Omaha daily bee., 1892-05-15
EATING AWAY HER SHORES
The Hungry River Still Gnaving at the
Barriers Of the Bottoms.
ALMOST READY TO ENTER FLORENCE LAKE
Uneasy settlers watching the Terror which
Threatens Their Homes-Magnifcent
Spectacle Presented blythe Rig Muddy
on Her Annual Boom.

The whole river bottnn east OF Sherman
avenue and north OF the fair grounus is a
soggy, susnv, sloppy waste and very few
feet OF earth separate it from the swollen
tide of the river which snarls and clutches
at It's banks TO the north, eager to send Its
murky torrent sweeping down over the gar
deus and houses below it. Between the
north end Of Florence lake and the river
there is now narrow neck of rush-covered
land not more than ten feet wide ana across
this little stream of water flows from the
lake into the river. Another raise in the Big
Muddy Of a few inches and the stream will
stop and flow back into the lake.
The difference in the level Of the two bodies
of water Is now not more than -four or five
inches so that there Is good reason for the
uneaslucss Of the settlers below. The river
from this point, which can only be reached
by boat, presents magnificent spectacle. Its
yellow tide is boiling and seething in frenzy;
huge masses OF driftwood tear past with the
speed of o race horse: now and then the
branches OF trees rear up like long black
skeleton arms. wave Tor an instant in the
air and fall again with a splash. The south
bank, which usually presents an lndented
line of black mud cliffs ten feet or more
high, surmounted by fringe of shrubbery.
have sunk to WITHIN few inches Of the
water. Huge masses OF earth continually
with farewell flourish of half opened leaves.
There is little fear OF sudden deluge of
waters in any event. though a very frai
barrier keeps out an immense volume Of
water which may, if the rise continues, grad
uallv flow over the bottoms and iuuudate
scores of gardens ana homes
A great portion of the land south OF the
lake is as low if not lower than the present
level OF the river Florence lake is held in
on its south shore by bank of considerable
I,s,f al tnn 1F -, ~,
road 10 Huns and Sesseman's which are sit
uatei on a slight elevation on tho east side
of the lake. When the river rises u foot
higher its waters OF course will back
up into the lake. This may create a
pressure on the south bank, which will ere
ate an outlet when the whole bottom will be
flooded. In this event the damage would oe
very great.
All day there was a procession Of rain
coated spectators coming and going across
the miry stretch OF country between the con-
tinuatlon of Sixteenth street and the scene Of
the danger. This country is almost impas-
sable, even on horseback. Miniature tor
rents have rushed across the usual wagon
roads and worn ravines N the mucky soil,
which may be of any depth, and the investl-
gator is directed, if tie is in luck, by individ-
uals with straw-cOlored boards ana cob
pipes, who give no information moro specific
than can be conveyed by q generalzlng
wave of the arm. This viii lead the inquirer
y
ems roost on dilapidated express wagons,
through black eXpanses Of soapy mud,
through duck ponds and innumerabie dis
comforts, but if he wiz persevere and If MS
horse is long suffering he will in time reach
Hills roadhouse. Here he may hire a yell
low-painted, flat-bottomed BOAT and row
across the lake, which is now very respect
able body of water He Will enjoy the novel
experience of working his way through some
barb wire fences in a boat, but the sight OF
the swlrling, lashiug. muddy river roaring
past him Will almost pay for all the trouble
Of his trip.
1t is simply stupeQGouS. Two miles wide
with the roar of an express train, and twist
ing and coiling in frenzy, it conveys some
idea of the awfuIneSs Of the devastation il
could create II once itsne1ld break its bounds.
E. A. Cobb, who is interested,in land in
the bottoms, is not fearful of the flood. He
it was in 1881. He states that all the June
rises since that memorable year, With the
exception Of 1889, were higher than the
present rise, which is 556. 90 feet above sea
level. Granting that the river does cut
through TO the lake, the effect, he thinks,
will be to drain the lake. According TO the
government survey there have been only
ffty-seveR acres OF land washed away
within the past five years. Mr.. Cobb
cuts away moro land on its fall than
it does on its rise. The water is Obliged tc
follow the main current of the river, and il
il rises rs high as il dlG in 1851, he says, the
bottoms will simply be flooded and there will
he no avalanche OF water carrying every thing
away with il.
Following is the official April rise since
aud including 1881, the standard high water
being 5GO3O and The standard low water