The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-04
culvert Bridge Mile or so Be
low Des Moines River
Bridge Threatened by
High Water.
WORK TO SAVE TRACKS
Wrecking Grew is at Work
Trying to Save Bridge
Freight Came Over
Car at a Time.

q The Des Moines river is continuing
lts rampages and is overlooking a co.,
siderable portion of land and threaten
Inc to tear out a culyert on the rail-
load between here and Alexandria.
The river is threatening the culvert
to such an extent that it was deeme.i
advisable to curtail train service be-
tween here and Alexandria. The Bu.-
lington's wrecking crew Is on the job
and strenuous measures were being
taken to save the culvert, which ha
a pronounced rainbow curve in it, ac-
cording to reports received here.
Early this morning it was reported
that the culvert had gone out. This
was later found to be without foundn-
tion. although the water was threaten
Ing the track at this point. A freight
train half mils or SO long was
brought through, over the bridge, one
car at a time. 1t was not thought
best, however, to risk the passenger
trains until after the bridge had beaa
reinforced.
Looks Like Lake.
The liver has The appearance of q
lake 1t has come up fast and IS
damaging several fields OF corn and a
number Of the PICKLE patches. In
come of these rlaces the water has
receded as is shown by the marks of
mud along the green foliage Of the
Plants. One or two corn fields be-
tween keokuk and the Des Moines
river bridge have water in them, and
the water in some places is tapping
against the roadway.
The roadway the other side Of the
bridge over the Des Moines is prac-
tically impossible because of the way
the water is pouring over it. The
water breaks through the natural
barriers along the road, and is Do,lr
Ing over it, in more or less force.
The railroad bridge over the Des
Moines is still several feet above the
current The water Is muddy and al
though there is some debris being car
red there is little compared to the
amount which the stream usually car
ries at high water.
People who live in the vicinity are
Rnxiously watching the Developments.
Many Of them have lost their crops
and are waiting to see If the water is
going to get high enough to drive
them out of their homes. Some CT
the men are inclined to blame the
dam at Keokuk for the state Of az
fairs along the Des Moines river.
Train Service Suspended.
Train service from Keokuk south
was practically suspended since last
night. The train which is due in here
this morning was detoured by way Of
Galesburg. The first train out of Keo-
kuk north today was at 1855 this aft
ho train which
came down from Burlington at 1920.
1t was turned around here and made
the return trip. The train from Quincy
came up as far as Alexandria. but
could not pass. The culvert bridge is
too badly out Of line to permit OF
trains being run over it, and water
is over the railroad tracks.
The c., B. & K. c.. train came down
to keokuk from Montrose this morn
Ing, and then continued on it's way to
Carrollton as usual. This train came
down instead of the one due here at
9:05.
The Rock Island trains ran as usual.
The North road trains were also sent
out according to schedules.
The necessary changes in the train
service made some delay in mail and
express service into the city. This
was taken care of in the best possible
way, however and travelling men who
were in Keokuk and who were headed
south, either changed their routes or
made their way by detouring in ILL
nois
More Trouble on Way.
"A travelling man from Des Moines.
who was in Keokuk last night said
mat there was rise due here from
me Raccoon river. the little stream
which empties into the Des Moines at