Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-21
RIVER KEPT UNDER BRIDGE
Northwestern Spends Large Sum az Blair
TO Hold Missouri In Banhs.
THOUSANDS or FEET OF RlpRAfPNG
Stream Threatens 20 Go Into Iowa
Lake, Leaving Expensive Bridge
-Four Miles from Its
Channel.

BLAIR, NeD, Jan. D.-lSpeclal)-lh ne
Northwestern Railroad company is at pres
ent engaged in a dhicult task In construct
ing a large dixie composed of trestle work,
stone and brush mating at a point three
miles north Of the Blair river bridge on
the Iowa side of the river. A delegation
OF the BUSINESS men OF this city in
vited to view the work yesterday, by
Bridge Superintendent II. A. Wentworth,
who has charge OF the construction.
The party found almost village Of work.
ers. with their sleeping and eating apart
ments in the best Of order This work is
being rushed with all possible haste, to
be ready for the spring high water, which
has always been extremely dangerous at
this point.
This work, which will cost over 100000, is
the last resort OF the Northwestern com
pany to prevent the large bridge at this
point, which was built in 1888 at cost of
tl,50o,OOO from being left on dry land In
Nebraska, something like four miles from
the river The Missouri river at the point
where the work Is being done with a
straight sweep Of five miles directly south
east, hurls it's immense volume OF water
against the Iowa bank, which is very low
at this place, and then. turning at less
than a right angle goes almost west
against the Nebraska side. thence with a
straight two-mile course under the bridge
At the Iowa bank the river had cut within
100 feet OF a small lake, which II reached
would send the river racing through Iowa.
cutting of a chunk Of land over four miles
square and leaving the costly bridge far
in Nebraska, to span a small lake.
Trestles and Mats
An immense trestle work 1000 feet long
with four braces each $50 feet. Is being
constructed across this dangerous point
over an average depth of twenty feet of
water. Three immense pile drivers are at
work forcing the large seventy-foot piles
to the bottom OF the "Old Muddy" Fiji
teen hundred piles will be used. at an
average cost Of about S23 pile. one driver
has commenced at each end Of the 1000
foot span and one on the braces-all three
working to a common center.
Big willow Branch Mat.
A mating of willow brush, with an
average thickness of sixteen inches, with
wire cables above and below Is being in
terlaced around the trestle work and above
and below along the river bank. This
huge mat will be $50 feet wide and 5000
feet long the entire surface being weighted
down with stone placed about three feet
apart each one securely fastened with
wire to the mat, at an average weight Of
about seventy-hve tons to each 100 lineal
feet.
A similar dixie. 400 feet long. was built
two years ago between this place and the
bridge, to protect the Iowa bank.
Many Men Employed.
The present work was commenced about
December /. and Superintendent Went
worth expects to finish in about sixty days,
the work being rushed fast help
- - 4
and would increase his force IL more men
rould be found. This work is all being
done while the river is frozen over af.
fording a good footing for handling the
large amount of material of stone. piles,
timbers and brush, of which twenty-five
to thirty car loads are being received
daily. A general thaw or breakup of the
weather at this time would be serious
drawback to this work.
Good eating and sleeping apartments
have been constructed for the men. About
100 men Of the present force are residents
Of Blair and go and return by train each
day. The payroll amounts to nearly $500
per month, a good portion Of which comes
to Blair. The men at the construction
camp are boarded and roomed for 81 per
week, furnished under contract with the
company by ]. A. Freeland of Omaha.
Rise of an Engineer.
The plans for this work were prepared
In the once OF the head engineer Of the
Northwestern road In Chicago and the
construction Is under the direct supervision
Of Bridge Superintendent Hollis A. Went
worth. who does his own surveying, as
sisted-by his general foreman, N. A. Cole
Mr.. Wentworth holds his diploma a civil
engineer having studied and perfected
himself in this branch since he commenced
working for the company, nineteen years
ago, as a common laborer He came from
Canada and was placed in control of this
bridge and river construction work at this
place eleven years ago. He is recognized
as an expert on riprap and dixie work, and
was recently called 20 the headquarters
Of the company at Fremont, in consultation
over the construction OF immense dixie
to prevent the overlooking Of the Platt,
river into the city OF Fremont at thai
point.
Only one accident has happened. Wher
near the commencement OF the work. OWNS
to defective timber. the large pile drivei
went into the river q total loss. drowning
young Reno Morrison. whose body wa,
not recovered.
Man Falls from Moving Train.
ny FRFR WFNNNU