The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-06
RAILROAD wASHOUTS.
Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, the Katy and
Other Roads All Damaged.
A TEMPORARY TIE-up cRIpplEs TRAFFIC
The International Open for Through
Business--velasco shut Out--Hous-
ton ana Texns Central situation.

There is serious Generalization OF traffic
in Houston today, resulting from injurie.
to the railroads in yesterdays floods
Heretofore the Southern Pacific seemed
proof against the prevailing high water
and portions of its line were freely used
by less fortunate roads in tiding them
over their difficulties. But today it has
troubles OF its own, and although they
promise to be only very short-lived. still
they have crushing effect on the business
of this and all the neighboring Cities For
several days past the Brazos river at Rich
mond has been raging torrent, but every
body hoped that the big railroad, with its
high and well-kept track, would be safe
from its overflow Not so, however. for
yesterday afternoon the Texas Niagara
bounding over its banks in mighty VOL
umes, 1t soon washed out a considerable
stretch of Southern Pacific track and thus
threw down the bars for the time being to
all through traffic over that great iron
highway. The break occurred one mile
east of Richmond, shutting off railroad
communication between Houston and that
city. A large force of men was hurried to
the point as soon as possible, the work of
repairing the damage commenced and
continued with Will, and from the pro-
gress made the company's officials were
able to make the following announcement
last evening:
Houston, Texas, June 5,--On account
Of water over our track one mile east
of Richmond we will not be able to
run any trains between Houston and
Rosenberg tonight. The interruption
is only temporary, and we expect TO be
able to resume train service by noon
tomorrow Thursday.
The news Of the washout spread rapidly,
for the public knew that 1t not only af-
fected the Southern Pacific itself, but that
1t also affected the Santa Fe and the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas, both of which
lines (pending repairs on their respective
ioads) used this particular track of the
Southern Pacific to maintain their north
bound service.
Following the announcement of the
washout the Santa Fe officials abandoned
their through trains, the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas gave notice that, until further
notice. its trains from the north would
not come as far south as Houston, these
The southbound Missouri, Kansas and
Texas train. due TO arrive hare at 10
o'clock last night, was stopped at Sea!y,
from which point 1t will return on sched-
ue time.
The Southern Pacific train, due to arrive
here at 1:05 o'clock last evening from San
Antonio. not being able to get to Houston,
a special train to take its place was made
up here and it left for New Orleans on
tra{, a.,
leans last night remained in Houston.
No. 10 train on the Southern Pacific will
leave here this morning al 9:15 o'clock,
going as far as Sartartia, from which point
it will return at the usual hour in the
evening
The International and Great Northern
is open for business all the way through,
as is also the Houston East and West
Texas. The road Of the former, which has
had some washouts on its San Antonio
branch. will be reopened this morning be-
tween Palestine and Laredo, thus putting
the International in thorough working or
der all along it's entire line.
The Santa Fe is reported TO have had
washout between Rosenberg and Richmond
and another near CALDWELL in Burleson
yesterday.
The San Antonio and Arkansas Pass only
went out as far as Fulshear yesterday, re-
turning to Houston in the evening.
Yesterday there was n washout on the
Columbia Tap between Chenango and Co
lumbia. Trains will go out at s o'clock
this morning with fair prospects of getting
through to Columbia, as the track is being
repaired as speedily as possible AT any
rate, ii will go as far as Chenango and
return at o'clock in the afternoon.
There is no improvement so far in the
of the Velasco Terminal railway,
and the latest accounts say that the town
of Velasco is entirely cut off from the
outer world.
A reporter of The Post yesterday asked
Mr.. Jeff N. Miller, chief clerk in the Offices
of Vice President and General Manager
Quinlan OF the Houston and Texas Cen
trail, for the latest information regarding
the condition of his road, and with his
usual courtesy he gave the following facts:
The situation on the Houston and Texas
Central is improving. The water along
the line is falling, but very slowly. The
great sea in the Navasota bottoms fell
about eight inches during the last twenty
four hours. and Is now running very rap
idly at all points. Superintendent DAFT
FAM with a large force OF men, is hard at
work south OF Calvert, and expects to COM
plete the repairs as far as Hearne by Fri
day morning. We have arranged to keep
him supplied with all necessary material,
and his force will work south Of Hearne
until they meet Superintendent Lees force,
which Is at present making extensive re-
pairs at Campbell's creek, three and a
half miles north of Benchley At this
point we had steel span 100 feet long
and weighing over 100000 pounds washed
away and carried 400 or 500 feet down
stream by the terrific current. The ap-
OF this bridge are also washed
out. and as the water is still running nine
feet deep in the channel, 1t makes Il diff
fcult to progress with the repairs as rap
idly as we otherwise might. However. we
expect to cross this point by Friday morn
ing. All repairs in the uplands where
the floods do not seriously interfere with
MS. are being rapidly pushed to compile
ton. so that all our forces can be con-
centrated and put to work In the Nava
sofa and Courtney bottoms as soon as the
waters reeede or the tracks become ac-
,essible. All repairs are now completed
from a point three miles north of Nava-
sofa to Campbers creek, about forty-one
niles In all, but the heaviest repairs Will
be required south of Calvert and north OF
creek, about thirteen and hall
miles. From the present outlook we ex-
pect to get the line open by Monday. This
depends, however, on the condition or sup
position that the waters in the Nayasota
.,d Courtney hnftoms will fail raDidly