Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-15
ON THE RAILROADS
Effect Of High Water on the Big
Corporations,
BIG WASHOUI ON THE BURLINGTON

OAN u0AVOA Wv 1AL UUNLANUlVN
Requires All, Night Work Of Many
Men to Make Track Passable-Rock
Island suspends Traffic for Time
Beine-on Other Roads.
[From Mondays Daily.l
Otumwa was for a few hours today
almost without railroad connection
with theoutside world except by way
of the Wabash south and the Bur-
lington east, on account of the high
water, but by dint of the herculean
work Of the railroad employees the ele-
ments have finally been conquered and
trains are running about as usual on
the Burlington west, while a good ser
vice will soon be given by the Milwau-
kee both north and south. The Rock
Island is not running trains as yet,
but If the water recedes tonight as in
dications promise, the usual excellent
train service enjoyed by this city will
be re-established within a few days.
On the Burlington.
OF all the roads running into Ottum-
wa the Burlington was affected most
by the high water. The big fill e1-
tending from the Milwaukee crossing
in. the West End to the Des Moines
river bridge, a distance of about three
miles, was endangered by the rising
river, and the bank Is still in pre-
carious condition. Since early yes
terday afternoon large force of men
has been working like beavers, but in
spite of all their efforts no west bound
trains were run out of Ottumwa be-
tween $3.50 yesterday afternoon and
11:40 o'clock this morning. Freight
No. 80, with ninety cars, arrived in
Ottumwa about o'clock this morning,
and was the last east bound train to
cross the break in the track until
11:25. this morning, when passenger
train No. 2, due in Ottumwa at 11:40
last night, arrived here. This after
noon all the trains are running on the
Burlington with but little delay.
Three Burlington trains were sent to
Abba over the Wabash via Moulton
this morning.
Break In Track.
Yesterday afternoon track-walkers
posted along the Burlington grade west
of; the city discovered that the ballast
was being washed away and the track
undermined by the water which was
overffowing the banks of the river
about the four-mile bridge. west of the
city, and pouring down toward the city
through fields. The waves attacked
the railroad grade with much fierce
ness, as breaking through it meant a
fall of about one foot. Two holes were
washed in the ballast under the south
track, each one about thirty or forty
feet long, before anything could be
done to stop 1t, although it was only a
short time after the alarm was given
until there were scores of men on the
scene Superintendent G. w. Fabens
OF the Ottumwa division, Dan Lawler,
superintendent of bridges and build
|ings, w. J. Calvin, roadmaster, and
other officials, with force of about
100 men, stayed at the place through
out the night. Trainload after train
load of sacked sand was dumped into
the crevasse. Then rip-rap stone and
crushed stone followed, but in spite of
all that could be done the ballast was
carried away from under the south
track in many places and it was rem
dered unfit for use by trains. The
current was running at fearful rate
OF speed and sacks Of sand which re-
CURED the combined efforts of two men
to move them, were for a while like
light toys for the waves. However, the
men worked with will and by day
light this morning, when H. C. Mutt,
superintendent of the Iowa lines, ar
rived in the city on passenger train
No. l, the good results of the nights
work were plainly visible. However,
much more work was necessary before
it was deemed safe to send passenger
trains over the track. During the early
morning one of the heaviest rains seen
here for. months fell. The amount as
registered at the local weather station
was 1.6 inches.
Used the Wabash.
1t was then that the Wabash track
was brought into use by the Burling-
ton. Trains between this city and AL
bia were run via Moulton over the Wa
bash, the first one,s fast mail No. Is,
due to- leave Ottumwa at 2:49 a. M.
getting out of this city at Gas O'Clock.
The first section of No. 1. the Denver
passenger which should leave Ottumwa
at IL :35 p. NJ, got away at 6:55. and
the second section left at SIS. These
trains made the roundabout trip and
reached Abba in good time. proceeding
westward without mishap. The east
bound fast mail, No. "a, which is due to
leave .Ottumwa for Chicago at 1:16 a.
M, arrived over the Wabash at $3.50
this morning and proceeded over the
Burlington tracks.
Track Now In Use.
Meanwhile, passenger trains Nos.
H., 3 and were tied up at Ottumwa,
having arrived during the night and
early morning. No. II was here on
time. at ,9:35 p. m, last night, but had
hard luck. Twice a start westward
was made but twice the train was
backed to Ottumwa, where it remained
until about noon. The first train to
leave Ottumwa over the newly repair
ed track was No. Z, the west bound
fast mail due to leave at 1852 a. m. 1t
got over the bad piece of road on the
north track at 11:40 a. M. and Nos.