The Rice belt journal., 1914-05-01
HEAVY RAINS CAUSE FLOODS
RIVERS AND STREAMS OUT OF
BANKS AND BRIDGES ARE
WASHED AWAY.
Railroads Heavy LoseTs-Much Dam
age to Roadbeds and 5rdges-NoTth
Texas Affected Most.

Flood conditions, resulting from tne
continued spring rains Of the past
few days, which in many sections
were torrential, are growing serious,
and aside from the toll of two lives
in Bosque County and one life taken
at Dallas, railroad traffic is interrupt
ed as a result Of numerous WashOutS,
and crop damage will amount to hun
dreds of thousands of dollars in Cen
tral and North Texas.
Many towns are flooded and streams
are out Of their banks.
Greatest damage so far seems 10
have resulted along the creeks and
small streams flowing into the Trln'
ity Brazos and Colorado rivers, but as
these smaller streams pour their flood
waters into the larger rivers, 1000
conditions NAV be expected nearer the
gulf. Rescue parties have been or
ganized, and these have mad much
work to do along the smaller streams
and in the low-lying sections OF Dal
las. Waco, Midlothian, WaXahachle
TAYLOR, Calvert and other small towns
and in the bottoms along the Trinity
Brazos, Bosque and other small
streams In North Texas.
Warnings have. been sent through
out the low.lying country, notltylns
people that higher water may be ex
pected and advising them to get ou
to higher ground while opportunity Il
afforded. Already rescuers with boats
have had some work to do, but man!
of those living in the bottoms, VIII
memories of last December's tloot
conditions, have moved out to hlghe
ground at the first warning. Ih
water in many smaller streams IS a
ready as high as last December AM
is still rising,
Precipitation over North Texas ha
averaged from 2 to inches, accort
ing to reports. Some OF the towns IT
porting excessive rains are: M
Gregor. 6 1-3 inches; Waco, 3 inches
GEORGETOWN, 3 inches; Gainesville,
inches: Cleburne, 3 inches; Hamln
41b inches; Temple, 6 inches in fou
hours; Bonham, 3 inches; SweetWate
4 inches; Abilene, Az inches; Sc
mour, inches.
Numerous washouts have bee
reached and train schedules have bee
t interrupted.
=" The Katy suffered washouts bo
e north and south of Georgetown al
e, traffic was blocked except for II
trains detoured via Taylor. The Df
r, las-Denton branch Of the Katy is al
in tied up on account of high water
as Elm Fork of the Trinity Anoth
ar washout on the Katy was report
le on the main line between Waco al
S. Troy, blocking traffic in that dire
20 ton.
Id The Santa Fe is also heavy los
u on account of washouts, and its sche
al ules, where trains are still operate
7o are disarranged Twelve hundred fe
1e of track on the main line was wash
le out near McGregor, and other was
It, outs were reported north of Camera
aS The International and Great Northe
an also reported washouts north of II
IN lor, at Mcneil.
". The Houston and Texas Central "
forced to discontinue trains on
80 Ennis-Fort Worth branch on acco,
W of a washout near Waxahachie.
The Wichita Valley line lost H.
ad feet of track north of Abilene, a
traffic will be delayed for several di
,as on this line.
on In addition to railroad washouts,
yas merous wagon bridges have b'
He washed away. All wagon roads are
Ire passable.