Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-22
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
viaduct on L Street Unsafe--New
Structure Imperative.
MEANS TRACTION EXTENSION

FOAtRu AouNAkN VIII sOOu LthNt NlNy
to Reside Upon His Farm
In Polk Couhty,
Nebraska.
The time is rapidly approaching when the
l. street viaduct. which has long been de-
unsafe for heavy traffic, will have
10 be closed to all vehicles and possibly
even taken down to avoid danger Of coll
apse. over a year ago the city engineer
reported that the heavy steel girders were
deeply rusted, and In one or two places
had partly given away. Each passing
month adds to the deterioration Of the
This viaduct was built by the city
and 1t was never carefully attended. II
has not been painted since It was erected
and this has left the surfaces Of the metal
open TO the corrosion Of the clements.
So far, the city council has not taken
up the project of a new viaduct. although
such action will soon be imperative. The
of West i street have waited long
for the promised Improvement. II 10 under
that the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Street Railway company is ready to extend
the Hanscom park line 20 the Union Stock
yards and cross the viaduct whenever 1t
is erected.
This is one OF the things which appears
to be a valuable improvement. but un-
fortunately is not looked upon with great
favor by the residents east Of the Union
Pacific right-of-way. It is feared the ex-
tension Of the Hanscom park line to the
Union Stock Yards would divert a large
per cent of the daily travel, which now
naHaaa fhrntub the rrin,lHal fraot 80
South Omaha. The damage to the business
interests is purely theatrical. but is placed
pretty high. In fact some people look
on the proposed line as another link which
will finally unite the two cities.
Whatever the prevailing sentiment the
fact remains that the L street viaduct is
worthless. A good authority
recently said the structure might not only
fall under a heavy load, but even might
blow down under a heavy wind. Should
a section fall at an unlucky moment on
the main line OF the Rock Island or the
Union Pacific an unparalleled disaster
would result.
Koutsky Goes to
Joseph Koutsky leaves South Omaha to-
day for his Polk county farm just south
of the Platte from Silver Creek, Neb. He
said last night he would be gone a week
and would return for a few days to make
a final settlement of his affairs in South
Omaha before going to his farm for good.
He said as to his continuing In the farm
ing business that he would be there a year
at all events. He has a 4oo-scre farm of
the best soil in the state. The city will
feel the loss of so valuable a citizen. He
has been a resident for many years and in
the glass and paint business for ten or
twelve years.
Hot Biscuit Dinner.
The Women of the Aid society of the
First Presbyterian church gave their an
nusl hot biscuit and maple Nsy dinner
last evening at the residence of Mr.. and
Mrs. c. NJ. Schmidt. A very large num-
Der of guests were fed between 5 and 8
p. m. Thirty or forty women OF the church
contributed for the table or gave their
services in caring for the guests. The hot
biscuits and syrup were only one of the
features of the repast. The women realized
a sufficient profit to pay up ali obligations
of the society and have a balance left.
The annual election OF the Board of Di-
rectors of the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION held Monday resulted in the fol-
lowing board: Gilbert $. Campbell, n. M.
Graham, G. Mewius, f. l.. Howe, Howard
Wore and W. B. Wyman. colbert s. Camp
bell was elected in the place Of M. An
dreasen. The other members were re-
elected. The new board is to meet May
6 for the election of the executive officers
for the ensuing year. These directors are
elected for three years with the exception
of G.. s. Campbell, who fills the unexpired
term of one year.
Some heavyweight business men have
been making use OF the gymnasium at the
noon hour, and are said to rave beat so
much dust out of the mats that the
vacuum cleaner was used to finish them off,
Edwin Brush, the magician, will give the
last number of the entertainment course
April %. 1t is an evening Of magic. This
entertainer takes the place of Durno.
Magic City Gossip.
letters Colo Top Beer delivered to any
part of the city. Telephone No. 8
The Eastern Star is to meet Friday
evening this week instead of Saturday,
the usual night.
The Presbyterian brotherhood met in
regular session Monday evening. A pro-
gram was carried out.
The John Baptist lecture at the Bap.
list church this evening is to be a free lee.
ture on the Turkish crisis.
Clarence Storm was arrested on the In
formation of Mabel Weekly yesterday or
an assault and battery charge.
John Kosiba, 1925 North Twenty-ninth
reports the birth of a son. j. j. HarVds-
tine, 27S South T~wenty-thiTd has a son
Furnished Home for Rent-Modern il
every particular. Inquire Arthur M. Howe
61 North 24th ST., South omaha. Tel
South "a.
William Ruben has begun to erect vast,
paper boxes on the corners of the city
He has a contract for this kind of scav.
engeT work.
The engagement OF Gussie Durkes tc
Or. Barnhart of Omaha has been an
nounced for some time. The wedding vii
be celebrated May -.
H.. Armstrong was granted the con
tract for erecting q retaining wall al
the Garfield school. The contract in
wolves an expense OF about $3.50.
Forty-five members of the Independent
Order Of odd Fellows surprised l.. A
Coulter Monday evening at the Berger
residence, where the venerable bTotne Ell
and pioneer of the order lives with his
daughter, An evening Of music and jol-
lily was passed.
Bakkor Orebek was arrested yesterday
on complaint of Anton Olliwecki, WIFI
charges him with assault and battery
Orebek is said TO have bitten Olliwecki'.
thumb seriously.
II IS reported tina w. II. Patrick's
mother, Mrs. Jane NJ. Patrick. aged 70
who lives with him at his country resi-,
dence, has suffered a second paralytlC
ton.