Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-09
THREATENS MORE TROUBLE
Old Artsuian Well Under Union Pacific
Roadbed Seems Active,
CHICAGO STRIKE HAS EFFECT IN OMAHA
Falling on Of Freight Shipments from
windy City Considered Inevi-
tabIe-HIEh water Inter
feres with franc.

More serious trouble is threatened to the
tracks at the west entrance Of the Union
Pacific river bridge, where the embank-
ment collapsed Monday. The ground is
thoroughly honeycombed with water, which
is oozing out for about fifty yards along
the torn embankment, and the workmen
are puzzled to know just what lie the best
way in which to meet this difficulty.
The water is supposed to come from tho
old artesian we'll, which was directly under
the worst of the caveln. 1t seems to have
thoroughly penetrated the entire enbsnk-
ment so as to make that part which was not
torn ava insecure. It is feared that the
collapse may extend further to the south
OF the filling and sweep away the Burling-
ton tracks unless something can be done
to stop the flow OF water and substsntiate
the roadbed. One Of the bremen at work
on the repair said that he thought the
only course to pursue would be to locate
the main stream of water and lay pipes
30 as to carry off the water and prevent 1t
from undermining the entire roadbed. II
this Is done 1t will require a long time to
complete the work Of repairing and get the
tracks back into working shape.
A large force of men is still working
away, but no dirt had been hauled in up to
Tuesday forenoon and little progress was
then made. 1t was intended to put the steam
shovel into operation Tuesday afternoon
and bring filling from Summit. The Union
Pacific has completed a spur track leading
from the main entrance tracks to those
going into Union station which will
afford a cutoff and obviate the necessity Of
using the Burlington and freight tracks, as
had to be done Monday and Tuesday.
Freight Handlers Strike.
Local freight men apprehend a serious
decline in the freight traffic in Omaha as a
result Of the extensive strike Of freight
handlers In Chicago. AS a vast amount
Of freight into this city comes from and
through Chicago, 1t is said that a decided
falling off here will be inevitable.
Some inquiry was made yesterday
among the freight handlers In this city as
to the probability of their striking in
unison with the men in Chicago. The local
men, while not receiving the wages they
want, have not as yet contemplated strik-
ing, owing chiefly to the lack of a thor
ough local organization. They are now
proceeding with the perfecting Of their
union. There has been some discomfort
! over wages and 1t is limited that when COM
I pactly organized an effort may be made to
improve upon present conditions.
Some Tracks Submerged
High water is still seriously interfering
with the passage of trains entering Omaha.
Several of the lines have found 1t impos-
sible during the last few days to observe
their schedules. The Rock Island seems
to be as badly affected as any. Its
morning trains west were unable to go out
at all owing to submerged tracks at Fair
bury. Neb. East on the Rock Island there
is no trouble and trains are running regu-
larly.
The Union Pacific is still at the mercy
Of the high water in places, as is also the
Illinois Central, whose Chicago-Omaha
train. No. /, due here a little after 8 in the
morning. was over two hours behind time
Tuesday. No accidents have as yet been
reported, however, as a result Of any delays.
The Missouri Pacific, whose line was tied
up at Nebraska City by overflow, reported
| yesterday that everything is in good shape
and trains are running freely.