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Gentle River Goes Mad · Nebraska History Podcast

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The following episode features a historic article from the
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Nebraska History magazine. This article may reflect the
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language and attitudes of its time and while it offers
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valuable insight into the past, may contain expressions or
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viewpoints that are outdated or offensive by today's standards.
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Any outdated terms do not reflect the current views or
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perspectives of the Nebraska State Historical Society.
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Welcome to the Nebraska History podcast.
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I'm your host, Chris Goforth. Each episode we explore articles
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written and published in Nebraska History Magazine.
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In this episode, we travel back to 1935, to a time when the
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Republican River transformed from a gentle stream into a
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raging force of nature. Join us as we explore the
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devastating flood that swept through the Republican River
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Valley, claiming 113 lives and reshaping the landscape of
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recovery and federal intervention in American life.
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We learned that and more through the 2016 Nebraska History
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Magazine article Gentle River Goes Mad, The Republican River
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Flood of 1935 and It's New Deal Legacy by Stacey Stubbs After
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years of drought, the arrival of rain at the end of May 1935 at
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first seemed a blessing to the residents of the Republican
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River Valley. Years of poor farming methods
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followed by severe drought resulted in a period known as
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the Dust Bowl, marked by crop failures and massive dust storms
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from Nebraska to Texas during the first half of the 1930s.
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While conditions in the Republican Valley were not as
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severe as in some areas to the South, farmers struggled.
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Nonetheless, rain signaled the Valley's revitalization.
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However, it also marked a new era for the region, one in which
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the federal government and its New Deal programs played a
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significant role in the aftermath of natural disaster.
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The change to the usually gentle Republican River came with
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little warning. In the survey for the Department
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of the Interior, Robert Fullensby and JB Spiegel stated
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that the Dust Bowl ironically created conditions ripe for
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flooding. The dry ground proved incapable
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of absorbing large amounts of precipitation.
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Several days of rain, along with a cloud burst over Colorado,
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quickly saturated the ground. The runoff rolled into the
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Republican River and its tributaries, all of which
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overtopped their banks. The result was the greatest
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flood of record. Normally 300 to 400 feet wide,
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the river spread a mile wide in most places and up to four miles
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wide in several areas of Nebraska and Kansas.
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The Omaha World Herald described the resulting trail of disaster
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under the headline Gentle River Goes Mad.
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The Republican River's drainage basin covers 22,400 square miles
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and stretches across Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska.
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It's flooding therefore affected a wide area.
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Although reports vary, an estimated 113 people perished in
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the flooding. Most families recovered the
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bodies of their lost loved ones, but the remains of several
3:06
victims eluded search efforts. Most of the flooded ground was
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farmland, and property losses, including livestock and
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machinery, came to approximately $26 million.
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An estimated 341 miles of Hwy. 307 bridges and 74,500 acres of
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farmland were damaged, along with many homes and buildings of
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those living near the river. As the waters receded, residents
3:34
across the valley began the recovery process.
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HH McCoy, publisher of the Orleans Chronicle, wrote quote.
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But it has been a hard fight, and however brave these men may
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be, they alone cannot forever play the role of Hercules.
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End Quote. Many disaster victims relied on
3:53
the assistance of family and friends, but residents needed
3:57
outside help in their rebuilding efforts.
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Private organizations such as the American Red Cross aided the
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Valley's recovery, but just as important, the federal
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government began taking a larger role.
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And like other regions of the country, the Republican River
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Valley would benefit from the work of government officials,
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the armed forces, and federal agencies such as the Federal
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Emergency Relief Administration and the Civilian Conservation
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Corps. The National Guard was one of
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the first government entities involved in the relief efforts
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with Nebraska Governor Robert L Cochran in Washington, DC.
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When the disaster occurred, Lieutenant Governor Walter
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Jorgensen took charge and declared a state of emergency,
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citing the need to, quote, provide the necessary protection
4:43
for the citizens of the state. End Quote.
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Jorgensen mobilized the Nebraska National Guard, something the
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state had not done for 20 years. By June 6th, several guard
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companies arrived to help with efforts in the region, much to
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the relief of local residents. According to the biennial report
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of the Adjutant General of the State of Nebraska, 21 officers
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and 237 enlisted men came to the Republican Valley for a four day
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tour. During that time, they rescued
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78 flood victims, recovered numerous bodies, and spent
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$4848.38 on relief efforts, including food and medical
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supplies for those affected by the disaster.
