Concord, NH Flood, Apr 1895

FLOODS IN NEW-ENGLAND

Merrimac and Other Rivers Rising Beyond Their Banks.

RAILROAD SERVICE INTERRUPTED

Many Washouts Reported as a Result of the Heavy Rains---Through Express Trains Canceled.

CONCORD, N. H., April 14.---The heavy rains last night and to-day caused the Merrimac River to overflow its banks and submerge the intervals and main thoroughfares leading eastward from this city. The volume of water flowing over Sewall's Falls became so great that the dam and the electric-lighting plant are in danger.

The river has been rising at the rate of eight inches per hour to-night, there is no immediate prospect of the river subsiding. Through express trains for Montreal and the West were canceled in Boston to-night, on account of washouts and high water on the Concord and Montreal and Boston and Maine Railroads. Local trains were made up in Boston, but they ran only to Concord. There are washouts on the Concord and Montreal at West Rumney and Wentworth, a dam has gone out at Pemigewasset Valley Branch. The long bridge over the Pemigewasset River, at Bridgewater, is threatened, and a train of freight cars has been run on it to hold it in position.

On the main line of the Concord Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad there are several places between East Lebanon and Lebanon where landslides have covered the tracks with mud to the depth of several feet. The water is one foot deep in the yard at Canaan, and is over the iron for 100 rods between Grafton and Grafton Centre. The overflow at this place is due to the breaking of a dam at Martin's Mills, Grafton Centre, which allowed the water to escape from Grafton Centre pond.

There are also washouts on the Concord and Claremont Branch and on the Peterborough and Hillsborough Branch.

This is the first time in fifteen years that high water has necessitated the canceling of passenger trains from this city on the Concord Division of the Boston and Maine. The water was so high at Sewall's Falls to-night that it became necessary to shut off the power, and this city is plunged in inky darkness.

The New York Times, New York, NY 15 Apr 1895
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!