Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-08-01
HAPPENINGS IN
THE MAGIC CITY
Farmers Lose Many Acres Of
Land by the Washing OF
Of the River.
DYKE CHANGES CURRENT

DYKE CdANGG0 VUnnGN
Sarpy county commissioners,
headed by Chairman William Ely,
will conduct an investigation into the
automobile accident of Sunday morn
ing. Commissioner Gates Lille was
on the scene OF the accident yester-
day morning, and he and Mr.. Ely
will make report to the commission
ers at their next meeting.
Lee Watson and Tom Gladhill are
the two farmers whose lands border
the river at the point where the
road runs abruptly at the river edge.
Gladhill's land lies south Of the road.
and Watson's land is Immediately
north. In the single year past these
two farmers have lost by cave-ins as
much as 100 acres OF land, divided
evenly. Estimates quoted by Sarpy
county officials at the grounds yester-
day noon made the number of acres
of good farming land actually lost
through cave-ins in the last ten
years approximate 400 acres.
week, and possibly earlier. Just as
soon as the painters and plaster men
are through with the interior, the re-
moval will take place.
Several new features are embodied
in the new building. There are two
stories, the length being about half
block. Elevators and wide staricases
add roominess to the place, while a
spacious hallway before the staircase
on each floor is another feature. Re-
ception and dressing rooms are in
cluded.
Help Raise Big Car.
| Captain Briggs and Officer Potach
are two OF the stalwart coppers who
were instrumental in raising the big
touring car that plunged into the Mis-
souri, river a half mile north OF La
Platte. These two men, both mas
sivc in physique, climbed into the
water and by main force brought the
car within reaching distance.
| The police crew, manning the
emergency car. made the trip to the
scene of the accident at the first call.
The rescue work was Immediately
begun. Captain Briggs called Sheriff
Cook Of Plattsmouth over the tele.
phone and asked that a couple oil
motorboats be sent to assist in the
patrolling of the river line. The boat.
were dispatched without delay.
Local men stayed with the cal
, until early in the morning, when they
left for home. A large crowd Of
Sarpy county farmers arrived and
, took up The work left off by the loca
officers. The car was searched fol
bodies Of the victims while it was
. still submerged in the water. Later
] in the morning it was hoisted up and
= landed on the roadway.
i Armour Opening.
The opening of the new Armour
office building at Thirtieth and c
streets will be one OF the big event:
in the history Of the local plant.
, General Manager R. c. Howe will
be in charge of the program. 1t il
possible that removal will take place
. on Wednesday or Thursday of thi'
Tells Story Of Losses.
L. B. Shamblen, master mechanic
: for the Peters Milling company, who
has travelled Sarpy county roads fol-
: the last twenty-five years, yesterday
told the story of the losses due t.
! the swinging of the river current ant
, the subsequent loss of land.
II remember time when the en-
v tire sandbar you see two miles di
rectly in front OF you was land a.
good as there Is in Sarpy county,
he said yesterday, pointing directl,
east from the point in the roadwa,
] at the river edge, where the ill-fatet
car made its tremendous plunge into
the river "Over there in the south
east, where that big tree is "a full
mile and a half away there is anothe
: road terminus such as this one W,
! are standing on. These two road
once met, perhaps three-quarters o
|, a mile away, near the western edg
of the sandbar. The road that wen
north from this intersection crosse,
the Pappio creek at a point abou
two miles directly north OF here. |
is safe to estimate the actual los
of land due to daily cave-ins at 40
acres"
Gazing In for Years.
The land has been caving in NOR
than usual In the last three years
due, many Of the farmers said yester
day, 10 the big two-mile dyke bull
by the Burlington railroad or tn
other side of the river to protect thei
1 railroad tracks running into Council
Z Bluffs on that side. Since this dyk
6 has been built and reinforced witt
: concrete and stone each year, tn
!. current has been thrown more an,
& more to the Nebraska side. Til
4 waters, especially in food time.
n sweep full force into the sides O
farming lands and eat away every fe,
i minutes large chunks of earth.
!, Yesterday while spectators wer
a watching the preparations for tn
O dynamiting process, several larg
K chunks from a corn field on tn
e Watson property few hundred yard
1. around curve to the north of tn
e road on which the car swept to it
d watery grave, broke off into tn
A river. The crowd experienced a thri
e when large piece of land, perhap
II six feet wide, broke off from til
very roads edge, and caused a cur
rent in itself sufficient to transfer III
! launch which had been moored a
y its base to another position.
Sold Weeks AOo