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The work of the government continued through the efforts of
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various officials. Nebraska US Senator George
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Norris lived in McCook, one of the region's hardest hit towns.
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Besides contributing $100.00 of his own to help flood victims,
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his Washington DC office became a meeting place for federal
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officials involved in the relief efforts, including President
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Franklin Roosevelt, Farrah Dictator Harry Hopkins, and
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while he was at the Capitol, Governor Cochran.
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For Cochran, restoration of the valley to pre flood conditions
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became a top priority. He began making plans while
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still in Washington. The June 6th edition of the
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Omaha World Herald reported a meeting between the Governor,
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President Roosevelt Hopkins and other officials at which they
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discussed the release of aid to flood victims.
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While Nebraska's state government provided relief funds
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to the Republican Valley, federal funding was crucial to
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the recovery process. In an August 1st radio
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broadcast, Cochran said that Nebraska received access to
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$250,000 of federal funds within 3 days of the disaster.
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While he did not specify the source of the funding, the
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governor added that funds spent on the National Guard's tour and
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for the CCC camps in the region were not included in this
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amount. More than likely, the Farrah
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created under President Roosevelt's Federal Emergency
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Relief Act passed on May 12th, 1933 was a key contributor.
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Upon receiving assurances of help from the Roosevelt
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administration, Cochran flew to North Platte and then headed
6:58
South to McCook and ordered a tour the devastated valley with
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State Engineer AC Tilly. While in McCook on June 6th, the
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Governor held a conference at the Keystone Hotel with
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representatives from across the flood stricken region.
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More than 100 representatives from 11 Nebraska counties
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attended the meeting. Cochran explained his goals and
7:19
plans for rebuilding, the foremost being a permanent
7:22
program for the valleys rehabilitation.
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Other attendees included Albert Evans, a relief director for the
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Red Cross, and Roland Haynes, director of the Nebraska
7:33
Emergency Relief Administration, or NEERA.
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Both Evans and Haynes helped create recovery plans.
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Haynes coordinated the state's relief efforts, including Red
7:42
Cross work, along with permanent rehabilitating and engineering
7:45
projects. On June 20th, the Culbertson
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Progress reported that Haynes had received $434,000 in federal
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funding for relief efforts. This amount included $194,000 of
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general relief funds, $190,000 for rural rehabilitation funds
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and $50,000 derived from the soil erosion fund previously
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available. The program spent $337,769 on
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recovery efforts from June to October of 1935, providing food
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and supplies for flood victims along with funding for various
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jobs. Besides financial support,
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Haynes also brought in workers to aid in the rebuilding
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process. During the McCook meeting,
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representatives learned that Fiera workers were scheduled to
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arrive in the area by June 13th. CCC and Neera both established
8:40
emergency camps which allowed for the placement of relief
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workers in the Republican Valley.
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Fullensby and Spiegel's report for the Department of the
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Interior confirmed that the CCC brought 1000 men to the region
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and that Fira camps employed 600 men.
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Neera, which place camps in Benkelman, Trenton, McCook,
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Cambridge, Oxford, and Alma, brought in many of their workers
9:05
from eastern Nebraska. Local residents found various
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ways to house these men. The town of Benkelman, for
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example, used its school to house Fira men from Omaha.
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In June 1935, Trenton received 71 men from Lincoln who camped
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on the Legion grounds. When the Republican River
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flooded again towards the end of June, Fira Camp residents moved
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to Trenton's congressional church.
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Not all towns received their requested workers.
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Immediately after the flood, Culbertson, Nebraska attempted
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to establish a fear a camp with little success.
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Instead, the plan for recovery involved men from the McCook and
9:42
Trenton camps working towards the town located halfway between
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the two camps. This meant that for the time
9:49
being, Culbertson residents, rather than government workers,
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carried out local relief efforts.
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As one writer put it, the town quote received a halfway promise
9:58
that possibly something could be done.
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End Quote Culbertson residents recognize the need for
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government assistance. By the end of June, Carl H
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Swanson, part of the Culbertson Committee for Recovery, reported
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the imminent arrival of men from the Trenton and McCook camps.
