Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-09


OMAHA. April Sth.-The river has risen
two feet and half since last night, and is
still rising. It is now about twenty-one feet
above low-water mark,
THE HIGHEST RISE EVER KNOWN
Here. 1t is about two feet and half higher
than the April rise of 1875 and the June rise
of 1857. Everything on the levee is flooded,
and the lowlands on the east side of the river
are flooded for miles. The river is two or
three miles wide here. A broad stream of
ice is floating with the current, which has
moved eastward somewhat and taken off
some of the pressure on the Omaha levee.
There is about foot of water in the smelt-
ing works, and two strong currents are rum
ming through the establishment. Two hun
dred employees are temporarily thrown out of
employment on account of a stoppage of the
works. The chances are against saving the
works, but as yet they are al right. During
this forenoon the water rose very rapidly, and
soon flooded all the Union Pacific shops
some ten or twelve large buildings-to a
uSptn VI lEOul siA W Twelve IICLcc, anu
WORK WAS ENTIRELY SUSPENDED.
Thirteen hundred men are temporarily
thrown out Of employment there. No fears
are entertained as to the safety of the shops, as
only surface water, with little or no current.
The main track to the shops is built up
| higher than all the other tracks, and so far
has acted as dam or dyke, protecting all
that part of the levee lying inside of it, and
inside of which the lumber yards are located
| The water rose to the top of this track, and
large force Of men are at work piiing
manure and dirt along it, to keep the water
from running over. If the water comes over,
it will wash out this track and sweep away
the lumber yards, destroy numerous railroad
tracks and wash out many acres of made land.
The rise since o'clock this morning to this
afternoon was fifteen inches. All of the
Union Pacific rolling stock was moved to
high land. The Chicago, st. Paul and
Omaha track leading out of Omaha is under
water, and no train was sent out this morn
ing. 1t is also flooded between Desota and
| Mills, and at various other points further
north.
SIOUX CITY AND ABOVE.
A dispatch from Sioux City this morning
says the river reached the highest point since
the country has been settled, last night The
rise yesterday was six inches more, but to-
day the water is falling slowly, and tits falling
fast at YanktOn and points above. There are
several hundred homeless people being taken
care of at Sioux City, among the being the
entire population of Covington, located OPP
posite Sioux City, who abandoned their sub
merged town yesterday afternoon on a
steamer which was sent to their relief
REGULARITY, OF THE STREAM.
The Government stone riprap at Omaha is
holding out well, and keeps the current from
working westward. The current seems
swifter than yesterday. When the river
goes down, if the water falls rapidly. great
damage will probably be done here as this is
a popularity of this stream, that when it falls
it cuts away its banks very rapidly and forms
new channels here and there in a very few
hours, as the lowlands are composed of loose
sand deposits. This afternoon large point
of land on the east side of the river opposite
the Union Pacific works was gradually cut,
thus allowing the channel to shift further
eastward, which was very favorable for
Omaha. Several hundred men are to be kept
at work all night, heaping up manure along
. Il Ii L.
river front, which is keeping the
water back admirably, though it is
close race between the water and
men. 1t is likely to break through
at any moment. The river has fallen one foot
at Sioux City to-day, but is yet rising slowly
here tonight. The river is four miles wide
at this point, reaching from Omaha to Council
Bluffs this afternoon. A broad stream and
strong current is sweeping down past the
western boundary of Council Bluffs and
through Spoon Lake, ordinarily small pond,
just west of the Union Pacific Hotel and
transfer depot. The water is up to the rails
on the bridges across Spoon Lake, and the
bridges are anchored down with railroad iron
to keep them in place.
NEW CAUSE FOR ANXIETY.
Considerable ice is floating down this
stream, and its feared that new channel
will cut off the approach to the Union Pacific
bridge and leave the bridge this side. A great
deal of uneasiness is felt by the Union Pa.
cifc officials. This new stream, which comes
in at the bend north of Council Bluffs. is
rapidly increasing in proportions and force.
Another stream is running through the Big
LOUSY creek, in the western outskirts of
Council Bluffs, and on the east side of the
Union Pacific transfer depot. Should the
water raise six inches more in the Spoon
Lake stream, it may stop the running
of trains over the Union Pacific bridge
temporarily. 1t is now believed, however.
that the water will begin falling some time
tonight. Numerous families on the bottom
lands around Council Bluffs have abandoned
their houses.
One foot of snow fell last night in the
county of Hubbard, on the line OF the Chi.
cago, St. Paul and Omaha Railroad. and
about eight inches between Rock Island and
Davenport. There was a slight fall in Omaha
at o CLOCK thls morning.
MORE RAILROADS IN TROUBLE.
OMAHA, April Sth.-The Kansas City, st.
ice and Council Bluffs Railroad, from Coun.
Gil Bluffs to Pacific junction, eighteen miles.
over which the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy trains also run into Council Bluffs, is
more or less under water, owing to the rise of
the river along which it runs. The ice is
piling up fast all over the flooded section.
One bridge is out of line, and will probably
be washed away, with several miles of the
track.
FURTHER CAUSE FOR ANXIETY.
The latest report is that Florence lake, two
miles above Omaha, has become flooded, and
the river is making cutoff channel close to
the bluffs. and if so it is bound to carry out
on. whole levee, and also strike over towards
Council Bluffs. Great anxiety is felt in both
cities on account of the threatening dangers.
Trouble is also expected at st. Joe and Kan
soc Citv both of which Dlaces are alreadv