“A
people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of their ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by their remote
descendants.”[1]
The Indiana people of 1913 helped to set a new outlook on the way we, as
Hoosiers and people around the world, perceive natural disasters. As well as,
the way upon which we take action to desolate its outcomes. However, all of
these actions did not start at the beginning of the horrendous flood in 1913.
The long days before that, setting the stone and picture of how the state would
be when the flood hit, are major factors of Indiana’s push through the
detrimental flood, in Indiana, of 1913.
Thomas
R. Marshall was elected governor of Indiana in 1908 and was also named the
twenty-seventh governor of Indiana. He was a Democratic governor and won by a
landslide with the entire state ticket. The opposing side, the Republicans,
however, only received 8000 votes. The Republicans’ candidate was named James
E. Watson.[2] James E Watson was
defeated by the Democrat’s 15,000 votes received for Thomas R. Marshall.[3] During Governor Thomas R.
Marshall’s time in office, from 1908 to 1913, there were a few important events
that went on in Indiana, none of which included soldiers going into war. (World
War I was yet to come.) During his time in office there were many incidents of
mine explosions and mine explosion deaths. It was said that the United States
had better mines than France. However, France had fewer incidents of
explosions, deaths, and injuries than the United States.[4] This time period was one
in which many theories and ideas were brought up to make the mines safer for
the workers. Governor Thomas R. Marshall also helped to create accounts for the
state board in order to audit finances. He also helped to end child labor,
helped others receive weekly wages, and made voting laws more sufficient.
However, one of his only failures was the attempt to change the state’s constitution.[5] After Governor Thomas R.
Marshall’s time in the Indiana office, he moved to be the vice president for
President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.[6] Governor Samuel M. Ralston
soon took over Governor Thomas R. Marshall’s position as Indiana’s governor.
Governor
Samuel M. Ralston was brought into office in January of 1913 after several
years of being a lawyer. He was then named the twenty-eighth governor of
Indiana.[7] His campaign was against
Albert J. Beveridge and Winfield T. Durbin.[8] The citizens of Indiana at
the time claim that there was not a part of Governor Ralston that did not
resemble a responsible and respectful governor, he was not nervous and he dressed
to the nines when giving his speeches. He was a true governor at heart.[9] Governor Ralston did a
great deal for Indiana in his time serving, as he began his time in office with
a full plate. Governor Samuel M. Ralston was first brought with the 1913 flood
that took out the Midwest and Southern parts of Indiana in March of that year.[10] There were many job
losses with the upbringing of the flood, as well as many people who were
homeless and hungry. The flood did not only bring water damage but disease and
illness along with many casualties and injuries.
The
flood began on March 21, 1913 with an outrageous windstorm and sixty degree
weather. The next day, however, was slightly different with temperatures in the
twenties. On March 23rd rain began to fall and on March 24th
the rain became heavier and approximately eleven and a half feet of rain had
fallen.[11] By March 25th
the levees in Dayton, Ohio had flooded and failed and the flood was at its peak
on the 26th and still pouring into Southern Indiana.[12] The flood destroyed
houses that were made with wood frames, by tearing them from their foundations.
