The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-01
The Great Flood and its Resuits-rhe Cro.on
DaIn Swept Away.


Dam swept Away.
The recent heavy fall Of rain has caused the
most serious damage, am the loss by It is al
most incalculable. In the north and north
eastern part of this State there was heavy de-
post of snow, all Of which has of course melted,
and, joining with the deluge of rain, it has
swelled the small mountain streams to torrents
These, rushing downward to the rivers, have
overfowed their banks-innocent cascades have
suddenly become mighty leaping torrents-th'
alluvial deposits on the river slopes have be en-
mingled with the flood-and the result IS 4 &C.
ries of disasters to property to repay which
millions of dollars will be required.
The various railways converging. to New
York, and having tt cir course by ttAe sea or by
the river, such as The Hudson River Railroad,
the Harlem, the Erie, the Carnden and Amboy
Railroad, and others, have been severely
damaged by ! AID slides, destruction OF bridges,
DC, and the leaention of travellers, the mails and
freight, vii A disarrange business to most an
noying e, tent Not only property but life has
been sac rifced, as will be seen by the accounts
of the Jarrying away of an embankment on the
Erie road at Stairway station, by which nine
men we're precipitatcd into the water, seven Of
who I'M were drownded, and Of the land slide at
Br ooklyn Heights. Manufactures of all kinds
III be obliged to suspend operations for several
Gays, and the HERALD is suffering for the want
of the required quantity of paper for its edition
| But the most serious effect df the storm, as
{ far as the people of New York city are
concerned, remains to be told. News was
xy,:. -, al far1au
afternoon, that the great dam over the Gro
ton river had given way before the force
of the swollen current, and that the supply Of
water for the aqueduct was consequently cut
off until the damage could be repaired. The
extent of this calamity may be imagined, when
we consider the fact that the city of New York
receives from the Croton river over twenty
five millions of gallons of water per diem, and
that even this amount is no more than is actu-
ally needed to supply the wants of the citizens
Immediately after the receipt of this intelli-
gence, the Croton Water Board was convened,
} and measures will be taken to repair the dam
age at once. There is supply of water in the
reservoirs sufficient for several days consump-
ton. and it is hoped that the dam may be re-.
paired in two days time.
In the meantime, the Mayor has issued his
, proclamation, informing the citizens of the
state of affairs, and calling upon them to use
their individual exertions in economisng the
amount of water to be used until it is announc-
ed that the dam is repaired We will not at
tempt description of the horrors and annoy
ance. which must ensue in great city like this
should the supply of water be cut off for an
hour even. Every person must be fully aware
of the dangers that menace us in view of such
, q state of things, and we trust that all good
, citizens will join with the authorities in their
: endeavors to bring about a careful husbandry
of the supply of water now in the reservoirs.
We have given above but hurried glance at
the mischief which has been done by this almost
unprecedented spring food. Our columns con-
tain such particulars as our reporters and cor
respondents were able to gather yesterday, but
, we fear that but half Of the sad story has been
! told We shall hear Of nothing during the next
E week but land slides, railways demolished, mails
i and travellers detained, bridges swept away,
telegraph lines disarranged; mills and manu-
4 factories stopped; but we trust that we shall
have to record no more losses of life. The ca
lendar of eighteen hundred and fifty -four is al
; ready bloody record reeking with the last
walls of burned, drowned, and mangled men,
women and children: