Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-03
FIRST Effort Will Be to Find Dry
Houses for People.
lain SERVICE is ALMOST NORMAL
Situation at 0ttumwa and Keokuk Now
Attract, Attention.
liver SIX TO EIGHT MILES WIDE
Governor Cummins Decides to Borrow
Money TO Aid Refugees and De-
pend Upon Next LeEisla-
ture to LeEaliHe Act.

DIES MONIES, June at has been prac-
tically determined that there will be no
extra session of the legislature. Governor
Cummins is satisfied that he can supply the
needs OF the flood sufferers and tornado
victims in an irregular manner by borrow
ing money and the next session to approve
his course.
The flood in Des Moines is still disheart-
ening, but the water Is falling rapidly.
The wide territory that was flooded pre-
sents a sad picture. Men and women who
have anxiously watched for the water TO
go down wandered over the muddy streets
to the houses which had been homes. AS
each one looked through the door of his
home an expression of misery passed over
his oountenance.
There, within the ruins, furniture was
scattered about the rooms, mud covered the
| carpets and the walls were coated with
dirty slime.
Many are planning to move out Of these
! places. The walls damp and every ef-
fort will be put forth by the committees
in the field to see that they are dried as
rapidly as possible, for sickness, It Is
feared, may come If people are allowed to
enter them in their present condition.
Train Service Nearly Normal.
Train service here on the main lines is
once more nearly normal. At cttumwa
the water has begun to decline, but 1t is
I still rising between Keosauqua and Keokuk
Water flows through the main streets of
Ottumwa, four miles Of the main line of
the Burlington tracks are under water
the light and water plants are shut down
and business is prostrated.
The main southwest line of the Rock
Island has not got a train through Eldon
for three days. Numerous bridges have
been washed out between there and Keo-
kuk. At Bentonsport, Pennington and
Bonaparte great damage has been wrought
by the food and half the towns are under
water. But It lie near the mouth of the
river. at Keokuk, that conditions are the
worst today The situation Is appalling.
The river Is six and eight miles wide in
places and in every direction may be seen
refugees on roofs of houses and in trees
} shouting for succor that seems impossible.
More Trouble at OnawA.
oNAwA. Ia, June 2.-(speclal Telegram.)
The flood situation from the Little Sioux
continues to improve and the waters are
going down rapidly. The waters west of
Onawa are rising today and the road grade
across Blue lake is being washed cut rap
idly. The water is running over the grade
IN several places between Onawa and De-
catur, Neb and the road superintendent
ordered the road closed today. The mail
between the two towns now goes north
Of Blue lake on the old road. This water
comes down from Skunk and silver lakes
in an old water course and runs into Gard s
lake thence into the Missouri river. Sew
eral narrow escapes from drowning were
made by parties today who failed to note
the rise and got into holes This water is
still rising fast. Through trains win re-
sumo over the Sioux City a. Pacific to.
!. night the break at the River Sioux trestle
having been repaired.
: Rising Near Keokuk.
n KEoKUK, Ia, June 2.-Both the Missis-
sippi and Des Moines rivers here rose
, steadily today. The former now stands
at 1872 feet, which is three feet above the
danger line. The Des Moines river Is higher
than ever known. An additional area Is
now inundated entailing the destruction OF
much valuable property.
l. Des Moines River FaiIinE.
oTTUMwA. Ia, June 1.-The Des Moine
river has fallen foot here in eighteeI
/ hours and is slowly Teceding this afternoon
All danger is relieved to be past.
i Condition of HAIL Service.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The Postoflc
department today received the followIni
efflcial dispatch from acting superintend
ent Norton Of the railway mail service a
st. Louis, representing the hood situation
- with regard to the mail service:
Situation at Kansas City and the line
ne north ard south are srowing worse
IN bad shape Large quantity OF mail mort
Is Of Abba La. No congestion for De
m patch east Of the river on account ] Of 1is n
le latest adyiees Th9 Burlington line
it over Burlington & Quincy '' eetweeanI aI"Rtm Bui
This morning We We diverted all Kansas ma
IN eyer Tor fRe aar EsE9 d9ad via ian Springfield
ly ern half of Kansas mail via the '' Wabas Is
n road gdh i2night Hie 9nd the e 19pthern half VI
&c Fort Scott Western Union messages sui
~ ~, Superintendent Taft Is at Kansas CIT,
It which is eight feet above the depot pIat
n, form and the water is still rising. Heav
is NORTON, Acting Superintendent
II Cannot Use "A snaE Boat.
General Gillespie. chief OF engineers. yer
s. terday telegraphed Major Casey at s
as Louis, asking II snag boat could be ser
TO from St. Louis TO Kansas City for the r,
H. lief of the flood sufferers. Major Case
nd replied today as follows:
b. Bridges blocked by debris Steambo;
ID | navigation r. suspended on the Missouri
-, | Coal very difticult to procure IL may
nc impracticable for snag boat 10 make Kai
sas City within three weeks
Adjutant General Corbin today tel
n, graphed the commander OF the Depa rtnei
N. OF the Platte that Secretary Root ~
a. proved the course Of Colonel Miner In 4
|
.re City, Kan, and directing that he ascerta
No the condition Of the people IN the stricks
- district and do all in his power 20 save II
-, and property. II Is expected that lar;
a. issues OF rations will not be made unle
On the people of the different communities
actually destitute, and then only TO COW
immediate necessities