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That same article in the Culbertson Progress outlined the
10:19
work for the arriving men, including cleaning and
10:22
restoration projects. Local residents, upon completing
10:25
an application for the American Red Cross, also hired these men
10:29
for work on private property. The disaster created ample
10:33
employment in the region as a number of projects needed to be
10:36
completed, such as clearing transportation routes.
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Local men found jobs with organizations such as the state
10:43
Highway department. Even with the new jobs for local
10:46
workers, however, the arrival of relief workers caused concern
10:50
among residents regarding which jobs the fear of men would take.
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They felt local men should have hiring priority over outside
10:58
labor. This proved to be a justifiable
11:00
concern after the release of local men employed in highway
11:04
repair near Culbertson in anticipation of incoming FERA
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workers. Although these men soon went
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back to work, the misunderstanding led to a desire
11:13
for clarification. As outlined in the local
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newspaper, work on highways and for private individuals went
11:21
first to local workers, whereas the Farah Laborers focused on
11:25
public works projects and in a general cleanup work for the
11:29
whole valley. The article did not specify
11:32
whether or not this issue was related to funding from the
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federal and state governments, but the fact that both groups
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soon found work indicated that the problem had been a lack of
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coordination rather than a lack of funds.
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Despite initial concerns and confusion, Republican Valley
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residents appreciated Fiera's help.
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The Franklin County Sentinel reported on their work, saying
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the men did a quote good job of cleaning up houses End Quote and
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handling carcasses of animals that perished in the flood.
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The June 6th edition of the Omaha World Herald reported that
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the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, had begun to move into
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the Republican Valley. Colonel SJ Sutherland,
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commanding the state unit, worked quickly to establish
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camps across the region. 25 CCC camps already existed in
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Nebraska at the time of the flood, creating employment for
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6100 men. One of the camps was located in
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Franklin, NE, a town heavily affected by the flooding.
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Shortly after the disaster, the program added nine temporary
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camps in McCook, Superior, Franklin, Trenton, Cambridge,
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Arapaho, Alma, Benkelman and Red Cloud to help with the new need.
12:45
The CCC brought in men from previously established camps,
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such as 50 workers from Atwood, KS, that came to Trenton.
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Some of the men from the previously established Camp
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Franklin helped fill the Alma camp, referred to in the
12:59
newspapers as a side camp, and men from Camp Nelson filled the
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side camp at Red Cloud. The program also recruited local
13:08
workers to fill camp quotas. With a camp quota of 12, the
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Town of Franklin offered positions to applicants between
13:15
the ages of 18 to 28. The CCC accepted more
13:19
applications as the program expanded to meet the new demand.
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As a result of new jobs from private individuals and
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organizations such as the State Highway Department, some camps
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struggled to meet their quotas. From June 15th to July 5th, the
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CCC set Hitchcock County's quota at 9:00.
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The Culbertson Progress thought it unlikely that the county
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would meet its quota. The Franklin County Sentinel
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also reported an inability to reach their local quota of 12
13:49
men by June 20th. The county hired only 9 local
13:52
men for the program. The Corps brought in workers
13:55
from other areas of the country. For example, 80 men from CCC
13:59
Camp Sarpy at Fort Crook, Nebraska came to Benkelman and
14:03
Parks. The men accomplished important
14:06
projects in Trenton, considered to be the lodging place for
14:10
considerable silt. During the floods, CCC men
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helped to rid the town of debris.
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The Republican leader reported on the removal of mud from the
14:19
town, which included more than 2000 wagon and truckloads.
14:24
Local farmers who applied with the agricultural agent also
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received help from the workers. As the floodwaters had washed
14:31
out many crops and damaged farmland, CCC men helped repair
14:36
the damage and replant the crops.
14:39
In Franklin County, workers disposed of animal remains and
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cleaned mud out of homes from Napanee to Riverton.
14:47
As previously noted, aid was slow to reach many areas.
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The Culbertson Progress complained that the quote
14:54
Federal government for the past two years has installed CCC
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camps in various sections of the country, building lakes, Parks
15:01
and Recreation grounds, all of which are no doubt worthy
15:04
projects. But where can the federal
15:07
government place these men today that their work will render
15:10
greater benefit to mankind than in the flood area of the
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Republican Valley? End Quote.
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Once corps members arrived, their work was similar to that
15:19
of FIRA men. Local newspapers often use
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phrases such as CCC and FARA men are in charge of this work.
