Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-26
WASHOUTS ON RAILROADS
All the Omaha Roads Report Considerable
Damage to Their Lines,
SEVERAL THROUGH TRAINS ABANDONED
Rock Island suffers the Greatest,
While the burlington and Union
Pacific Have Trouble with Gull
verts and Soft Traclsr.

Traffic on the southern lines OF both the
Union Pacific and Burlington was nearly at
a standstill yesterday as a result of the Ne
maha and Blue river floods. Large sections
OF the Union Pacific track have been washed
out below Cortland, and again at Beatrice.
The Burlington has suffered severely from
the washing out OF culverts and small bridges
where the road skirts the Big Blue river.
During the cloudburst Friday night the small
streams emptying into the Blue became rag
ing torrents and the approaches to the cul-
velts and bridges we're weakened and in many
cases washed entirely ont, leaving the rails
suspended in the air.
A large force of men was sent out by the
Burlington Saturday night and work was car
red on all night and all day yesterday. Gen
eral Manager Holdrege stated last evening
that the line was in repair sufficiently to- al
low trains to be run slowly over the soft
spots. The waters in both the Blue and Me-
maha are reported as much lower and pend
ing any further rise the Burlington's
troubles are over.
Tho damage with the Union Pacific, how
ever. is said to be more serious, although the
exact extent of 1t is not known by Super
intendent Sutherland, as the Republican
branch is operated from the headquarters Of
the company at Lincoln. From the few dis
patches received il would appear that sec
tion of the road about half a mile in extent
has been washed out south OF Cortland sta
ton. Much damage has also been done in
the yards of the company at Beatrice, and
a large number of culverts are reported
washed out.
UNION PACIFIC TIED UP.
All trains on the line were abandoned
yesterday and will probably not be running
on anything like schedule time for several
1aNyS tn A
train are sidetracked at Beatrice, and none
have been made up at Lincoln since Friday
night. The telegraph lines along the branch
are also down. but will probably be re-
paired sufficient for use by today.
The east and westbound trains of the
Burlington through Iowa varied from half
to two hours behind time. Train No. 3, due
in Omaha at Ais yesterday afternoon, was
over two hours late on account of the
washout at Creston, la. This break has been
repaired, but the roadbed is still soft and
trains are only allowed to pass over at
slow rate of speed There are many other
places which also had to be favored by
slow rate of speed and considerable time
was also lost on account of connections with
late trains at Charlton, Crestoh and Viii
lisca which were delayed by washouts.
Train No. 2, leaving Omaha at sos p. m.
for the east expects to arrivei at Chicago
nearly on time, barring additional trouble
over the line.
All trains, both east and west, over the
Rock Island were abandoned yesterday on
account of the washouts at Valley Junction.
Ia, and Dewitt. Neb. A Stub train, taking
the place of regular No for the east left
Omaha at 80 D. IN. and will run as far as
Valley Junction, where it will make con-
nections with another stub for Chicago. The
regular trains between Chcagofand Denver
were run by way of st. Joseph and this
arrangement will probably continue for sew
eral days.
The Milwaukee eastbound left the city at
6:S5 last evening on time, and the road re-
ports no trouble of any consequence from
washouts along the line. Union Pacific
No. 8 left for the west last evening in two
sections, the second section being nifty min
utes late in leaving Council Bluffs. on ac-
count of the Burlington No. q, which was
delayed at Creston. fila