Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-31
ARE UNABLE TO MOVE
Northern Coast Lines at Mercy Of the High
Waters.
SITUATION BECOMES EXTREMELY SERIOUS
On Northern Pacinc Lake is Formed
Thirty Miles Long and Two
Miles wide, Defying
TraHic.

ST. PAUL, March 3O.-Transcontinenta
traffic by the northern routes continues to
be blockaded. The Northern Pacihc's efforts
TO transfer passengers across the lake
formed by the overlooking Of the sloughs
near Mckenzie, N. D., have proven futile
and but little hope is held out for a re-
sumption of business in the near future.
Reports from the Great Northern are to
the effect that their transcontinenta trains,
which have heretofore been able to get
through with only a slight delay, are now
held up by floods in the western portion
Of North Dakota.
Just where the trouble Is has not been
definitely learned, but te%legraphic reports
say that the Mouse river is out Of its banks
at Minot, on that line. and numerous
bridges have been swept away. The Red
river is also at hoodtide at Grand Forks,
N. D., but so far as reported little damage
has been done there.
situation Extremely Serious,
The situation Of the Northern Pacific is
extremely serious. Reports from Mckenzie
are to the effect that a lake thirty miles
long and two miles wide has formed aud
the tracks are sixteen feet under water,
or perhaps entirely washed out. Efforts
W ~ pdSSthktIh dCEOsb lnlS ldh6 nave
not been successful.
The wind has been so high and The water
so rough that much danger has attended
the attempt to transfer passengers in small
ski1s. A gasoline launch was put into
service yesterday, but even this larger
craft was found inadequate. 1t is thought
that an entirely new track will have to be
built around this gap in the road before
traffic can once more be carried on.
Passengers eastbound have been held at
Bismarck and no westbound coast trains
have been started from St. Paul. A train
reached here this morning bearing a num-
Der OF passengers who had beer. success
fully ferried across the lake at Mckenzie
and they report the situation there ex-
tremely bad.
Fear n Food Famine.
AS no freight can be moved westward.
there is some fear that a famine in food
stuffs may result in Bismarck and its
vicinity. Some Of the Northern Pacific
business has been transferred to the Bur-
lington at Billings, Mont, and in that way
1t is hoped to open an avenue of m
cation with the north coast cities. The
most optimistic Of the railroad officials are
inclined to believe that it will be at least
ten days before through traffic can be re-
established by the regular route.
A dispatch from Bismarck, N. D., re-
ceived late tonight says that railroad OH
Gals there hope to have a train through
some time tonight. Passengers. mail and
baggage were today conveyed by wagon to
a neck Of the temporary lake and there
ferried across with a gasoline launch. It
was slow work in the teeth of a cold wind
that blew snow and sleet in the faces Of
the passengers, but many were willing to
brave the discomforts Of the elements in
order to end the tedlum of waiting. Ties,
rails, ETC., are being rushed to the lake and
a temporary track will be constructed with
as much speed as possible.
An immense amount of freight is &C.
cumulating at both ends Of the washout
and unless this is quickly moved a great
loss will be entailed on the railroad COM
pany in addition to hat occasioned by the
delay in traffic.