Army of Workers Removing Mud and Debris, 3-19-1936

Army Of Workers Removing Mud And Debris As Military Patrols Entire Business Area

BANKS, THEATRES CONTINUE CLOSED

$250,000 Bond Issue To Repair Damage Discussed By City Council This Morning

A steady drop in the Potomac River and Wills Creek continued today, and at noon the river was less than six feet above normal.

The gauge at the Celanese plant, six miles above Cumberland, showed a measurement of 646.9 feet when the Potomac was at its highest Tuesday night. At 10 a. m. today it measured 635.2 feet, and was a little under 635 feet at noon.

Cumberland Still Stricken

The rapid return to normal of the river and Will's Creek was not matched by stricken Cumberland itself. It will be weeks before anything approaching normal conditions will prevail in the city.

Dr. Joseph P. Franklin, county-city health officer, announced that the city water is "safe to drink," but persons in nearby towns should avoid using well water unless it is boiled, because wells and other private sources are polluted with sewerage. Persons who drink the polluted water may contract typhoid and other diseases, he said.

Ridgeley Is Warned

Residents of Ridgeley, W. Va., are using Cumberland city water piped across the Potomac river, but persons in that community were warned by the health officer to refrain from using well water.

The water was shut off yesterday in several sections of the city, as a result of breaks in the mains. C. J. Bruce, superintendent of the municipal water supply, reported last night that the total precipitation for the period from 6 p. m. Monday until 10 p. m. Tuesday was 4.25 inches and that water is flowing over the spillways at Lake Gordon and Koon Dam at the greatest height reached since the dams were built. The water is five feet, eight inches above the Lake Gordon crest. |

Banks and Theatres Closed

No theatres will reopen before late next week, and banks are not expected to resume business until Monday. The First National Bank, not affected by the waters, closed late yesterday afternoon after Governor Nice, given authority by the State Assembly, declared a special legal holiday for Cumberland because of the flood emergency. Daily holiday orders will keep the First National closed, it is said, until the other financial institutions are ready to re-open their doors.

Bond Issue Discussed

At a conference this morning of the Mayor and City Council, it was (Continued On Page 2)