Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-16

in 1t and the watcr has backed up by the
Locust street dixie. Against all OF these
bikes the water OF the lake was being driven
furiously by tie wind. The FIRST dixie is
furnished by a railroad. To the north OF this
the water is fully two feet higher than to the
south. The waters of the upper lake are
eating into the dixie at the western end and
are very near the rails OF the road. The
water is, however, still more than a foot
below the top of the dixie, although the
wind is dashing sprays across it.
SEEKING THE OLD CHANNEL.
A serious condition Is likely to arise II
the railroad dixie should give way and the
two feet more of water should flow down
into the lower lake. A dixie to the south
would prevent 1t from spreading further for
a time, but 1t would be sure to spread out
toward the WI 1t would find a ra-
vine, which would guide II to a little settle
ment which is located at Fifth and Locust
streets, The residents here are consider
ably worried at the prospect.
From the south end OF this lake to the
river there Is but a narrow strip Of land.
This is being gradually made narrower by
the encroachmants of the water from both
tho lake and the river. II this should be
covered with water the old channel of the
river would then be practically covered, with
the exception of the bikes furnished by
raised streets and railroad tracks. There
would then be a stretch of water extending
" INC " lAC llNNl u L II tIlIb III
the river at Nicholas street. 1t would then
be a question of whether the bikes would be
ablo to stand the strain of the current from
tho north and the suction of the river from
the south. If they could not they would be
torn away and the river would resume its
old channel, leaving the great bend around
East Omaha.
The river is also encroaching to a con-
siderable and a greater extent upon the
eastern shore of East Omaha. Approach to
.tA, IT. .,ii.,,I l,fJr, AT a. H. y..a
side is almost entirely cut off. 1t has be-
come difficult TO even wade to the structure
along the raised railroad tracks that lead
to it. The water extends in an almost
complete semi-circle about the end of this
structure. 1t is in some cases ten feet in
depth.
The river has also broken into the bank
to the north of the Columbia distillery,
which is situated on the extreme eastern
| point of the island. 1t is sweeping in a
current fifty feet wide around the distillery
and back to the river, flowing in at a point
to the north of the East Omaha bridge. In
some cases the water here is also ten feet
in depth. All approach to the distillery
by road Is cut off.
1t Is not believed, however. that there
Is any danger to East Omaha village or the
| factories located in this section of the is
land from this direction. If danger comes at
all, it will come from the overflow of Cut OF
lake.
ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
The high water has come in Just north Of
the smelling works and now covers several
railroad tracks. A train of a half dozen fiat
cars on tho track just north of the smelter,
on which Stag is run out, are standing in
water clear above the trucks. The portion of
tho track at this point, which broke and let
down the locomotive the other night, has not
yet been repaired and cannot until the
water goes down.
East of the Union Pacific shop yards. from
Cass to Burt streets, the water has jumped
across the switching tracks that are closest
to the rivers bank. The track leading up
to the Burt street station Of the water works
company is completely submerged. Four
families living in little shacks close by the
river have been compelled to move out. The
families living in a settlement Of house
boats at the foot Of Webster street have
all moved into the largest one, which is still
high and dry.
Though the water is high all the way from
Cass to Nicholas street, no damage except to
n few families living close to the bank was
reported up to 3 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
The Union Pacific Yards, the smelter and the
lumber yards further south can stand a rise
of from two to five feet vet before anv
danger will appear. Between the Douglas
street bridge aud the Union Pacific bridge the
water Is running close to the bank. The
work Of the railroad gang Of laborers in
banking up this portion with great sacks
" tdAth iiS udu ii SOOu tllStl.
There is but little change in the situation
OF the squatter settlements to the south of
the Union Pacific bridge. Almost all the
homes in this section were surrounded by
water Wednesday,, and consequently the river
could do little more than to deepen the
water that was surrounding them. The bank
of the river, which ordinarily is fifteen feet
and more above the surface of the river, is
entirely indisting uishable at almost every
point. The water flows inland until it is
stopped by rising ground or by the railroad
tracks.
HOUSES SURROUNDED BY WATER.
This condition exists all the way from the
Union Pacific bridge as far as the settlement
Of squatters to the south. There are fully
100 houses that are either partially or com
pletely surrounded by water. In the ma
jority of cases the people have been compelled
to move from their habitations. Some of the
squatters had had experience with the river
before and were consequently prepared for
the rise. Such had erected their habitations
so that the floors In them are above the pres
ent water level, although the houses may be
surrounded by the water. The fortunate
owners OF such houses have remained in
them, and will live there unless the river
rises more and drives them out. They go to
and from their houses and about their Yards
in boats. Below Pine street a half dozen
houses stand out in the water twenty feet,
and yet they are Inhabited.
The business Establishments and the fac
tories that are located on the river bank
south of the Union Pacific bridge have
nothing to fear yet. and do not expect
! trouble unless there is an unprecedented rise
of the river.
No further damage has yet been reported
by any of the railroads. Gangs of workmen
were again employed yesterday by the
Burlington and the Union Pacific in pro-
tecting the tracks along the river bank.
Sacks of earth were piled in at all points
where the water was beginning to cut in
the bank. At noon no damage except the
further softening of the tracks had been
reported by either Of these roads.
Hundreds of people visited the river yes
terday TO witness the effect of the flood.
During the afternoon the East Omaha flood
attracted great numbers Of the curious. The
~favorite point Of observation was the west
end Of the Courtland beach bridge.
The river showed no change at the Douglas