New-York tribune., 1874-05-20
THE MILL RIVER CALAMITY.
THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION.

'"S'' vi sPEClAL IHE
RUINED DIsTRIcr-PRoMPr ACTION EXPECTED
INDIGNATION OF TIE LEGIsLAToRs ON ExAMIN-
ho IHs FLIMsY CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAM.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSE.l
NORTHAMPTON, May 19-The special Legislative
committee appointed yesterday was promptly on
the ground this morning and devoted the entire day
to minute and personal inspection of the and
causes 0f the disaster Much of the distance Of nine
miles swept by the food was traversed foot, and
at every village the intelligent citizens sup
pied full information. The Committee return
to Boston tonight, and will give a hearing
thursday to any citizens of Northampton
ana Williamsburg who may have further
statements to present. A bill will be matured and
reported promptly, and tho legislative action will
be available at very early day. Williamsburg to-
day presented an estimate for the rebuilding of her
roads and bridges amounting to $ll4,O00, and re-
duction of her valuation of half million. North
ampton has not yet made up her figures, but those
for replacing the of travel will probably not
be more than half those of Williamsburg. Legisla-
tive aud is expected in the form of direct appro
priation for public repairs, and this hope was en-
couraged by the Commit during their visit to-day
Senator Edison. .Charmaniof the Committee, stated
to TRIBUNE reporter this evening that the Com
mittee would undoubtedly agree to reasonable re-
ducton OF the valuation of the suffering towns and
that further legislation. requiring commission for
the official inspection of all reservoirs, with power
and authority similar to that of steam-boiler in
spectors will be recommended The temper of the
Legislature is reported both iberal and just, and
while the stricken towns will be generously dealt
with, measures for future protection will not be
neglected. Senator Edison also remarked that he
regarded the Williamsburg reduction of $50O0o0 in
valuation as inadequate, fOrl while this amount
might represent the value of the property actually
destroyed, it would not cover the depreciation in
that remaining.
Tomorrow Representative Wilson, a member of
the Committee, and an engineer of high repute, will
make personal inspection Of the remaining reser-
voirs in Goshen and adjoining towns, on which the
Mill River manufacturers had relied for water. The
supply has been drawn off to insure safety, and be-
cause there can be, this Summer no use for it,
The journey through the valley this morning was
one of intense interest The wreck has scarcely
been touched, and the awful reality of which words
can give no description, is little changed since the
fatal hour. Only to those before familiar with the
villages does the whole effect and extent of the ruin
appear. Whole streets of houses blocks of tene-
ment houses strings of manufactures, churches,
stores, and schools are actually wiped out,
utterly obliterated. Not one stone IS left
upon another, nor a trace remaining to tell a
stranger that the site ever occupied. Streets,
fields, aud once fertile meadows are covered with
masses Of sand, gravel, and debris and thousands OF
great white and brown powders lie thickly strewn
on every hand. Fragments of clothing caught
aloft in the trees leave signals Of distress Houses
overturned and wrecked, searchers for the dead,
usually in groups of half dozen or more sadly and
stealthly peerng into the bushes and among the de-
brs for the lost form, make up scene never before
imagined in this peaceful valley. Everywhere the
moving fringe of spectators skirts the valley, decor
ous and oIaery for the most part. and outnumber-
ing to-day those Of previous day since tho dis
aster
At Leeds troops were picketed around the depot,
and at Haydenville Gordon of militia and police
protected the ruins of Hayden. Gere Il Co.'s works.
The two large safes which were swept down with
this mill had Just been recovered and opened. the
contents being saturated by water and packed with
mud, but not destroyed. From Williamsburg, the
legislative party pushed three miles further to
the reservoir the origin Of the river. and here
the expressions quickly changed from pity and
sympathy to unmingled and intense indignation.
The Hon. Lewis BOdman, who was associated and
interested with Gen. HAYDEN nine years
ago in the construction of the reservoir, and
was with the company, repeated frankly and ear
nestly the doubt which he long ago expressed to
of the villagers that the reservoir likely to give
away were fully confirmed and from the statements
made it would appear that from the very beginning
the reservoir was not trusted. Even Cheney, the
eateman it is said had ridden his horse in hot haste
down the valley several times before to warn the
dwellers below, and had been also reprmanded for
circulating among the villagers his doubt of the
reservoir.
The whole design and construction Of the broken
dam appear to have been cheap and faulty in the ex
treme. "Child's play" "a boys DAM" were some of
the unofficial and individual verdicts of the members
of the Committee on the work Loose bowld lders, gath
cred from the surrounding fields laid on the surface
of the ground formed the foundation of the1wall
which above this 30 feet, growing cheaper
and more fmsy with each foot of ascent
until at the top it was mere row of cobble-stones
Each side was banked with earth, fine and shifting
sand, and from end to end. l4O feet, the wall was
without support OF buttress. The soil on which the
dam stood is full Of closters and secret springs,
which doubtless wrought, by undermining the low
est stone, the beginning of the evil Bassetf, the
contractor who built the dam. was on the
ground, and attempted to Justify his work
by stating that it exceeded the specifications,
and that the blame belonged to the engineer who
planned and the County Commissioners who ac-
ceped the work. The full facts and the just dstri-
button of the criminal blame, which none desire,
will be the object of the Coroners investigation,
which will begin in day or two, with jury
specially selected from the best citizens OF the en-
tire county. The session will be held in the Court
house in this town.
SCENES IN THE TRACK OF THE FLOOD.
THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE DEVASTATED
DIsTRICT-GREAT DIFFICULTY EXPERIENCED IN
RECOVERING DEAD Observation-Disclosures IN