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Amongst their projects involving public works and general
15:30
cleanup. The corn removed debris from a
15:33
Riverton hotel and cleaned up around the Republican River near
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Napanee and Alma. Among the most difficult
15:40
projects was the recovery of human remains.
15:43
Local residents and the National Guard recovered many of the
15:47
bodies before the program established its temporary camps.
15:51
The Corps continued the process and operated the only organized
15:55
search parties, finding the remains of several flood victims
15:59
near Culbertson. For example, Misses Culver and
16:02
her six year old son had been caught in the rising water.
16:06
Culver held on to the boy as long as possible, but the
16:09
current washed him out of her arms.
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CCC workers found his body southwest of Trenton on June
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3rd. The CC CS role in restoring the
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Republican Valley ranged from cleaning away debris and
16:23
salvaging personal property to searching for bodies.
16:27
Bernice Haskins Post of Napanee, Nebraska listed the work the
16:31
core completed in her area, which included removal of trees,
16:35
restoration of fields, and removal of trash from the
16:38
buildings and land. Post expressed gratitude, saying
16:42
that the men quote did much to make our place livable.
16:46
After the flood, the CCC ended its work in many areas of the
16:50
Republican Valley. By July, Governor Cochran, along
16:54
with other Nebraska representatives, tried to
16:57
prolong core efforts in the region by writing to US senators
17:01
and CCC leaders. This demonstrated their reliance
17:05
on federal and state aid, although aid also came from
17:08
private organizations, including the American Red Cross.
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Prior to the New Deal, Congress had made only isolated attempts
17:15
to aid disaster victims. A federal disaster relief agency
17:20
did not exist for much of American history.
17:23
Established in 1881, the American Red Cross collaborated
17:27
with government to fill this role, becoming a, quote,
17:30
unofficial extension of the federal government.
17:32
End Quote. The American Red Cross continued
17:35
to play an important role in recovery efforts during the
17:37
1930s, providing survivors with food, clothing, and bedding,
17:42
while government aid provided employment for infrastructure
17:45
restoration and other services. Governor Cochran expressed his
17:49
support to Albert Evans, the Red Cross District Director,
17:52
stressing his desire to cooperate with the organization.
17:56
In a report on the activities of the Flood Area Restoration
18:00
Office, the Red Cross stood at the top of the list of agencies
18:03
involved in restoration work. The same report also listed the
18:07
members of locally appointed restoration committees for each
18:11
affected town. Many of these committees
18:13
included at least one Red Cross member.
18:17
The Red Cross distributed many different forms of aid, working
18:20
closely with the FIRA and the CCC.
18:24
In Cambridge, Nebraska, it established kitchens for mass
18:27
Feeding in collaboration with FIRA.
18:30
The June 13th edition of the Franklin County Sentinel
18:33
reported that FIRA nurse Winnie Garlts had set up several
18:37
immunization clinics for people at risk of typhoid fever due to
18:40
the prolonged exposure to river water.
18:43
The Red Cross provided the vaccinations and other supplies
18:46
for the clinics. In another example of
18:49
collaboration, the CCC and FIRA worked at salvaging personal
18:54
property. The Red Cross supervised the
18:56
work and returned the property to its owners.
18:59
While each agency proved successful on its own, working
19:02
together led to further success. Blood survivors could also apply
19:08
to the Red Cross for direct aid. Hitchcock County Director Jesse
19:12
Clark served towns such as Culbertson and Trenton.
19:17
She reviewed applications, traveled to homes of applicants
19:20
and issued aid to those who qualified.
19:23
By June 28th, 71 families in Hitchcock County applied,
19:26
including several farmers, the hardest hit by the disaster.
19:30
Bernice Haskins Post from Franklin County said that she
19:34
and her husband received food and clothing from the
19:36
organization, which later also funded repairs to their house
19:40
and furniture. Thanks to Red Cross efforts,
19:43
Post and her family returned to their home just two weeks after
19:47
the disaster. According to the American Red
19:50
Cross's official report on relief activities, the
19:54
organization and its donors contributed $167,411.00 for
20:00
food, clothing, medical supplies and farming equipment.
20:04
Despite their best efforts, however, many residents did not
20:07
recover from their losses. Over 1200 families registered
20:12
for the Red Cross and some managed to restore their
20:15
livelihoods, but 790 families were unable to do so.
