Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-03-25
The CaIiiOpe, the Hunter and the Mas.
sey Bridges are Among those
Taken Away.
Eight Railroad Bridges Bid Goodbye
TO Their Mo0rinQs and Cause
Considerable Delay.
The Damage TO individuals Nor So Ex-
tensive, As RuIe-..A Gen.
eraI Review.

Every year about this time the in-
terest of the citizens hereabouts is
devoted to the spring freshet of both
the Missouri and the Big Sioux rivera.
The confluence of these streams &C.
ours about Is miles south of Elk Point.
OF the date of the breakup Of these
waters from their icy clasp, the
average is about the same date as it
occurred this year.
From March Is to March 20 the
stream would break up within that
period twice where it occurred before
that date. The tendency of the street
corner prophet has always been to pre-
dict dire results, wholesale holacust
and general distinction. But as each
year goes by the proof of the pudding
has been that the street corner prophet
knew not whereof he spoke. Today
both streams are practically within
control of their banks and have freed
themselves of their ice foes SO that
there il no prospective danger of any
kind for the awful prophet to work
upon.
The Big Sioux broke loose last Thurs
day night and spread out on the bottom
to a considerable extent and outside of
of the few railroad bridges constructed
by the pier system and an occasional
case of individual loss the damage
has been immaterial and not any more
than might have been expected under
like circumstances.
The Big Sioux is small, narrow
stream with low banks and plenty Of
opportunity to spread out. Among
those whom we hear that lost little
by the food are Will
Card, J. Hardness, Jack Ward and
few others on the bottom north and
east of town. The stream covered Mr..
Cards farm and succeeded in placing
foot of water in Mr.. Hardness and
young CarQS mouse.
The Brule, which empties into the
Sioux, performed unusual haste In get
ting it's water out OF its banks and as a
consequence took out windmill for
George r. Freeman as we'll as a good
number of rods OF fencing. In bursting
its banks 1t rushed over to the Peter
son farm and johnson farm and made
connection with the big ditch from the
Norwegian lake and thus followed that
course to the river. The result was
that in the neighborhood of William
Fields there was no overflow experience
ed whatever.
The Milwaukee railroad reports the
loss Of four bridges along the Sioux.
One at Egan, one at Fairview, one at
Calliope, the dry run between Calliope
and Hawarden and the Brewer bridge
below McCook. The track at Baltic
for q considerable distance is under
water and at many other places the
track is washed out. Should the river
be in such condition today to permit
work to be commenced it will take at
least ten days before trains can make
schedule time.
Union county suffers considerable
loss in number of bridges along the
Brule and Sioux rivers. The Hunter
and Massey bridges east Of Jefferson,
both pile bridges, are out. These
bridges were constructed last fall and
were largely built by subscriptions.
The Union county treasury has In
vested 5000, the balance being some
81, 400, being paid by private subscrip-
ton and Plymouth county, Ia. Mr..
Hunter himself subscribed about 800
and Mr.. Massey an equal amount, while
Jefferson put in about $500. The loss
comes with striking severity upon
Jefferson and the many people there
abouts for the construction of these
bridges. At the same time it proves
conclusively that the pile bridge is q
dead loss when constructed over the
Sioux. The safest plan being to con-
struct combination span bridge, CIV
ing plenty Of opportunity for the ice
and water to 60 through without re-
slstance. It Ia reported that the big
Calliope bridge (wagon) which was re-
paired last fall 1t IN expense Of over
81, 600 has gone out, but this cannot be
confirmed and seems to be doubtful
statement for the bridge was ususually
strong.
| THE MISSOURI RIVER
| More fears have been experienced
from the Missouri than any other
source According . the weather
clerk these fears have no foundation in
fact. He remarked . follows: