Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-27
EFFECTS OF THE STORM.
The Southern Citrus Belt Deluged-Ran-
way Lines Damaged.

EFFECTS OF THE STORM.
The Southern Citrus Belt Deluged-Ran-
way Lines Damaged.
SAN FRANCISCO, December 26th.-There were
showers and more than showers yesterday at
many points, continuing the long downpour
that has now been in progress nearly every day
for month. The rain fell steadily on fields al
ready flooded, in streams already bank full on
railway beds that already were holding all the
moisture they could with safety. By The rains
of this week the railways OF the State have
suffered more ttan at any previous time this
season, aud if the soaking, continues more
trouble vet is anticipated The high h-howing
streams and the weight of water on the banks
of cuts caused the chief trouble on lines yester-
day. Two Southern Pacific bridges east and
north of Los Angeles were carried away, and
to-day, consequently, that city was entirely cut
off from rail communication except with Santa
Monica. There were washouts at many points
throughout Southern California, on both the
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific systems and to-
day large forces of men were engaged in repair
ing the damage.
The San Francisco rainfall yesterday and last
night TO A. N. today, according to southern
Pacific records, amounted to .6S. of an inch,
making the seasons total by this gauge "a 70
inches in great contrast to the 10 20 inches for
the corresponding period last season. The rain
extended through the upper valleys, swelling
the seasons total at Napa to zO79; at Red Bluff
to 20 81 at MeTced to 9.5S; at Hanford to 80; at
Newhall to 27.s7.
In the Sierr4s there was light snowfall,
amounting to two inches at Verdi, near Reno.
This side of that point there was little or no
fresh snow on the Central Pacific line. AtSum-
NIT no one cares to have any more snow fall
lust now, for it measures nearly fourteen feet on
e level and is packed hard by the long contin-
uiDg storm. The big rotary snow -plow and the
smaller furrow plows have kept the track clear
and in good order, and delays in that section,
consequently, have been slight. The fast over
land Monday, West-bound, was delayed in the
mountains but it was due only indirectly to the
snow, for an overturned snow plow was the
cause.
Assistant General Superintendent P H. Pratt
and Assistant superintendent of Track j. III.
Wallace started yesterday for Los Angeles as
soon as the trouble on the main line was re-
ported. A large force of men Were secured at
Oagland Point, and some sixty large freight cars
were loaded with repairing material for the
damaged trestles bridges ETC. These cars are
sent forward rapidly. and with consignments
from other quarters make fully one hundred
carloads OF material sent to the scene OF the
trouble.
The first obstacle to traffic is at South Side,
fifty miles this side of Los Angeles. A short
piece of track was here washed out of place by
the food. Below this, shortly before reaching
Los Ans eles, long bridge is gone. and similar
disaster met the other Southern Pacific bridge
on the main line, running east from Los An
giles. Neither of these were very substantial
structures and viii be soon repaired. Slight
trouble is reported also on the bridge near Col
Ton. a press Ulspdttu Shn Tue DTluSG over lllt
San Gabriel river at Fl Modeno, on the Cotton
line, was early carried away and communion
tion between Los. angeles and Pasadena is also
interrupted for the same reason.
The most disastrous WaShOutS the coast diviS-
ion has had for years occurred yesterday, when
several hundred feet of track near Cholone,
nine miles below Soledad, were undermined by
the Salinas river. Passengers on yesterdays
trains were transferred around the track and
this practice viii continue for a few days until
the damage is repaired. Superintendent
Bassett went to-day to the scene. The San
Ardo trestle bridge is also reported in a very
shaky condition, the pillars having been COM
pletely undermined by the current.
Near Del Monte the track is under water, the
lake in Del Monte grounds having overflOwed
its banks.
No trains are running, nor have they been for
some days, on the South Pacific Coast narrow
gage between Santa Cruz and Glenwood, fifteen
miles this side. Passengers aud mails for Santa
Cruz are transferred daily to the Coast Division
trains at Santa Clara. No attempt is made to
run trains on the Boulder creek division of the
road.
The California and Oregon road was reported
in fair order at last accounts. On the Atlantic
and Pacific wsshouts between MOhave and The
Needles are delaying trains.
The high winds OF Wednesday night wrecked
the boat house at the foot OF Grand street, Ala
media, and with it several pleasure boats and
canoes. A large portion of the fence of the ball
grounds at the West End was also blown down,
as well as several hundred feet belonging to the
estate OF the late Alfred a. OOlell.
