The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-10
Mr.. NUDGE HOME.
Returns With Geo. A. Clark
from Scene of WashOuts.
Graphic Descriptions OF the
Devastation by Water.
NOT YET COMPLETED.
Repairs Will Be Finished by
Next Wednesday.
Trip on Foot, Horseback and by
Hand Car.
NOT YET COMPLETED.

| General Manager H. U. Nudge, of the
Santa Fe, has returned to Topeka after
| spending nearly two weeks in the flood
districts of Colorado, New Mexico
Texas, Oklahoma and the Indian Ter
ritory, where he has been directing the
| reconstruction work.
The recent washouts caused by floods
of the Las Animas river, the Canadian,
Pecos and Red rivers have been the
worst in the history of railroading. The
railroads have been the hardest hit by
the floods for the reason that practical
ly every outlet to the southwest was
for a few days cut off on account OF
bridges being washed out on all rail-
roads crossing the above mentloneo
rivers, not only in Colorado and New
Mexico, but farther down in Oklahoma.
Texas and the Indian Territory.
The Santa Fe alone has suffered
loss of about million dollars Al
though traffic has been resumed on the
main line to Denver and on the Texas
lines to the gulf. and as far south on
the main line as Ration, 1t VIII
take a long while until the effects or
the floods cease to be felt.
The repairs to the four or five miles
of track which was washed out in Moro
canyon south of Ration which mas S Si,
off communication on the main iln'.,
will be completed by "Wednesday nlgnl
and through traffic to ana from Inc
coast will then be handled by the SAN
ia Ee the same as DeIOTS the AOONo-
Mr. Nudge was accompanied on his
trip to the flood district by George
A. Clark of Topeka and his private
secretary Will Collinson. The party
made the complete circuit of the WASH
outs, going southwest as far as Ell
Paso and returning via the Texas Pa
cific railroad to Fort Worth and north
over the gulf lines of the santa re;
the route which was temporarily used
by most of the through passenger
trains to and from the coast.
Mr.. Nudge and his party had some
varied experienced, especially on the
outward trip through Colorado ana
New Mexico. He reached Trinidad
on Sunday, October 1, having had to
go around by way of Great Bend and
Scott City, from which point the MIS-
pesta, Colorado. From Nepesta the
party returned to La Junta and thence
down to Trinidad, making that por-
ton of the trip by rail. From Trim |
idad to Albuquerque it was a trip of
strange experiences for one not used
to railroad life in the mountains. 1t
was nothing new for Mr.. Nudge for he |
knows every foot of the road through |
to recall wildly to mind the time years
ago when he was roadmaster and af- |
forwards division superintendent OF the |
mountain division.
Part of the trip was made on horse |
back, by wagon, carriage, handcar, en- |
CINE and train and some portions on |
loot from trinidad TO albuquerque
The Santa Fe was hardest hit in the |
Moro canyon south of Ration. The can |
yon is about eight miles long. 1t zig |
gags along, being narrow at some points |
and wide at others. The railroad tracks |
through the canyon wind around and |
cross the river three times. The flood |
swept through the canyon, tearing out
about four or five miles of track.
cit left two of our bridges standing"
said Mr.. Nudge, but the current of the
food washed new channel in one
place which left one of the bridges
without the river underneath. At an
roadbed and lett no place to rebuild the
tracks. The edge of the water was right
up against straight wall of the can
yon, and we had to blast away the rock
to give US room to build the railroad
track.
There has been a ranch in this can
yon for about forty years. I know the
owners and have often visited there.
They had magnificent orchards and a
we'll improved ranch. But the flood took
out everything they owned.
1--WE drove from Trinidad to Stark
VILE" said Mr.. Nudge. Here we got
an engine and went to Springer. From
Springer to Watrous we had to drive
and ride most of the way. I walked
about 10 miles. At Las Vegas 1 got an
engine and a tourist sleeping car and
went as far as Lamy and Albuquerque
and got a little rest and sleep en- route.
any length of time were stop
ped at stations where a Harvey hotel
was situated.
Mr.. Clark describes his trip with Mr..
Nudge as one of the most unique he
ever had. 1T is hard to realize the
power of the water in the mountain
rivers" he said. 'It was the most
novel experience I ever had, and we
saw many sights I had never hoped
or believed it possible I would ever see.
Of course while we had to put UP with
many hardships in travelling overland
on horseback, or by wagon or on foot,
we had many pleasures to compen-
sate.'
The Santa Fe railroad company did
all in it's power to accommodate pas :
sengers who were delayed on account ,
Of the foods. 1t is reported from the
various points where the delayed $
rains were stationed that there was
little or no complaint and nothing but {
words of praise for the Santa Fe for I
he efforts of that company in caring l
or the passengers. All passengers
we're fed at the Harvey hotel at the
expense of the railroad company.
When Mr.. Nudge reached AlbuQuer- :
lue, where eight trains were delayed,
ne was presented with copy of the {
following letter which the passengers /
IF the trains delayed at that point had '
prepared:
Albuquerque N. M, Oct. 2, 1904.
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