Families had to move to the farthest upper level of their homes and carve out a
hole in the roof in order to get out and be rescued by Red Cross or government
rescue.[13] In Lawrenceburg, Indiana
only 40 out of 5,000 homes were claimed to be safe in the city after the flood
had hit.[14]
However, on March 29th it was stated that there were only sixty
casualties known of in the state of Indiana. These deaths were from the cities
of Peru, Brookville, Ft. Wayne, Terre Haute, Washington, Frankfort, Logansport,
Rushville, Muncie, West Indianapolis, Lafayette, New Castle, Dast Mt. Carmel,
and Shelburn. Along with drowns and flood related deaths there was also
illnesses that went around because of the close proximity of all the people in the
flood whom were consumed around bad living conditions. These illnesses lead to
more deaths as well.[15] Governor Ralston took
immediate responsibility and began distributing funds to the most devastated
areas. However, he was not sure of how much this would cost. He suspected it to
be in the millions.[16] Indiana, however, was not
the sole victim of the flood. There were many more injuries, casualties, and
water damage done in surrounding states, such as Ohio. The outside physical
features of the state took about a year to fix and the businesses took about
ten years to totally recover.[17]
Governor
Ralston took full responsibility for the west side of Indianapolis when businesses
began to raise prices to earn money off of the ones whom were hurting. He
wanted his state to have no part in that type of morality and soon made a
marital law stating that businesses were not allowed to raise prices in times
of despair in order to make more money.[18] Besides Governor Ralston
helping with the reliefs of the flood, other citizens of the state did their
best to help their fellow Hoosiers. The Huntington Commercial Club, an area in
Wabash Valley, which was nearly exempt from flood aftereffects, sent aide to
flood refugees by means of trains. The train went as close as two miles near
the stricken areas.[19] Another great relief
effort was done by teachers and their pupils. The teachers and pupils began
collecting relief funds for the flood. They began collecting funds when they
found that 150,000 of the refugees in Indiana and Ohio were students and
teachers. These funds were included for both private and public schools and
students were encouraged to do entertainment in order to raise funds for their
classmates.[20]
All of the funds raised were brought to the Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
William M. Davidson and then dispersed out amongst the teachers and students
whom were in the most need.[21] The Cash Register Company
also was a major factor in the relief effort. Their contribution was of $5,758
in food, clothes, tents, medical supplies, and bedding. These contributions
were then taken through Dayton, Ohio on a train and dispersed to the refugees.
As well as the amenities on that train there were also physicians and nurses
who boarded onto the train in order to help serve at refugee sites.[22] Overall there was
$113,622 donated to the American Red Cross in hopes for relief efforts as well
as $24,207 donated to the mayor’s fund. These funds were raised before the date
of March 29, 1913.[23] The biggest donation that
was received was from the Singer Manufacturing Company with a donation of
$10,000.[24]
Overall, the American Red Cross, local businesses, the government, teachers,
students, and the rest of the civilians worked together to help, support, and
better the victims whom were devastated by the treacherous flood.
Governor
Ralston tried to make a relief effort in order to fix the many costly bridges,
railroads, and public utilities upon which had been washed out. These everyday
utilities were extremely costly to replace and fix. One of the relief tactics
done to prevent future floods was to build five dry reservoirs. This tactic
came from Governor Morgan of Ohio. The preventative measure also included
widening channels and fabricating larger levees.[25] Governor Morgan also
helped to make The Conservancy Act that was soon signed into law. This act gave
local governments the privilege to make flood control districts in order to
control the floods.[26] The second tactic to
prevent future flood damage was to raise the businesses and industries from the
channel while also making basins for flood storages. The buildings being raised
helped to lower the risk of water embarking into the bottom of the building,
saving both the business and government money in the long run. [27]
However,
although there were great acts put in order to prevent future flood damage, in
the later years there would be more flood damage to come. The larger levees,
widened channels, and dry reservoirs did help the flood of 1937 a great deal,
however, the water during this flood reached a high of twenty-nine feet over the
flood stage and the towns and cities still became flooded. In addition to the
1913 add-ons, the people of 1937 had to build levees and floodwalls on each
side of the river in order to prevent future flood damages.[28] However, the flood
control systems that Governor Morgan put into place are still in effect and are
also very effective. They currently are going into the Ohio River and control
and contain the chaotic water.[29]
Overall,
the relief efforts and refugees helped to make the Midwest community, of not
only Indiana, but Ohio too, become closer and rely on each other more to get
the job done and their people safe. The relief efforts that were made during
the Flood of 1913 are very memorable and drastic. There were new acts that went
into place that would last for one hundred and more years. There were also many
members of the community that contributed to help their fellow Hoosiers out.
Some people helped by donating food, clothing, medical supplies, and hygiene
items, while others donated their time to help find and rescue refugees and
give them medical attention. However a civilian chose to help out, helped to
end the Flood of 1913 and allowed for better measures to be taken in the years
to come for floods in the Midwest.
