The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-04

| Railroad washouts and rumors Of wash
Gusts still fill the air In Houston, but never
theless the situation last night showed
some Improvement over the previous day.
and unless the rains of yesterday aggra-
vate the damage already done, It is safe
to say all the roads visited and interrupted
by overfiows will be open for through
northbound traffic much earlier than was
expected.
In the first place, the Arkansas Pass has
rebuilt the injured portions OF it's line
since last issue of The Post went to press.
and yesterday its trains between Houston
and San Antonio, both morning and even
ing, used Its own track the entire dis
lance. Under the circumstances, this was
a heavy task, but 1t was successfully ac-
complished, and the line is once more
open to traffic.
The Houston and Texas Central, not
wlthstanding the unfavorable weather, also
made a good deal of progress in repairing
its roadbed and reconstructing the bridges
and trestles that We're washed away. LIS
line will be in working order today from
all points between Fort Worth, Dallas.
anu calvert, anu also from all
points between Austin and Chappell Hill.
The chief trouble the Houston and Texas
Central now has to contend against is due
TO the high floods at several places be-
tween Homestead and Milligan, all of
which are fed and sustained by back
water from the BRACES and Navasota
rivers 1t will also have much difficulty
to overcome because of the swollen creeks
between Benchley and Hearne, every one
n N a
tards the work of reconstruction where 1t
is most needed. TIE roadhed at many OF
these points where not entirely washed
away, is deeply submerged and until the
waters very sensibly recede it will be no
easy task to estimate much less repair the
resulting damage. At the same time, the
greatest energy and vigilance Gre beilS
employed, and 1t will not be TIE fault of
the officials II the losses are not nlinimized
and the defects speedily righted. AT this
writing it is impossible to figure out the
pecuniary loss sustained by the Houston
and Texas Central by reason of the floods.
conservative computation places the
physical damage done the line at $3.50 900,
and when to this Is added the vast volume
Of business forfeited to the road, the ag-
gregate will be simply enormous. Should |
further rains ma interfere wits the pro-
gress of reconstruction, 1t Is believed the |
Houston and Texas Central will be in a |
position to reopen through traffic within |
five or six days
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas suffered |
a temporary setback yesterday by reason |
Of washouts south OF and in the vicinity
Of La Grange. AS a consequence, its train |
due to arrive in Houston at 10 o'clock last
night had to abandon the trip. The north
bound Katy train, which left here last
night, went out from the Grand Central
depot, and used the Southern Pacific track
as far as La Grange, where 1t returned to
It's own road for the balance of the jour
ney. 1t is said the damage is Insignificant.
but sufficient to interfere with the Katy's
1rect service for about two days.
The regular service of the Santa Fe IL
still incomplete, the night trains especial
y being abandoned. In this connection,
| rumor was current last night that a
fresh break occurred on the road near
Sealy Texas, yesterday, but 1t could not
DO confirmed.
The direct service over the International
inc is still good. The road Is wide open
between Galveston, Houston. Palestine and
4ongyiew, and all intermediate points, but
I is said there is an extensive washout be-
ween Marquee and Rockdale on the San
Ant0nio division, and that It will take at
east twenty four hours to repair tho dam
ge; this does not affect travel from
Houston to the north.
Owing to washouts on the Veasco
Terminal railroad. that line was tied up
yesterday. but 1t Is expected traffic with
t will be reopened today.