Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-14
extended and considerable more damage
would be done to property at East Omaha.
RIVER PRACTICALLY STATIONARY.

extended and considerable more damag,
would be done to property at East Omaha.
RIVER PRACTICALLY STATIONARY.
The employees OF the water works pumpinl
station at Florence reported at late hour
however, that the river was practically sta
tonary. During the afternoon 1t had riser
but one inch. The measurements show tha
the river is still some FIVE inches below the
danger line. The water was rushing through
the gap upon the lowlands at the same rate
OF velocity as during all day yesterday. but
no further damage is being done.
The steady influx of water into Cut on
lake has caused that body to rise consldera.
bly,. The food from Florence lake has been
shut or, but the stream running parallel
with Sherman avenue Is still pouring great
flow Of water into the lake. Several measure
ments last night indicated that the water
in the lake has risen about foot and a half
since the flood began.
1t Is believed, however, that there Is no
immediate danger from an overflow of Cut
OF. 1t would still require an immense in
flux of water to bring this about. There are
a number OF dykes along the southern
shores. the last of which is several feet
above the surface. Finally the dyke on Lo-
Gust street would furnish another great OBJ
stacle to any onrush of the waters over the
southern part Of the island.
The extreme southeastern portion of East
Omaha is also under water. Approach to the
bridge except by way OF the railroad tracks,
is entirely cut off. strip of water also
separates several establishments on the east
ern shore OF the island from the remainder.
ALONG THE CITY'S RIVER FRONT.
The river is causing considerable uneasi-
ness also along the bottoms on the city s
river front The water has gone over the
bank in many places south of the bend that
occurs near the foot of Nicholas street.
Sauatters have been driven from their huts
and the houses are standing In lakes OF water.
This is the case all along the river bank'
Just north of Nicholas street the water
has spread over the bottoms. A big lake has
been formed just north of the bend. But
few people lived there, but the land was
under cultivation Further to the south. at
the foot OF Cass street the water swept in
upon a little settlement of squatters About
a dozen houses are completely surrounded
and their residents have been driven from
their homes. Just north Of the smelling
works the water has formed another pool.
1t is not more than fifty feet away from
the smelter.
The railroads are watching their property
situated close to the river. The Urion Pacific
stationed three engines and three trains of
fiat cars on the tracks in the yards yes
terday. From the tracks closest to the
river bags of sand were dumped along the
bank to keep the water from cutting in and
undermining the tracks. The river has bee1
watched for the past three days and the
operating department has been prepared in a
similar manner. throwing great quantities OF
sand into the river in order to protect the
bank. At noon General Manager Holdrege
of the B. & NJ. stated: 80 far we have
suffered no damage. We are watching the
trlcks nearest the river and are prepared
for any break"
All the tracks in the yards have been
placed in more or less dangerous cond-
tion by the rise of the waters, though
none of them have been carried away, nor
are likely to be so long trains of fiat
cars are kept standing on them. The
ground under the tracks has all been
softened. The low ground has become
soggy and the tracks are anything but
firm.
At l o'clock Her G. Co. reported that the
rising water had not yet invaded the prem
ises of the distllery below the Union Pa
cific bridge. No trouble has yet been eX-
perienced there, and 1t is said that the
property can stand a rise OF four feet be-
fore the danger line Is reached. The squat
ters living on the bottoms below the dis
tillery have not yet been disturbed, though
they are watching the rising water with
some fear and trembling.
STAGE OF THE WATER.
At o'clock in the afternoon Captain Rey,
nolds chief engineer of the water works
furnished The Bee with the following state
ment from Florence: "The water now regis
ters II feet inches in our crib at Florence
This is a rise of 15 feet 6 inches above the
mean low water mark. The water Is still
rising, but very slowly. During the past
twenty-four hours the water has risen
not more than 4 inches. The water Is now
about one inch higher than it was at O'Clock
this morning. We have just received q
report from Sioux City, indicating a rise oi
two feet there. II this is correct, we shall
expect another rise here tonight or tomor-
row. No damage has been done here. The
water has completely covered the bottom
lands, well as our works on the Iowa
side. The riprap work that we have been
building on the Iowa side for the past two
years is all covered with water. There is
no cutting in on the bank here by the water.
We do not expect any damage, nor regard
the situation as dangerous"
In Cut-Of lake the water has risen two
feet in the past twentyfour hours.
The Union Pacific measurement, taken
yesterday at the middle pier of the railroad
bridge indicated q rise of S.4 inches since
Monday. This Is the highest the water
has been since 1881.
Chief Engineer Berry Of the Fremont. Elk
horn e Missouri Valley railroad IS at Blair
personally supervising the work of protecting
tho bridge of the company at that point
No further damage has been done since Sun
day morning, when about 500 feet of the bank
washed away. Great quantities OF stone have
been dumped in alongside of the river bank
at that point. The railway officials believe
they have efrectually stopped the cutting-in
b. the water
East Omaha was visited by considerable
number of people, curious to see the effects
of the food yesterday afternoon The ma
jorlty of these wenGed their way to the end
Of the bridge leading to COurtland beach,
where one OF the streams is rushing into
Cut Off lake A good view Of the sweep of
the water could be obtained at this point.
The food took with it over the iowlands
a considerable number Of the fnny tribes Of
the river. This fact soon became known to
the residents of the island and numbers of
these attempted to spear the fish, The water
was murky and muddy, however, that
they we're unable to sight their game in the
depths and their efforts were therefore
rather sCanty in results.
REPUBLICAN MEETINGS CALLED.