Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-06-16
High W ater
In Platte
.Receding
Fall of Flood in South Platte
Expected to Offset Rise, in
Other Streams-Crest
Reaches Fremont.
Two Bridges Washed Out

NSpOltS lIolll NOiti IGttC last
night indicated that though there had
been slight fall OF water in the
South Platte river during the pre-
ceding "a hours at that point. there
was rise of three inches in the
North Platte river and the floco
below the junction OF the two river,
was somewhat higher than on Tues
day.
1t is certain, however, that tn.
water in the South Platte has passed
the crest and a falling of that stream
will offset the constant rise in the
North Platte. 1t is not believed
that further damages to bridges
across the South Platte will ensue.
Contrary to reports, travel on the
Lincoln Highway from Grand Island
to North Platte and from North
Platte to Sidney is uninterrupted.
Two Bridges Out.
Two bridges were washed out at
North Platte and food waters in the
Platte river at Fremont rose 20
inches in the last "a hours, accord
ing, to information reaching Omaha
yesterday afternoon.
George Roster, head of the state
fish department, received telephone
message at yesterday afternoon from
deputy at North Platte that the two
bridges over the Platte river thers
had been washed out by the higi,
food waters which have been rushing
into Nebraska from Colorado all
week.
20 Inches at Fremont.
Word was received by the Burling-
ton Offices that the water at Fremont,
where the crest OF the flood was ex-
pected to reach by nightfall, had
risen 20 inches during Tuesday night
and yesterday morning.
The high water in the Platte IS
receding and has dropped five inches
in two days, according to reports
from Big Springs. Grand Island re-
ports state that county officials are
not as yet alarmed over any under
mining of the new state aid bridge
between Hamilton and Hall counties,
nor of any serious wash on the long
fills at either side. The rise Tues
day night was only six inches, instead
of the foot which was predicted.
Water at one. time flowed over the
roads approaching the fills, but this
has been checked.
Risinr at Cozad.
AT Cozad the water was still rising
last evening and was up to the Unior
Pacific tracks. The bridge was still
passable. Superintendent Carey and
Trainmaster Baker were watching
the situation carefully, but did not
anticipate trouble.
Reports from Lincoln stated that
$4,000 cubic feet were flowing per
second at Lexington yesterday after
noon. indicating that the maximum
rise between Fremont and Lexing-
ton would be between two and three
feet above normal
Secretary George Johnson Of the
department of public works was in
his Office in Lincoln all day yesterday
trying to get in touch with his dep
uties at flood points along the Platte
river.
He met with no success, beins
unable to get any of his deputies by
either telephone or telegraph.
Wires May Be Down.
because of this Secretary Johnson
fears the wires have been brough.
down by the food or his deputies are
so busy battling with the flood con-
ditions and doing preventive work
that they have been unable to notify
him of conditions at their respective
stations.
Following an inspection of the
river Tuesday at Grand Island. Su-
pervisor Sass reported the river
about six inches higher than the
highest previous mark. The foot rise
predicted Tuesday night did not ap-
pear.
Reeeding of the water is reported
at Kearney and Central City.
Water Falls Back.
AT Central City, the rise continued
until 6 Tuesday night when It came
to a .standstill and then began to fall
back.
Reports that the water at Grand
Island was running over the S. Y. A.
road and Hamilton county bridge
were denied Tuesday by Super
visor Sass. The other two bridges
over the Platte at Grand Island are
impossible, he reported.
The Omaha High school, cadet
camp at Valley is not in danger.
The camp is situated about a mile
and half from the river but is not
threatened by the highwaters.
Ready for Retreat.
Everything at the camp is in
readiness for hasty but orderly re-
treat, in event the water should
start to overflow in quantity.
Land between the camp and Val
ley is higher than the site of the
camp, eliminating any chance of the
cadets being ,marooncd from tho
town by the food.
precautionary measures were
taken Tuesday at Central City to
protect railroad and bridge proper
ties from the high waters.
Fight to Save Bridge.
A corps OF men battled all day
with the food to save the fill of the
new 100000 state aid bridge now
being erected there.
They worked under the direction
OF E. Flynn, general superintendent
of the Burlington railroad.
Before leaving his Offices in Lin
coin Flynn wired orders to have
watchmen placed on all bridges
crossing the Platte at Kearney,
Grand Island, Fremont, Schuyler,
Central City and Columbus.
Division Superintendent r. r.