now it seems it will amount to between £IO,OOO and £12,000. When access was obtained to the counting-house it was found that the floor was covered with mud and slime to a depth of several inches, and several feet of water still remain in part of the works.. Testimony to the force of the flood is borne by the appearance of the Scotia works of the Rivet, Bolt, and Nut Company, which met the brunt of the first inrush of the water. At first thev s.tood with nothing but the roofs visible"; now however, about twelve feet of the walls are uncovered, and an entrance has been effected to the premises. Machinery of various kinds has been torn from its place and thrown^down, and. it is estimated that at , Mast £oOOO will be required to restore mattars to their former condition.