Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-16
BURLINGTON HAS BIG TASK
Hill Line and Other Roads Are Using Its
Tracks During Flood
BUSIEST RAILROAD IN THE COUNTRY
Reports 20 Union Paciac ana BurIinR-
ton Indicate Hope of Perma-
nent Relief from the
Platte Rampage.

The Burlington line between Omaha and
lincoln IL about the busiest stretch Of rail
in the United States, for In addition to
handling its own trains, the Burlington IL
undertaking to move the Union Pacific
trains which would ordinarily go over the
main line to Grand Island, the Rock Island
trains and the trains of the Missouri Pa
cihc., The Missouri Pacific bridge is out at
Louisville and the Rock Island bridge at
South Bend, and the water is still over
the. main line OF the Union Pacific.
The Burlington reported its Schuyler and
Columbus lines open Saturday night and
the Fremont line from Ashland by Sunday
morning.
Union Pacific reports show the water is
falling ali along the Platte to Valley and
officials expect all TO have the main line
open by this morning. The officials ex-
pected to have it clear last night. They
figure the water Is going down for good.
The Valley branch was opened Friday night
at o'clock. and officials on the line report
the line was repaired and open as far as
Fremont yesterday afternoon.
Fremonters Go 60 Their Homes.
FREMONT, Neb., Feb. 16-(Special.)-
The sout. iders went back TO their homes
today and generally found everything as
they left II but in a badly damaged con-
dition from the water. The loss comes
heaviest on those who can least, afford 1t.
The Union Pacific and Burlington have
several gangs of men working on their
tracks and by Sunday the former road
will have trains running as usual The
worst washouts on that road are west OF
the city. The water which came out OF
the river near Ames has spread out over
a big tract of low country to the bluffs
and flowed easterly down the channel of
the Raw Hide and the low lands TO the
north of II in too shallow a stream to do
extensive damage. The damage to build
ings and household goods in the city alone
will probably reach $4,000, and II will be
some time before the streets can be made
passable south of the tracks. For two
days over 100 women and children stayed
at the city hall and we're served meals by
the women OF the different churches and
the Women's Relief corps. Markey's hall
sheltered a delegation and the benches in
the police court room made beds for men
and they were delighted this morning when
they were told II was safe to go back home.
ORD, Neb., Feb. 16.-(Special.) THE past
few days OF exceptionally warm weather
has had it's effect upon the Ice in the North
Loup river at this place and IL is now
going out rapidly. Early in the season IT
was feared that some damage would be
done TO bridges when the ice come to go
out, but no damages are reported thus far
and little fear is now evnced that any of
note will occur.
CLARKs. Neb.. Feb. 16-(Special Telo-
gram THE Platte river. a mile south of
here Is running ten feet over the ice. 1t
is expected the ice may break up at any
moment. The county board has watchmen
at the bridges tonight During the day
the channel has been cleared somewhat by
dynamiting. When the gorge, ten miles
west breaks, the bridge here may be car
ried out.
TraHc 10 south Also Blocked.
PLATTSMOUTH. Neb.. Feb. 16-(Spe-
cial Telegram AN ice gorge formed In
the Platte river near Oreapolis and the
high waters and floating ice put both the
Missouri Pacific and Burlington bridges out
of business last evening. The water Is
slowly receding this evening, but It will
probably be several days before the Mis-
souri, Pacific will have its track repaired
Passengers and mails TO and from Omaha
have been carried by way of Pacific juno
ton and Council Bluffs. Through trains
between Omaha and Kansas City are being
run over the Burlington from Nebraska
City on the east side of the river.
Northern Coast Isolated.
ST. PAUL. Feb 16.-No trains are reach
ing St. Paul over the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific roads from the coast The
through trains that arrive here are made
up at Spokane and, on this side of the Cas-
cado mountains. The statement made to-
day was that owing to the unusual moder-
alton OF temperature I'M the mountain dis
tricts. which have this winter had a rec