East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-12-21

Traffic has been seriously delayed
on the o. r. & N. today by high
water and washouts on the Blue
mountains. At point a mile east
of North Fork where Meacham creek
makes 4 sharp turn and strikes the
grade almost directly over 100 feet
of track was washed out last night
and for a considerable distance was
badly damaged.
General Superintendent N. ]. Buck
ley, of Portland, arrived on the scene
of the washout early this morning
and put two work trains and a large
force of men into service at once in
making repairs and at noon today
the track was temporarily repaired
sufficiently to let trains pass.
No. 6, which arrived here an hour
late from Portland tnis morairg was
held until 1890 before starting over
the mountains, and Nos. and 1,
westbound trains, both being east of
the washout, were delayed until this
afternoon.
New Riprapping Washed Away.
The damage to the track occurred
at a place at which a large amount
OF new riprapping has been built dur
ing the past summer in repairing
damage done by the flood of last
May. An immense breastwork of
riprapping had been constructed at
that point to protect the curve, but
the rising water rushed in behind the
new riprapping, against the grade,
and washed away practically all the
repairs made.
At other places along Meacham
creek the high water has caused more
OF less damage and several small
slides have occurred where the
ground has been loosened by heavy
blasting in making repairs during the
summer.
For about 36 hours this week a
wet snow fell on the Blue mountains
and the weather Immediately turned
warmer melting this snow and caus-
ing all the small streams emptying
into Meacham creek to rise rapidly.
The result has been that Meacham
creek and the Umatilla river have
become very high with prospects for
sum IlSHST the
warm weather continues.
On the Spokane branch between
here and Walla Walla all the streams
are very high, but there is no proba-
bility of any damage at present.
Roadmaster ]. Corners, of Walla
Walla, went over the line this morn
ing and found it in excellent condi-
tion.
Danger West of Pendleton.
The o. R. & n. offices here re-
ceived word by a messenger at noon
today that the Umatilla river was
threatening TO wash away the grade
at milepost 22S, three miles west of
the city. At that point the grade has
recently been repaired and the sec
ton crew had been engaged this
morning in hauling in sacks of sand
TO protect the grade. 1t will be nec-
essary to send a work train there to
place rock on the new grade to pro.
tect 1t.
No Danger Here, Unless.
During the day the members of the
leVee committee, Levee Engineer
Avery and Ross Newport, of the con-
tracing company, have rceu busy
wa ching the levee and preparing
against further rise in the river,
since the recent high water com.
menced Nj. Avery has ratrolod the
rivti on horseback in order to kccp
iul'y ihformed regarding the situl-
tion. This afternoon he declared
there is no danger as far as Pen
dleton is concerned unless the river
should rise several feet more which
is improbable. The levee is holding
well, so far. Even along the portion
that has not yet been riprapped the
bank Is still intact and shows no signs