The Forrest City times., 1912-04-26
WATER RECEDES
 SITUATION IMPROVES.
Reaches Stand at Madison Monday with il.> on Gauge. Began
 Falling Tuesday.

Overflow conditions in the St Francis basin have improved decided ly during the last seven days The St. Francis reached q stand al Mark ed Tree on Friday morning .as reported in last week 's Times, and by Sunday the river at Madison. had about reached it's highest stage, and Monday mornings gauge reading showed no increase for the tWenty-four hours that ended at seven 1. m. Tuesdays reading showed fall of an inch at Madison, and reports began to come in on that day from all over the oyer- flowed section to the east and south of Madison, that small but gratify- ing falls had been noted The water having been reported as falling faster to the north of Madison, than in the section to the south.
 The worst feature of the flood stu- ation for this week, has been the partial suspension Of railroad traffic over the Iron Mountain south. Where that road crosses the L'Anguille be- tween this city and Marianua, the water has giyen the irou Mountain great deal If trouble. Trains were continued, however, until Friday night when they ran through water forty inches over the rails, to reach this city, and on Saturday morn ing 1t was decided to abandon the attempt to run trains across the river, and arrangements were made to transfer passengers, hand baggage and mail al that point with gasoline boat and barge, and to annul one train each way. Since that day the service over that road has consisted Of train south at l2.3o. and one north at s.55 in the morning The last train came over Saturday after noon about four o'clock, passing through forty.two inches Of water The water began to fall Monday af- telnoon at this point, and the inter ruption here will probably not last over a few days longer
 The Rock Island also had trouble where their tracks crossed the same stream, but were not compelled to abandon trains, thoagh extreme pre- caution Lad to be used ta get them across, handear preceding every train that passed, and the water reaching height of thirty-Seven inches over the rails The water here was a little later in beginning t8 fall. but a stand Vas reached there on Tuesday.
 The Rock Islaud officials have beer sy during the week. General Mana ger Beacon coming over Tuesday and comforting with Superintendent Cop ley, who has been at the front since the beginning Of the flood and ar rangement made at once to launch the preliminary work of getting their tracks ready for resumption of traffic Another train load Of rock was brought out Monday night, pulled by two engines, which were fitted with syphons for taking water from the oyerfiowed right-of-Way and these engines were left here with their crews to be used in handling the numerous work trains that are even now following up the water or its downward march. And other work trains working out of Hulburl are coming west, and making rapid progress as far as the water has Jeff the rails.
 Immense quantities of rock, bridge timbers and material are scattered throughout the bottom country, ane every available man has been.ruShec as close as possible to the front tc allow for rapid and systematic work