The Oregon train, which should have arrived
here this morning at 745 O'Clock, is twelve
hours late. The d lay is caused by trouble to
The road, which happened during the recent
rains.
The train from Santa Marguerite, due here on
the 24th instant at 6:l2 P NJ did rot arrive until
to-day at 11:20A NJ This detention is owing to
the bad condition of the road between Soedsd
and Santa Marguerite, caused by the late storm
and rise of the waters ofthe Salinas river.
No mails are being carried on the line be-
tween San Luis Obispo and Los ClivoS, owing
to the track being damaged. On account of
washouts and high waters the mail service is
not in action between Mejave and Cotton.
MoJAvE December 26th.-Division Superin-
tendent 7. ]. Urquhart OF the Southern Pacific
Company was seen tonight, and says: 'Uur
track is o. K. from Bakersfield to South Side;
from south Side to ~augus there are great
many very bad washouts, many culverts we're
gone, the bridges were unsafe and the track
badly washed From Saugus to San Fernando
the track is o. X. South of San Fernando one
span OF the bridge at TejunGa creek is gone On
the Ventura division, on account of the wires
being down, we cannot certain the damage
Assistant General Superintendent Platt, Assist
ant Superintendent of Track Wallace and Di-
vision Roadmasttr Ambrose are on the ground
with large force of men, Material is being
rapidly sent forward and the work of repairing
is well under way. 1t WILL however, take sew
eral days 10 put the road in condition for re-
sumption of traffic without trains to transfer.
GUS of which is at Waterman. The Mojave
river bridge is gone, but it is impossible at this
hour to give an account"
TEHAeHAPI, December 25th.-The railroad
situation this morning appears to be as follows :
The Southern Pacific is open as far south as
South Side, in Soledad Canyon. The situation
from there to the Santa Clara river is bad. 1he
track is gone for several miles, with the bridge
across the river, and there is 30 much water that
repairs are difficult. There was a heavy rain
there last night
Within the last twenty hours six heavy work
trains with 600 men, and loaded with material
have hurried south, Superintendent Pratt being
with the last one. The road was reported as be-
ing washed out last nieht at Tejuga in San Fer
nando valley; both railroad bridges are gone on
the Los Angeles river.
The road for through trains Cannot be opened
with reasonable weather for several days and
if the rains continue it is impossi ole to say
when. The Atlantic and Pacific lost the bridge
across the Mojave river at Barstow yesterday
afternoon, and slides are reported at Canyon
Pass. 1t is raining here this morning. The
track across Tehacbapi Mountain has stood the
storm splendidly. There has been no mail here
for three days. Two trains turned back from
the break found north this morning
Los ANGELES, December 26th.-At $50 a. N.
the rain began falling again in torrents, not
witnstanding the sun rose in q stretch of clea
sky. The indications are for rain all day.
Railroad communication is cut off in all di-
rections. The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe
ptOpl0 IepOIl MdsuUuls, iduQ anu
washed away in many places Owing 10 the
lack of telegraphlc communication it is impos-
sible to tell the extent of damages in sections
remote from this city. The road on the Mojave
desert is badly demoralized, as is the case be-
tween this city and the Tehachapi mountains
Over seven miles of the Southern Pacific track
on the San Pedro branch are under water No
trains are running.
Railroad SuperintendentS atate that they do
not know when trains Will be running, es 1t is
still raining and the extent of the damage is
unknown.
The Southern Pacific reports n loss so far as
known to track and bridges OF S1500e0 The
Santa Fe say their loss is 900, 900 so far.
The damage in this city is great. Only two
bridges across the river can be Travelled. Many
streets are made impossible. The river is high.
The last train on the Southern Pacific road
from the west and the north arrived Monday.
The railroad bridge across the San Gabriel
river at FL MOdena is gone. There is no trace
Of it. Superintendent Muir says the trains will
not go through TO san Francisco for four days.
Los ANGELES. December 25th-The Los An
yeles, San Gabriel and New San Gabriel rivers
have overfowed the land between them, form
ing one river, which is rushing to the ocean
extent has formed on the Laguna ranch, de-
stroying the crops. Serious washouts have oc-
Cured. In Soledad canyon five miles of track
IS under twenty feet of water. Several stretches
)f thousand feet each OF the track is washed
)ut, besides smaller washouts- One iron and
nauy wooden bridges are washed away. It
will take week 20 put the track in running
)rder.
SAN BERSARDISo, December 26th.-No trains
% or from Los Angeles are expected before Sat
lrday, owing to the wsshout. Cajon Pass is in