Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 27, l922

The heavy rain of Sunday night brought old Grand River out on a rampage that has cost the farmers of Decatur County thousands upon thousands of dollars. Not only has Grand River spread out over the bottom lands, but every little creek and branch has been out of banks too. Dickinson, south of town, was so high and swift that the steel bridge near J.M. HOWELL's place was swept out and over into the pasture of FRANCIS REGER, some 200 feet or more.

The raise in Grand River was quick, raising l3 feet in two hours, between one and three o'clock early Monday morning and then gradually raising for about 24 hours until it reached about 20 feet above low water mark, or 20 inches below the high water mark of l897, as recorded on the big flour mill of FRAZIER BROS., and 36 inches than the mark of l885. Old residents say that the river was higher once in l865 than the l885 mark. Be that as it may, we are of the opinion that the mark would have been several inches higher this time had the old dam been in, though many disagree with us and say not.

The damage to all kinds of crops can hardly be estimated. Whole fields of shocked grain were swept away, and hundreds of acres of corn and other crops have been inundated. Cattle and hogs have been scattered, though we have heard of no particular cases of drowning. Almost continually, bundles of small grain were seen floating down the river. Probably more damage has been done to small grain than to any other crop, as aside from the washouts from the river and streams, the excessive rain has ruined a lot of wheat on the uplands. Nearly every thresher outfit in the country would have been busy last Monday had not the rain interfered, but now lots of wheat will sprout and rot in the shock.

Here at Davis City, Grand River was out over the bottom nearly all along the trestle work of the railroad, and had backed up into a part of the park. The river held its own then for nearly twenty-four hours when it began to fall, which was about as rapidly as it came up. The river is again confined to its banks and we hope to stay for a while. The back water reached the east side of the park and most of Tuesday several teams were busy drawing autos through the water on up to the wagon bridge, and from there back the other way.

Since the overflow of Grand River, Monday, there has been considerable discussion as to whether the high water mark would have registered higher had the dam been in. We have taken the position that it would, since the markings are above where the dam used to be. We contend that if the normal supply of water in the channel is 4 feet for argument's sake, and the dam held four more feet, then the flood water would have to be on top of this. Of course, by the river being out of banks the overflow would not be as high in proportion on account of covering more territory, but the fact that the (*can't read - paper torn) entered this time than was. Prof. JOHN HOWELL, come to our rescue!

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
July 5, 2002