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page 29 Marsh Reports Drop Above Sterling everywhere, Pat ;1arsh, water commissioner, reported today, the South Platte was dropping. There was nothing in river reports, Mr. Marsh said today, to indicate a new or further rise of the river. Mr. Marsh estimated the maximum flow of the river a.t Sterling as between 40,000 and 50,000 second feet. The crest of the Bijou flood, said Mr. Marsh, passed the mouth of Beaver creek, near Merino, about four hours before the great head of water in that stream was emptied into the South Platte. During that interim the first great rush of water had spread. The result was that Friday's wall of water at Sterling was much less than would have resulted had flood waters of Bijou and Beaver met at Brush. The water was reported as much lower at Fort Morgan and Brush today. Burlington Bridge Damaged The sudden rise of water which submerged the Public Service company plant, washed out a portion of the Burlington railroad track and approaches to the bridge on the South Platte river on the Holdrege or "highline". Only the rails and ties were left suspended over a gap more than a hundred feet wide, through which the water raced today. Water was b~lked against the fill this morning to a depth of several feet, long after the crest had disappeared. The river Saturday morning gnawed at the fill under the east of the river bridge. The main part of the structure showed no strain, withstanding the flood pressure without difficulty. Much of the "highline" track was washed for a half mile west of the bridge, to a point beyond the Public Service Company plant. River Rise Sudden While "oldtimers" with some heat disputed the volume of the flood as compared to the rises of 1921 and other years famous in water annals, it was generally agreed that the rise of Friday night, May 31, 1935, was one of the most rapid in memory of white man. The water reached the Sterling bridge on Highway No.6 at 8:12 o'clock and, according to Water Commissioner A. T. Blackman of Sterling, who was ~; the pumping plant near the river, the peak was reached at 9 o'clock. During that period of forty-eight minutes the river rose five feet or more. Water which had stood a yard deep at windows of the pumping plant at 9 (, I clock last night had left the grounds at 4 0 I clock Saturday morning. At its high point the water stretched approximately two-thirds of the way from the river bridge to the Sterling No. 2 ditch, or well toward the west side of the Harris feed lots. The feed lots were the scene of intense activity in the dark Friday night, as cattle were shifted from lower to higher pens. Large numbers of the animals in less sturdy condition were taken from the yards Friday in preparation for the expected flood waters.