MOVING A TOWN

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1927, Page 1

MOVING A TOWN

MISSISSIPPI MENACE. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 7. The town of Columbus, in r Kentucky. has been bodily moved. Taking all that was left of a century and a half of historic past, along with their tangible property, the villagers moved to the bluffs half a mile from

the turbulent Mississippi. The frame house of Charles Mays, of Kentucky street, was the first to be moved. Plans were carried out for the removal of 39 others. Surrendered conditionally to the river with which it has battled more or less successfully for 150 years, Columbus was removed to the bluffs ns part of the rehabilitation programme of the American Red Cross, which contributed 50,000 dollars to the work. Another 50,000 dollars was necessary to complete the work.

The beginning of the end came last April when the headwaters of the great flood swept aside the private levee and put the town under 15 feet of water. Ten houses were washed away.. Subsequent swells reinundated the town when the final flood had passed, the current had changed and caused the banks to cave in. carrying with them the old hotel and several houses. With little prospect of replacing the broken dyke, the decision to move was made. The Red Cross purchased 80 acres of land as the first section of the new site of Columbus. Streets have been constructed on the bluff where ancestors of the present inhabitants had hoped to see the capital of the United States. A large spring supplies water pending completion of an eight-inch well that is being drilled. Sewers and water pipe line have been planned for the new town and in time a modern town will have replaced the fishing village of old.