41 
The flood subsided slowly, as is shown by the following 
figures for the Ouse Bridge gauge :— 
October 16th. 
3 p.m. 
Ft. 
15 
In 
8 
17 th 
8 a.m. 
14 
5 
18th. 
8 a.m. 
L2 
0 
18 th. 
3 p.m. 
11 
8 
19th. 
8 a.m. 
? 9 
6 
19th. 
10-30 a.m. 
9 
8 
20th. 
3 p.m. 
4 
9 
22nd. 
12-30 p.m. 
3 
8 
23rd. 
Noon. 
2 
4 
25th. 
Noon. 
1 
4 
On the 28th it rose again to 7ft. lOin. The 8 a m. records are from 
the table. 
The total rainfall for October, 4’94, exceeded that of any 
year since 1840 exaept that of 1870 (6TO). In 1882 4'84 
inches fell. Three falls in October exceeding an inch have 
occurred since 1874, namely 1875, T20 in.; 1876, T09 in., 
and 1880, 1*50 in. 
Eleven years ago, in a letter to the York Herald , preceding 
the great flood of March 10th, 1881,1 wrote:—“ The American 
Weather Office issues warnings of floods in their great river 
systems. Could not a little be done in the Ouse basin in this 
line ? A little experience would suffice to tell if a given 
amount of rise at Knaresbro’, Ripon, &c., would produce 
dangerous floods at York. By aid of the telegraph the city 
could have several hours of valuable warning, a space of time 
which could be lengthened to nearly half-a-day for Selby, and 
parts lower down.” 
Nothing, of course, has been done ; but we may note that 
not a few business firms in York would now have saved 
hundreds of pounds, had they from that time on had a system 
of private telegrams from, say, Pateley Bridge, Knaresbro’, 
Ripon, Aysgarth, and Richmond, warning them of any 
dangerous rise of the waters. But this is not a matter for 
private enterprize; it would form most fitting work for our 
County and City Councils. Under their orders telegrams at 
frequent intervals should be sent to some central station, 
whenever the rivers rose as much, say, as five feet above 
summer level. It would require but a little experience for the 
Central Office to gauge the probable result right down the 
