The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-14
MASSACHUSETTS,
Another Reservoir Disaster.

SPRISGFIELD, July l3.-DctallS are
coming to hand of the second flood in
Hampshire county, Mass, caused by the
giving way of the reservoir of the factory
at the village of Middlefeld The Union
gives the following particulars in its
noon edition: The reservoir was
situated on Middleford brook which
empties into the west branch of
of the Wcstfeld river at Middlefield
Switch. 1t covered nearly one hundred
acres, and was built about thirty years
ago, by Uriah Church, the father Of the
present owners. The reservoir was made
by raising the main road from Middle
field Centre to North Beckel hills, on
either side of the stream forming the
sides of the reservoir. The road dam was
raised about twenty 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 n safe A. far as
the purpose Of furnishing. additional
water for a large new mill now being
erected. 1t was the intention to
raise the dam two feet. The present
season the reservoir was used for the >tor-
age Of water for Church Bros, and run
ming two broad cloth mills, one for
William Blush, and Tclloc. Hill, x
Stones factory. and for mill owned by
Oliver Blush, formerly used aS WoOlen
Mill. but lately aS GriSt Mill, These
were all mills situated ou the Middle
field branch. Below the reservoir be-
tween Middlefeld switch and Chester
there is upon the west branch Of the
Wcstfield river. into which the Middle
field stream enters, Vests wooden mill.
formerly used as shoddy mill. From
Middlciield switch the food poured down
toward Chester where it did
very serious damage. The water
swept over farms gardens,
and woods and several houses were
moved some distance. The heaviest
loser at Chester is DR.. Hemans LuciuS,
who estimates his loss at $4,000 By the
partial sweeping away of his emery mill.
The water went through the lower story,
carving off about $1,000 worth Of emery.
The water also did considerable dam
age to the Hanum Edge Tool Com
panv. The water power, of this
company is entirely destroyed. Lucius
farm of thirty acres was badly damaged;
also the large farm of Newton Cowlc,.
Nearly all of the valley residents in the
vicinity of Chester have suffered more or
less BY the damage to farms and gardens.
Bradford PalmerS barn and Samuel
Otis shoe shop were moved some dis
lance and VIM. Fay Il Sons furniture
ware house was badly flooded The
building was undermined and turned
partly around. The high water
continued ut Chester for about
an hour. The town of Chesterfield >ut-
fcrS heavily in the loss Of bridges and
damage to roads; four bridges were ear
ricd of and t" replace these bridges will
cost about ten thousand dollars, besides
several thousand dollars to repair road
The Boston and Albany railroad l. very
badly damaged for distance of u~prly
twenty mlcs Every bridge between
Middicfcld and Huntington j. wholly
or partly destroyed. The road-hrd j.
also 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
rs to the loss of life at Blush Hollow,
which. it is now thought must have been
hln