Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-22
NISSOURTS FLOOD INCREASES
Water Two Inches Higher Than During the
Spring Of 1897
RIVER RISES RAPIDLY DURING THE NIGH
stream Discharges water Into Cut.
on Lake and spreads over Low
Iands-Situntion Farther Up
River is serious.

At o'clock this morning the stage Of
water at the Florence pumping station was
III feet above low water mark, Two inches
higher than during the high water i'm 1897.
The water rose four inches during the pre-
ceding six hours and was steadily going
higher. This indicates that Omaha will see
a stage OF water not witnessed here for
some years. as the flood up river is st.ll on
the increase and coming this way at good
rate OF speed.
The river is spreading across the bot
toms east Of the city the turbulent mass
crowdine its way beyond the right bank.
From Florence lake to the cut OF it is
pursuing the original lhannel down which
it RACED in earlier years. oie river men be-
lieve the water has almost reached its limit
az this time. although they anticipate
higher rise in June.
The daily river bulletin shows that the
greatest rise in the past twenty-four hours
occurred at Kansas City. whore an increase
Of 2.l feet was registered. The least rise
was reported from Fort Pierre, :. D., only
one-tenth Of foot having been reported
Sioux City reported a rise Of three-tenths Of
a foot, although a telegram from there
Thursday night indicated that the water
is receding The rise here was nine
tenths Of a foot, leaving the river
still IL feet below the danger line.
The bulletin reports that river conditions
have not improved materially since last re-
port and gives as a forecast for the next
twenty four hours that the river will con-
tinue to rise slowly below Sioux City.
Railroad Men Are Anxious.
High water is absorbing the attention OF
local railroad managers. The Missouri river
seems TO be the only one which is causing
any alarm None of the railroads have re-
ceived reports from the Platte Of threat
ening character. One OF the great dangers
connected with the Pig Muidys rampage
is the possibility that the old stream will
change its course and leave expensive rail-
road bridges spanning sections of dry land.
The fear of this is in some cases causing
more anxiety than the probability OF a wash
out. The Omaha Bridge and Terminal COM
pany says its property has not been dam
aged yet, although traffic over the bridge
has been stopped temporarily. The water is
approaching dangerously near the level of
the bridge floor. and If it goes much higher
will surely 90 great injury TO the property.
The roadbed approaching the bridge is be-
lieved to be intact. but there is a great
strain upon il.
The E!khorn people have put few men
to- work at the Blair bridge to strengthen it
against the assaults of the water, and to
protect the banks from washing. The off,
cials of this road think the water in the
Missouri has about reached its high point,
and ssst eTpesf It to steadily reeede.
fIl 2-iEu- 5yE, HHa Jrfou py.i-' sco-
;inue to watch their bridges closely and
seem TO feel confident they will escape with
out serious injury
a porticl of the grade which has been
built fo~ the Illinois Central on the east
side OF the river has been washed out. and
the contractor James McShane, has gone
over 10 investigate the extent OF the damage.