The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-16
ANornEE pAM pIsAsrEE.

traces.
ANoTHER DAM DISASTER.
A Reservoir at AIiddIefeld. Massachusetts
Breaks Away-NGIIis and Dwellings swept
on, Farms inundated, and probable Loss
ofLife-Great Destruction Of Property.
SPRIsGFIELD, July 13.-Details are
coming to hand of the second great
food in Hampshire county, Mass /,
caused by the giving way OF the res
ervoir of factory at the village of
Middlefeld. The UntO31 gives the
following particulars in its noon edi-
ton: The reservoir was situated on
MiddIefeld brook, which empties into
the west branch OF Westfield River
at MiddIefieId switch. 1t covered
nearly one hundred acres, and was
built about thirty years ago by Uriah
Church, father of the present owners.
The reservoir was made by raising the
main road from Middlefield Center to
North Beckett hills on either side of
the stream, forming the sides of the
reservoir. The road dam was raised
about thenty feet for distance of
from thirty to forty rods. The dam
gave way once before it was finished,
but since its completion it has been
regarded as safe. For the purpose of
furnishing additional water for a large
new mill now being erected, it was
the intention to raise the dam two
feet the present season. The reser-
vOirs were used for the storage of wa
ter for for Church Brothers, running
the broad cloth mills for William
Blush, of Felloe Hill, and staye factory,
and for mill owned by Oliver Blush
and formerly used as a WOODEN mill,
but lately as a grist mill. These were
all the mills situated on the Middle
field branch. Below the reservoir, be-
tween Mlddlefeld switch and Chester,
there is upon the west branch OF
Westfield river, into which the Mid
dlefeld stream enters is Vests wool
en- mill, formerly used as shoddy
mill, and at Chester there is the Hamp-
den emery mill. From Middlefleld
switch the flood poured down toward
Chester, where it did very serious
damage. The waters swept over farms
and gardens aud woods, and several
houses were moved some distance.
The heaviest loser at Chester is DIR.
Hemans Lucien, who estimates his
loss at $4,000 by the partial sweeping
away OF his emery mill. THE water
went through the lower story, carry
ing off about s., 900 worth of emery.
The water also did considerable dam
age to Hanum Edge Tool Company.
The water pewer of this company is
entirely destroyed. Lucien's farm of
fifty acres was badly damaged, also
the large farm of Newton CoWles.
Nearly all of the valley residents in
the vicinity of Chester. have suffered
more or less by damage to farms and
gardens. Bradford Palmer's barn and
Samuel Otis's shoe shop were moved
some distance, and McFavs s. Sons
furniture warehouse was badly flood
ed out. The building was undermin-
ed and turned partly around, High
water continued at Chester for about
an hour.
The town of Chester suffers heavily
in loss of bridges and damage to roads.
Four bridges were carried off and to
replace these bridges will cost about
$4,000 besides. several thousand dol
lars to repair roads. The Boston s.
Albany Railroad is very badly danlag
ed for distance of nearly twenty
miles. Every bridge between Middle
field and Huntingdon is wholly or
partly destroyed. The road bed is al
so washed out in many places. and
travel between this city and Albany
will be suspended for several days,
The wires are still down beyond
Chester. and no definite Information
has been received as to the loss of life
at Blush Hollow, which it, is now
thought must have been considerable.
SPRINGFIELD, July ia special
dispatch to the Union from Chester
gives the following additional partic-
ulars of the flood: About twelve
years ago a second reservoir was built
about three miles further up stream,
by the Church brothers. This was
smaller than tie lower one, and COW
cred from fifty to eighty acres. The
upper reservoir broke away first, and
swept over lower reservoir with an
immense volume of water, making a
break of about four rods in the high
way dam of the lower reservoir. The
upper reservoir was bHiltof earth, and
the whole dam suddenly gave way.
Harry Meacham was at the reservoir
at the time, aud made haste 10 warn
the people at Blush Hollow. Ills
warning and the fact that but part of
the lower reservoir dam gave way,
prevented loss of life, and also very
much Iessened the damage done. The
Boston and Albany Railroad Compa-
NY suffer heavily at Middlefield switch
| The long two arehed stone bridge, un-
der which the Middlefield Brook and
turnpike run, was swept away, and a
considerable length of the track,
amounting in all to about two hun
! dred feet. 1t will cost about 100000
to repair this break, and will require
considerable time.
Between Middlefield Switch and
Chester Depot there are eight railroad
bridges, five of which are either un-
harmed or but slightly damaged. Two
of these are of stone, costing each
/ $4,000. Or the three bridges which
are so badly damaged as to need to be
entirely rebuilt, one is a stone bridge,
costing $4,000; the two others are
those next west of Chester one oil
which was to have been replaced this
fall by an iron bridge. The loss on
these bridges is about $4,000.
The Springfield Republican esti-
mates the damage by the Middlefield
disaster in round numbers at $3.50, 900
nearly half of which falls upon the
Boston 81 Albany Railroad. There
was no loss of life. Through travel
westward can hardly be resumed be-
fore Thursday, while it is quite posi-
BILE the railroad will not go into run
ming order until later.