[1]
James Albert Woodburn, “Indiana History and its
Celebration,” Indiana Magazine of History, Sept. 1913, pp 123 http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/stable/27785586?seq=3&Search=yes&searchText=history&searchText=indiana&searchText=1913&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dindiana%2Bhistory%2B1913%26amp%3Bprq%3Dindiana%2B1913%26amp%3Bhp%3D25%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bso%3Drel%26amp%3Bracc%3Doff&prevSearch=&resultsServiceName=null.
[2] "Marshall is Victor," Monon News, Nov.
13, 1908, p. 2,
http://access.newspaperarchive.com/monon-news/1908-11-13/page-2?tag=Thomas
Marshall&rtserp=tags/?pf=thomas&pl=marshall.
[3] Thomas R. Marshall, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana History. http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/reference/notable-hoosiers/thomas-r.-marshall#.UxSziKQo5ow
[4] Ben Mellon, “How Coal
Owners Sacrifice Coal Workers,” Bedford
Daily Mail, May 11, 1911, pp. 3-4,
http://access.newspaperarchive.com.ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/bedford-daily-mail/1911-05-12/page-3?tag=natural-disaster&rtserp=tags/?pc=1916&psi=38&pci=
7&ndt=ex&pd=12&py =1911&pm=5&plo=natural-disaster&psb=dateasc
[5] Thomas R. Marshall, Indiana History.
[6] “Really Elected,” Decatur Daily Democrat, February 12,
1913,
http://access.newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-democrat/1913-02-12?tag=marshall+elected+vice+president&rtserp=tags/marshall-elected-vice-president
[7] “Samuel M. Ralston,” Washington Democrat, January 11, 1913,
p. 4, http://access.newspap erarchive.com/washington-democrat-washington-indiana/1913-01-11/page-4?tag=governor
+ralston&rtserp=tags/governor-ralston?ndt=bd&pd=11&pe=1&pem=2&py=1913&pm=1&pey=
1913&psb=dateasc
[8] Swellen M. Hoy,
“Governor Samuel M. Ralston and Indiana’s Centennial Celebration,” Indiana History. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/27790044?Search=yes&resultItemClick=
true&searchText=Governor&searchText=Ralston&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DGovernor%2BRalston%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff
[9] “Samuel M. Ralston,” Washington Democrat.
[10] “Indiana Repairs Losses
as Raging Flood Subsides,” Los Angeles
Times, March, 28 1913.
[11] J. David Rogers, “The
1913 Dayton Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the
United States,” (presentation, Natural Hazards Mitigation Institute University
of Missouri-Rolla).
[12] Rogers, “The 1913
Dayton Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United
States.”
[13] Rogers, “The 1913
Dayton Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United
States.”
[14] “Flood Grasps South
Indiana,” Chicago Daily Tribune, April
1, 1913.
[15] “Indiana Repairs Losses,
as Raging Flood Subsides,” Los Angeles Times.
[16] “At Least Sixty Dead in
Indiana’s Flood,” Los Angeles Times, March
30, 1913.
[17] Rogers, “The 1913 Dayton
Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United States.”
[18] “Indiana Repairs Losses,
as Raging Flood Subsides,” Los Angeles Times.
[19] “Indiana Repairs Losses,
as Raging Flood Subsides,” Los Angeles Times.
[20] P. P. Claxton, “Teachers
and Pupils Asked to Start Flood Fund,” Commissioner
of Education, March 28, 1913.
[21] P.P. Claxton, “Teachers
and Pupils Asked to Start Flood Fund.”
[22] “City Gives $289,140 to
Flood Sufferers,” New York Times, March
29, 1913.
[23] “City Gives $289,140 to
Flood Sufferers,” New York Times.
[24] “City Gives $289,140 to
Flood Sufferers,” New York Times.
[25] Rogers, “The 1913 Dayton
Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United States.”
[26] Rogers, “The 1913 Dayton
Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United States.”
[27] Rogers, “The 1913 Dayton
Flood and the Birth of Modern Flood Control Engineering in the United States.”
[28] “Ohio River Overdue for
Major Flooding,” Anderson Herald
Bulletin, July 21, 1993. http://access.newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin/1993-07-21/page-4?tag=flood+of+1937&rtserp=tags/flood-of-1937
[29] “Ohio River Overdue for
Major Flooding,” Anderson Herald Bulletin.
