Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1902-04-03
TIE-UP IS OVER
Cars Again Being Sent Across Lake
/. Mckenzie on Main Line
of
,About Fifteen Inches of Water Above
the Rails But tracks,
Safe.
Officials of Northern Pacific Much
Relieved Now That Some
thing Can Be Done.


The tie-up at Mckenzie is over.
The solution Of the problem which
has baffled high officials of the North
ern Pacific was found Tuesday after
noon.
1t was simple enough, too. A string
of flat cars--125 in all-were brought
to the shores of the lake from James
town and Mandan. On the east end
of the string of cars on this side OF
the lake was attached an engine.
J. Coaches were attached to the other
end of the line of cars. The coaches
were pushed into the middle OF the
lake and from there pulled to the
west bank by means of the cars backed
in on the submerged track.
The scheme worked well. Number
three, the train which left here about
noon Tuesday was the first transfer
red. Mail, baggage and all the coach
es were taken across, the wheels glld-
ING smoothly through fifteen inches OF
water.
A little bridge about half way
across was slightly out of line but not
enough to make any trouble.
Superintendent Wilson looked after
the work Of sending coaches on this
side of the lake and Trainmaster
Blewett is looking after it on the west
side.
There have been no mishaps SO far
and it is believed that no further
trouble may be expected.
Both the east and westbound trains
were successfully transferred over
Lake Mckenzie.
There is still about a mile and a
half of water but the track seems
firm today and an engine is to be used
in transferring the westbound train
which arrived at Mckenzie in two
sections heavily loaded with passen-
gers. The engine to be used is Of an
exceedingly light variety. 1t weighs
no more than heavy coach
No attempts will be made to run
heavy engines across.
Passengers report that a number OF
those who made the first trips across
Tuesday afternoon were badly scared
by the high water but decided to take
the risk. The trains are run at a
snail's pace across the lake and pre-
cautions are taken that no accident
may occur. Hundred of passengers
have already been transferred east
and west.
BY tomorrow the Northern Pacific
expects tn be able to take care of all
trains and the usual passenger and
freight service will be resumed.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
trains can again be taken care of at
Mckenzie, work will be continued on
the line around. Officials decided to-
day to finish the new track being
built around the lake. 1t is figured
that the new track can be used while
the old main line is being repaired
and there is no great certainty that
there will be no trouble with the pres
ent submerged one again when the
weather warns up some. While Off
cials are feeling relieved they do not
want to take any chances as there is
abundant snow left to make lots more
trouble.
1t is expected that by Sunday trains
can be run on the new track and then
Lake Mckenzie will be robbed Of all
its terrors and be simply a duck and
goose resort.
STORY OF THE FLOOD.
(FRoM THURSDAYS DAILY
The flood situation was about the
same today as Wednesday. There are
no trains run west of jamestown and
Mckenzie reported water still high
and plentiful on the Northern Pacific
track.
A washOut between BrinSmade and
Leeds prevented the Jamestown 4
Northern trains reaching Leeds
Wednesday and the passenger train
was run back from Minnewaukan ar
irving in Jamestown late.
A special was made up Wednesday
evening and run to Fargo to connect
with the eastbound train from there.
The washout and flood has a para
lying effect on freight traffic and
crews have little to do.
The James river reached a high
point today and the Pipestem also