The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-02
RAILROAD NEWS.
Missouri River Railroad Bridge
at Atchison Rendered Unsafe.
Trains Are Not Allowed to
Cross 1t.
ICE GORGE CAUSED 1T.
Sand Washed Away From PiIing
Of False Work.
Passenger and Freight Traffic
Has to Be Transferred.
z GORGE CAUSED TT.

Railroad traffic across the bridge over
the Missouri river at Atchison has been
suspended indefinitely, one section hay
ing become unsafe The suspension of
traffic resulted in the sudden return to
conditions Of early days. when passen-
gers and baggage had to be transferred
across the river In those days they
were transferred In carriages and
wagons by ferry, but they are now
handled in similar conveyances across
the temporary wagonbridge, which is
still safe The rendering unsafe Of one
section Of the bridge was caused by the
cutting away Of the sand from about
the piling which forms the false work.
The section where the trouble occurred
is the east half Of the draw span, from
which the old steel has been removed,
and the work of placing the new steel in
place is in progress The soundings
showed that there were ten feet of water
under the section a. few days ago, but
the other morning the soundings showed
So feet Of water there. The river had
not risen, but the depth of the water had
been increased by the cutting away of
the sand at the bed of the river. The
Of the piling or bents, weakening them
and allowing the railroad track to swing
three OF four inches out Of line. and
settle somewhat. This condition was
apparent at daylight, and an order was
at once made that no more trains should
cross for the present At o'clock in
the AACInA44B u santa re tram CIOSSCQ
the bridge, and it is considered marvel
Gus that the weakened false work held
up under its weight An ice gorge about
the temporary work caused the cutting
away of the sand Being unable to pass
on the surface of the water, big cakes
Of Ice were turned downward, and strik-
ing the bottom cut away the sand. To
stop this cutting a big force Of men
was put to work filing sacks with sand
and dumping them in about the piling.
The bridge people had one thousand
sacks on hand, but say that number viii
be insufficient, and are preparing to
drive piling Of great length to reinforce
the old ones. When the order went out
closing the bridge against trains, there
was race between the Missouri Pacific,
Burlington. Rock Island and Santa Fe,
to see which would first engage the
hacks and transfer wagons A sort of
pool was formed, and Jack Brown is
handling all the business. Passengers
are placed in rubber tire hacks and
transferred, 80 they suffer. but little in
convenience The Missouri Pacific had
quite a load Of St Joe passengers on its
train, which arrived from the south at
$3.50 a. m. and when the hacks were
filed the others walked across the
bridge The Missouri Pacific train.
which should have gone to Kansas City
at sos a m, was caught on the NJ =
souri, side, and will DO plug work be-
tween East Atchison and St Joe until
the trouble ia settled. Billy Welsh is
conductor. A train was made up at
Atchison and took its place. The Rock
Island has one passenger train tied I'D
in Atehison- The work of both the Rock
Island and Santa. Fe, between East /
AtchisOn and st. Joe viii be done by the
Rock Island. There IS no telling just
how long the present condition viii last. |