138 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



THE FLOOD OF 1903 IN CENTRAL KANSAS. 



By Alfred W. Jones, Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina. 

 Read before the Academy, at Manhattan, November 26, 1903. 



TN the spring of 1903 an unusual pressure of cold air from the 

 -*- Northwest seems to have prevailed, causing weeks of terrific 

 wind-, hail- and rain-storms over the Central West, and precipitating 

 all its moisture, apparently, over this region, causing the Northeastern 

 states an unprecedented drought. 



The sleet-storm and freeze of April 29, that ruined a magnificent 

 fruit prospect, seem to have precipitated the period of calamity. Fol- 

 lowing in rapid succession came tornadoes, hail-storms, and deluges 

 of rain, and the elements appeared to have been warring with all 

 their fury. Tornadoes occurred in Saline county May 20, 21, and 22, 

 three days in succession, killing one person and injuring several 

 others, doing much damage to stock and buildings. Hail occurred 

 on several dates, but the hail that fell in the vicinity of Salina on 

 May 22 was remarkable for the enormous size of the hailstones. 

 Hailstones fell weighing from eight to sixteen ounces, and measur- 

 ing as much as fourteen inches in circumference, Fortunately, during 

 the fall of hail, there was very little wind, reducing the damage to a 

 minimum. 



But to return to the subject. The rainfall for May was as follows : 



May 4 0.93 in. 



" 7 



" n 



" 1.3 



" 14 



" 16 



" 18 



" 20 



" 21 



May 22 1.02 Id. 



This is almost equal to the entire rainfall of the year 1901. The 

 rainfall from May 20 to 29 was 13.93 inches, and while this was a 

 great surplus of water, there was unquestionably much heavier local 

 downpours at various places up the streams from here. Tuesday; 

 May 26, Dry creek and Mulberry creek began overflowing all the 

 bottom lands west of Salina and began to invade the northwest por- 

 tion of the city of Salina. The Saline also began rising, which re- 

 tarded the drainage of the Mulberry system. Wednesday the Smoky 

 began to rise rapidly and the Solomon was already overflowing be- 

 low. Thursday torrents of rain fell, filling all the creeks to overflow- 

 ing. The Smoky whs already overflowing and the waters spread over 