20:21
Although Post and her family returned home, several neighbors
20:25
left for good, she recalled. Quote We felt sort of alone
20:30
without our old neighbors. End Quote.
20:32
But for many families who did return to homes and livelihoods,
20:35
assistance from the Red Cross and the various government
20:38
relief agencies made the difference.
20:41
On September 15th, 1949, the Trenton Register looked back at
20:45
the flood of 1935 saying quote, we will never forget the Red
20:50
Cross. End Quote.
20:52
Residents continued to pick up the pieces after the initial
20:55
restoration ended. The McNeese family of
20:58
Culbertson, Nebraska, lived on a farm just South of town, but
21:01
flood damage led to their move into town.
21:05
A Carpenter, Joseph McNeese, built the family a new home in
21:08
Culbertson on land given to him by his father.
21:12
His wife, Rena, helped local residents with various household
21:15
tasks such as washing and ironing.
21:18
The family also took in country kids during the school year.
21:22
The youngest daughter, Jeslyn, later wrote Quote.
21:25
Life went on and we knew we were so lucky to be alive that we
21:29
could take a lot of hard work. People were good to us and
21:32
quote. The Republican Valley celebrated
21:36
a Reconstruction Jubilee in McCook on October 23rd through
21:40
25th, 1935. The program included rides on
21:44
the new Mark Twain Zephyr Train and exhibition drills from the
21:48
17th Infantry of the United States Army.
21:51
Several notable persons received invitations including the
21:54
governors of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.
21:58
Governor Cochran invited Henry Ford with the hope that his
22:01
presence would bring, quote, added encouragement to these
22:04
people, End Quote and perhaps that he would make a financial
22:07
contribution. While Ford declined the offer to
22:11
attend, his invitation highlights the importance that
22:14
organizers placed on the event. Reconstruction continued
22:18
throughout the summer, and the accomplishments left the area
22:21
with much to celebrate, although Jubilee organizers kept another
22:25
goal in mind, flood control. This became a pressing concern
22:30
in the following years and eventually led to further
22:32
government intervention. The next three decades saw the
22:36
passage of various flood control acts, including the influential
22:40
Flood Control Act of 1936 and construction of several dams,
22:45
but not until the region suffered more flooding in 1936.
22:50
That year, David Weber, president of the Bankleman
22:52
Chamber of Commerce, sent Governor Cochran a telegram
22:56
lamenting the loss of various bridges and roads that the
22:59
county could not afford to rebuild.
23:01
He insisted that their quote only immediate hope is through
23:04
government assistance and quote Although not as devastating as
23:08
the 1935 flood, this new disaster renewed the call for
23:12
flood control efforts. Organizations such as the
23:16
Republican Valley Association work to gain recognition for
23:20
their concerns. Governor Cochran and other
23:23
government officials petitioned for flood control.
23:25
Senator George Norris pushed for government involvement to
23:29
prevent the recurrence of the 1935 disaster, including a
23:33
regional survey by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
23:36
On June 3rd, 1935, the Committee on Flood Control presented
23:41
Secretary of War Harry H Woodring with a report that
23:44
called for a survey of the Republican and Smoky Hill
23:48
Rivers, along with several tributaries to assess the need
23:51
for flood control measures. Woodring accepted the proposal
23:55
and the report eventually became the basis of HR 8030, passed by
24:00
the House of Representatives on February 17th, 1936.
24:05
The bill retained the report's main provisions, including the
24:08
plan to survey the flood stricken region under the
24:11
direction of the Secretary of War.
24:14
The main addition involved the mention of previous legislation,
24:18
the Flood Control Act of 1917, which gave the government the
24:21
power to look into flood control methods of existing laws
24:25
pertaining to flooding. The 1917 Act was the most
24:29
influential. Originally designed to mitigate
24:31
flooding of the Mississippi River and Sacramento River, the
24:35
Act included several provisions now relevant to the Republican
24:39
Valley, especially Section 3, which allowed for quote
24:43
examinations and surveys, and two works of improvement
24:47
relating to flood control. End Quote.
