Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-15
PLATTE STILL on RAMPAGE
Vsssr Il Vine Inches Over RailrUad Trsoh,
Eear Frsnont.
TRANS AEt UNABLE TO MAKE SCHEDULE
UstSa Raciae Bridge ~ EIkhorn ts
I'm Critical CsBditioa asa
NAY Go Oyt Any
T1me.

Reports from Union Pacific sources were
20 the eject that between 1.p and 80 yes
terday afternoon the water Vas rising in
the Platte. and at mile post ~ west Of
Valley. the water had risen three inches
IN an hour. making II nine inches deep
over the tracks at that point A report a
short time before sbowed the water fall
ing. but when the later report reached
headquarters It was decided 70 det0ur AL
east and westbound trains over the North
western between Omaha and Fremont
The FIRST trouble was from the Loup.
which blocked thu main Line Of ths~Cni0n
Pacific At Columbus when the water had
sn6ssoed Al that point it began TO food
The tracks az Schuyler and then blocked
the trains BY running over the tracks az
HoEers- b Wednesday niEht the high
water had reached Fremont and had driven
over 30 families from their homes Before
neon THURSDAY the water vas over the
track Of the Union Pacific at Mercer. be-
tween valley and Fremont and the Union
Pacific was compelled 10 run its trains via
the Northwestern from Fremont 70 Omaha
The water was SIX inches deep over the
tracks at Mercer, and the Union Pacihe
ofbcials feared = would break through
and come via the Rswhide 20 the Elkhorn
which would endAnger the Union PscihC
bridge at Elkborn-
Bridge In Optical Condition
This bridge IL in A critical condition. foI
n mass Of false work had been constructed
by which 20 place the large new double
track steel bridge across the Elkhorn Al
that place Hundreds Of men were KEEP
busy AZ work In an effort 20 get the new
bridge ia place before the ice broke IN tbs
E1khorn. for II was feared the See wOult
csrTy away the false work and thus sweet
away thu new bridge before n was in place
But a few hours more were needed TO com
plste this WORK. and It was feared th'
Platte might cut through on the Ravhide
as II has done on previous occasions. and
block the main line for some time by de
Stroying the bridge
The track was washing away al one spo
near Mercer but oflcials said Il would TAX
but a short time to repair when the water
subsided- The water was reported At I
standstiI al II O'Clock Thursday morning
The water was also over the Burlingto
track AZ Fremont and has EAshea abou
half a mile Of track on the dump. IN
bridge was not injured al noon Thursday.
Although the worst trouble is over ives
Of Fremont the water is stu high a
Schuyler and the Ice running heavy in tn
Platte.
Union Pacific trains No. and II wer
oetoured AT Fremont Thursday mornin
and brought east over the NoTthEe s1e1n
Trains No 6 and which were due L
Omaha last night were brought in owe
the Burlington from Grand Island No.
arriving early yesterday morning and Nj
arriving about 2so'elook-
Colorado Special Backs In.
The Colorado Special on the Union Pa
cine. which left Omaha Thursday morn
ing. could not get any farther than ca
lunbus because Of the high water In "a
Platte. and backed into Omaha Thursda
evening. The train left shortly bef0r
midnight over the Darlington, To '1ake shs
roads tracks a. far as Grand Island wher
Il win again take the Union Pacific mai
,Iine for Denver-