Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-22
THE SITUATION At SIOUX CITY.
Sioux City Journal. 2lst.


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Sioux City Journal, 21st.
There was not so much excitement yes
terday concerning the washing at our river
front as there was Tuesday AMI Wednesday.
People have become used to seeing and
hearing of the waters workings, and those
who are not ~pesonally interested pay no
more attention to it than to give foolish
opinions of what ought to be done. Through
out Thursday there was less caving of the
bank than on either of tile two preceding
days, and it is barely possible that the worst
is over, for this season at least. But the
high water is to come yet, if reports be true,
and the slight Z" let up" Of yesterday ehould
not be allowed to cause the abandon
ment of any plans formed or forming for
protection.
The only noticeable falling in of the
bank yesterday was under and in the vicini.
ty Of Capt. Young's ice house, which build
ing in the morning, became so undermined
that by cutting a few posts of the frame at
the north end, the whole structure went
crashing into the river, taking several hum
dred tons of ice with it. Workmen were at
once set to removing the ice left by the
wreck, and last evening the last of it was
hauled to places of safety. Mr.. Young is
the heaviest loser 60 far by the ravages of
the water, though the exact amount Of his
losses cannot now be told. He estimates
that between six and eight hundred tons of
ice have been lost, beside the building,
which cost $500.
All but one of the ten or twelve houses
between the road and the river at the foot
Of Jones street have been moved, and that
one will be moved this morning. The next
building most in danger should the caving
continue, is the Sioux City and Pacific
freight depot. Men were yesterday taking
up the platforms about this building and
putting it in shape to be moved on short
notice.
The railroad companies have fully deter.
mined that they will do nothing looking to
the protection to the levee 80 long as the
high water continues, believing it would be
time and money thrown away. The expe'
rience of the Sioux City and Pacific at diff
ferent points along the river, clearly dem
onstrates the fact that a period of low watel
must be awaited before any work, even of s
temporary value, can be undertaken. A
gang of men will this morning remove the
south track, which extends to the foot o.
Prospect hill. The main line, with the Da.
kota Southern connection, will not be re.
moved go long as it may seem prudent to
permit it to remain where it nov is. The
policy Of the railroads is retreat as fast al
the enemy advances. Thus the matte,
stands at present, and everybody appears tc
be waiting to see what they shall see.
AT OMAHA.
Omaha Bee, 18th The Missouri river
which has begun to fall, began rising agar
at this point on Monday, slowly at first, bu
increasing its rate every hour.
The prospects are very gloomy, to say the
least, at Omaha's levee and the smeitin,
works. 1t is now an almost ~universall,
conceded fact, among those who have watch
ed the river at late, that the bottoms will b,
washed out clear up to the bluffs, unless til,
water falls rapidly. The danger to tn,
smelling works is increasing hourly. Tn
main current is not more than 15O feet, iii
is that far. from the smelling works build
ings. 1t now seems almost impossible 70
these works to escape being undermined
There is only one thing that may save then
and that is q very rapid fall of the river, Q
that the cutting Of the bank will last only
short time. Nothing, as yet, has been don
to protect the works, as it was impossible o
account of the high water. Yesterday
start was made by laying a railroad trac
= little east Of the buildings, for the tran
portation of stone, but owing to the rive
rising again, the track had TO be torn up.
; The river has cut no far into the bank hi
the old warehouses are nov 10 danger
being washed out. aud one Of them is beir
: torn down-to save the lumber. The mai
2 track Of the Unisn Pacific to the shops
not far distant, aud it is possible it may I
E cleaned u BY the river before it goes dow
4 and thus cut of communication with Il
shops. There is also . probability that Il
lower lumber yards may have to move. A
: these are possible calamities, but it is hop,
/, that they all may be averted. We do o
wish to excite needless alarm, but the stu
ton is one that will have TO be faced soon
e or later. We have stated what 10 liable
hspptn, IS any one can ace BY making
survey for hinlSelf.