24:50
However, aside from the 1917 Flood Control Act, the federal
24:54
government in the early 20th century was reluctant to involve
24:57
itself in disaster intervention. The New Deal showed a changing
25:02
mindset when a national flood control program took time to
25:06
develop. The Roosevelt administration
25:08
began taking important steps from the beginning of his
25:11
presidency. The first 100 days saw the
25:15
creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide electricity
25:18
and flood control to that region.
25:20
The idea of a federal agency dedicated to river management
25:24
and improvement was a new concept for the country and the
25:27
TV as early days proved chaotic in terms of legislation.
25:32
Eventually the president authorized the Tennessee Valley
25:36
Authority to begin construction projects such as the Norris and
25:40
Wheeler dams. These dams are among the new
25:43
deals most important legacies for Although the focus of the
25:47
Tennessee Valley Authority was the Tennessee River, the program
25:51
changed public expectations for flood control.
25:54
This in turn, affected the steps taken after the Republican River
25:58
flood. Nebraska's Senator George
26:00
Norris, dubbed the Daddy of the dams by the Montgomery Journal
26:04
in Alabama, became one of the most notable figures in the
26:07
flood control debates. He pushed for flood control in
26:11
eight different river basins besides the Tennessee Valley.
26:15
His efforts, aided by his friendship with President
26:17
Roosevelt, helped create the Tennessee Valley Authority and
26:21
various flood control policies. Another three years passed,
26:25
however, before more uniform flood control policies came
26:28
together with the creation of the Flood Control Act of 1936.
26:33
This act represented an expansion of the federal role in
26:37
efforts to prevent future disasters.
26:40
Section 1 affirmed, quote, that flood control on navigational
26:44
waters or their tributaries is a proper activity of the federal
26:48
government in cooperation with the States.
26:50
End Quote. The Act also recognized floods
26:53
as a menace to national welfare and that Congress was prepared
26:57
to act accordingly. This included the power to
27:01
authorize surveys, which eventually helped to establish
27:04
plans for the flood control in the Republican River Valley.
27:08
On April 10th, 1940, the US Army Chief of Engineers, JL Schley
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presented the Secretary of War with findings from the
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Republican River Basin Survey authorized by HR 8030.
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Both the Secretary of War and the Board of Engineers for
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Rivers and Harbors supported the findings.
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The survey report stated that although flooding was
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infrequent, the region served as a major agricultural center and
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that the government should protect the farmers interests.
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Schlay noted the ineffectiveness of many proposals, such as
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building levees or the idea of building the Milford Reservoir
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at the head of the river. Instead, Schle suggested that a
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reservoir be located in Harlan County, approximately 236 miles
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above the river's mouth. This was eventually done, and
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Harlan County Reservoir is operated by the Corps of
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Engineers to this day. The report also called for
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reservoirs in five other locations, Medicine Creek, Red
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Willow Creek, Frenchman Creek, the South Fork of the Republican
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River, and the Rickery River. These structures would protect
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approximately 287,500 acres in the Republican River Basin,
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including Harlan County. The valley saw the completion of
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seven reservoirs across the Republican River and its
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tributaries. Jason Scott Smith looks at the
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impact of these structures and the new role of the state in
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American life. While many previous presidents
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did not endorse the use of government funds for public
28:42
works, Roosevelt's administration embraced the
28:45
concept to stimulate the economy.
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World War 2 delayed projects, but many of the planned
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reservoirs were underway by 1949.
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Commenting on the construction of Trenton Dam, the Trenton
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Register said it quote is more than a reservoir for irrigation.
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It is a monument to those people who died in this area during the
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flood, whose lives were lost to help to bring to light with
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tragic realization the need for flood control along the
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Republican River. End Quote.
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Though the discussion of flood control had begun almost
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immediately after the 1935 flood, nearly 14 years passed
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before the completion of the first dam.
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During that time, government officials and local residents
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alike strove to recover from the disaster and prevent its
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reoccurrence, working under new assumptions about the role of
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the federal government, assumptions that came out of the
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New Deal and its work in the Republican Valley.
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Thank you for listening to the Nebraska History Podcast.
29:47
To learn more about Nebraska History Magazine, to listen to
29:51
more podcasts, or to support our podcast by becoming a member of
29:54
the Nebraska State Historical Society, go to
29:57
history.nebraska.gov/podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to
30:02
the podcast and get notified when we release new episodes on
30:06
your favorite podcast platform. Until next time, I'm Chris
30:10
Goforth.