The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-21
Telegraph Poles Were Torn up by the
Roots-Rebuidine is Harder Than
to Build Brand New Track-Teams
Hauling Back Rails Through Mud

to BuiId Brand New Track-Teams
Hauling Back Rails Through Mud
lF'ror Wednesdays Daily.l
There will be no trains between
Norfolk and Sioux City on the NJ. 4
o. railroad for ten days or two weeks
at the earliest, according to informa.
ton which came to Norfolk this after
noon. The work of rebuilding the
washed out track is more difficult than
1t would be to build a brand new
track, the railroad company finds 1t
absolutely impossible to get help at
the present wage offered for the work,
and 1t will likely be the first of DC.
tober before train can run over the
shattered line. The destruction
wrought by the flood is said to have
been worse than man might imagine.
Postmaster Benser of Hoskns drove
to Norfolk today to get provisions, and
| he described the tremendous havoc
created by the storm.
Where the Washouts Are.
More than a mile of track was TAX
en- out between Hoslins and Winside,"
said Mr. Benser. Between Winside
and Wayne mile of track and two
railroad bridges were washed out.
| Between Wayne and Wakefield two
miles of track are gone, and big
stretch is gone between Wakefield and
! Emerson.
Between Carroll and Wayne there
are just three miles of track left Six
of the nine miles were washed out
South of Emerson there are sew
eral stretches washed out on the main
line of the road.
Telegraph Poles up by Roots.
Telegraph poles were pulled out
Of the ground by the roots" said Mr.
Benser. Between Hoskins and Win
side half mile of track was lifted
from the roadbed and carried off 300
feet into a cornfield. The track acted
poles as it rushed into the field. The
poles were not broken off but, by the
terrific force of the water, were pulled
right out of the ground
"The grade was not much damaged,
though some sand was washed away
and there must be some refilling.
Men Won't Work.
THE difficulty about rebuilding is
the fact that the road can't find men
to do the work. The company is pay
ing twenty cents an hour for this la
Dor, and men refuse to work for it.
There are only fifteen men at work
on the washOut between Hoskins and
Winside. Beyond us, the Italians who
were working, threw down their SHOW
els in the rain and refused to do an
other lick. 1t is when they are need
ed most that they get contrary
FrightfuI Mess to UntagIe.
1T is a frightful mess that has to
be untagled before the track can be
replaced. Where the track was
washed out into the cornfields, you
can imagine what job it is to wade
out in that slush and haul back the
misplaced rails and ties. Four teams
are at work near Hoskins. drawing
back the track as though it were so
much circus paraphernalia.
laid, it has to be taken all apart, so
that it is worse job than it would
be to build a new line with new mate
rial. In spots the track stands up out
in the corntield, and looks like pick
ct fence.
Men Look Like Drowned Rats.
After the workmen had spent all
day out in the slush and rain on Tues
day, rebuilding the track" said Mr..
Benser, they came into town looking
like so many drowned rats.
They had been working out in the
muddy cornfields and under soaking
rain, until they were completely COW
cred with the slime and slush."
No Mail Since Saturday.
Towns between Emerson and Nor
Wakefield, Winside and
Hoskins-as well as towns north of
Wayne on the Carroll branch, and
south of Emerson on the main line,
have been practically shut off from
the world since last Saturday night. |
Not a particle of mail has been re-
ceived in any of them and telegraph |
wires were down, so that the only
communication possible was by tele-
phone.
Z Hoskins received mail this after.
noon, however, as the work train ar
ranged to take over the first batch |
since the food.
with the small force of men at
work" said Mr.. Benser, ut is impos-
sible for the train service to be re-
stored before ten days or two weeks"
RARELY so MUCH MATER In FALL