The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-08
AND FLOODS.
The Backbone Of the Fatal Deluee Appears
to Be Broken.
ALL wASaoUTs WILL Be REPAIRED SOON
Waters on the Houston and Texas
central Track Are FaliinG-santn
Fc Employees Suspended.

Fc Employees Suspended.
Inere is great rift In the clouds tina
Tor several days past have overhung tn,
water washed region of Texas, and at las
there is bright promise that the worst 4
over and that in very short time tn,
damage done so many of our railroads will
be entirely repaired. The floods in IN,
Navasota and Courtney bottoms are ran.
| idly receding.
There are good reasons for be,iev,ns
tnat the loss sustained by the railroad.
VIII not be as crushing as was first sun.
posed. That it will be extremely bsav,
ana hard to bear there can be no doubt
put every indication that tends to lesson
the misfortune will be gladly welcomed
oy the general public And there are
strong indications that the damage done
the Houston and Texas Central. which is
by far the heaviest sufferer of all ths
roads, VIII not be as vital as previous and
necessarily cursory examinations gave
rise to-
NOW that the waters which were dark
est and deepest are rapidly going out, and
that the repairs and reconstruction of
washed-out bridges and roadbeds are
possible, it Will require only a compara-
lively short time to rehabilitate the in
lured tracks and give TO the State in gem
erai, ana houston in particular. those traf-
nc facilities, the loss of which has been sn
~,
the past week or more In a few DAYS
however, the various lines will be in WORK
ing condition once more. In few DAYS
tne trains Will all be running again
travel VIII take a fresh start. and the
recuperative power of Texas will soon
cneer and brighten the gloom and desoa
tioh tnat now hangs like pail above the
rlchest and fairest portions OF the COM
monwealth.
Post reporter, in, his usual rounds
yesterday, called at the general offices OF
the Houston and Texas Central railroad
to ascertain the latest news from the flood
ed district, and more particularly Ia re-
gard to that line. Mr.. Je1 N. Miller.
chief clerk TO the vice president and gem
erai manager of the road, courteously
.
There is decided improvement in the
situation on the line oil the Houston and
Texas Central tocay. The water in the
brazos at our crossing on the Austin
branch mas fallen two and half feet in
The past twenty-four hours, and the bridge
abutments and approaches at that point
are apparently in sound condition. The
track Immediately west of the bridge is
still submerged and under four or five
f...,t - .I n
but ii the flood continues falling as it has
in the last twenty-four hours / think We
will be able TO make the necessary repairs
to enable us to resume business on the
Austin branch next Sunday or Monday. In
the Courtney bottoms the waters fell
eighteen inches last night and today they
fell eight inches more, making total fall
OF twenty-sX inches during the past thirty
hours The water has now left the track
on the southern end OF the overflow for
distance OF about 800 feet and 1t is only
slightly damaged. However, the track In
that portion OF the overflow where the
current was strongest has been washed Off
the embankment, but can be put back very
easily as soon as the water sufficiently
recedes TO enable cur forces to go 10 work. |
In the Navasota bottoms the water has
left the track today for distance of 5000
feet. We still have about three quarters
OF mile of road that is submerged al
this point. and it is slightly damaged. but
we will have very little trouble in put
ting it in good condition as soon as the
floods subside and our track men can go
to work in repairing It, On the north d.
vision, near Calvert. Superintendent Daft |
fan has rebuilt two bridges during the
past twenty-four hours aud is making
wonderful progress in perfecting the track
towards Hearne. South of Hearne Super
intendent Lee has his forces working at
Spring creek. where bridge was destroyed |
and the approaches 10 it for a distance
of 800 feet were washed away, He COM
peted the rebuilding of the bridge at
Compbel's creek early this morning. II
nav be possible. after the water falls |
to resume passenger traffic by Monday, |
with the aid Of transfer near Pine Oak /
bridges, south to Sutton, where we have a
good wagon road and where the transfer
Will be only short distance" Changing
the subject, MIR. Miller said
THE management of the Houston and
Texas Central railroad has made satisfac-
tory arrangements by Tyler and Corsicana
for the movement OF their north and south
bound accumulated freight, and the ship
ments are now beginning to arrive al des
in North Texas and southbound
business is being received at Houston. Ar
have also been made TO supply
all points between NaVhsolh anu bencnltF
with daily mail service. This will be
done by transferring the mail over the
flooded district In the Nayasota river bot
toms by boats and thence by rail to Mil
lican, Welborn, Bryan College and Bench
ley"
It is expected that within the next three
DAYS perhaps sooner, the Arkansas Pass
and the Santa Fe will have their tracks
entirely repaired, unless In the meantime
some unforeseen accident should inter-
yene The Katy will not be able to re-
build It's washouts until the waters re-
rede In the Brookshlre and Dewey sec
lions. and when they do II Is the purpose
Of the line to rush them to completion as
rapidly as possible.
There was great deal Of activity around
The Houston and Texas Central general
Offices yesterday. The heads of depart
nents were all busily engaged arranging
he transportation of freight and build
ing material and business generally seemed
n be going on as usual. Everything pos
,ible is being done to make connection be-
ween Houston and Denlson, the main line
20 as to relieve the congesied condition
If interrupted business.
The International moved large number