The New York herald., 1874-07-15
Luck vs.. Danger.
TROqtnn GlOha JuIv 1A1


The giving way OF the reservoir at Factory Viii
lage, SUNDAY afternoon, soon after the terrible
warnings Of the Mil River disaster, shows how
much danger is to be apprehended from similar
occurrences elsewhere. 1t Is not at all strange
that these disasters have come so near together;
the wonder is that more of them have not been
precipitated by the acknowledged insecurity OF so
many dams in this and other parts Of the country.
1t WILL however. be very cupable neglect II this
state OF things Is allowed to continue. The County
commissioners ought to give especiai attention
10 structures OF this kind, and although
what we know OF the neglect OF those OF
Hampshire in the Mill River case does not inspire
much confidence their careiulness or ability, yet
1t would seem as II even they would profit by the
recent terrible warnings OF their past misconduct
such lamcntable destruction OF human lie as that
at Mill River. yet the damage to property was
great and only fortunate circumstances prevented
similar scenes as those which scarcely more than
seven weeks ago carried mourning and desOlatlon
into SO many homes. This Is the second affair Of
the kind IN Hampshire county in less than two
months, and 1t is notable Us showing the folly or
that suplnencss which trusts to good luck to ward
Off impending dangers.
Although We have not as yet suficient knowl-
edge OF the lacts of the case to with certainty
just where the blame lies, there seems good rea-
son to believe tnat IL IS the Old story the eglecr
OF various parties, each contributing in greater
less degree TO the disastrous result. The fact
that the lower reservoir was built thirty years
ago only emphasizes the need OF constant atrcn-
tion to structures which are likely to be weakened
by the appliances which improvements OF modern
science suggest Tor the safety OF human
life and property. More fortunate than
the Mil River reservoir prOprietOrs, the Middle
field people had hills for the SIDES OF their princi
pal structure and were the better able, therefore,
to make a sufficient outlay for their dam. Tney
seem to have been cOntent, however, with using
the ordinary travelled road i1r th:b purpose, ras-
ing it some twenty feet for a distance OF from
thirty to forty rods. 1t appears that the dam gave
way once before 1t was finished but the confidence
afterwards felt in It's safety does not appear to
have been cssened during the years In which its
foundations must have been steadily though
insdousy sapped. We may we'll ask,
what were the County Commissioners doing during
that perod9 IL 1t possible that they regard road.
side dam against which water covering 100 acres
and exposed to danger from the proximity of q
reservoir higher up the stream, and covering from
fifty to eighty acres. as proof against the swollen
foods caused by rain among the hils2 AS It was
the upper reservoir. built twelve years ago, which
gave way first, 1t would seem as II the nearer the
construction came TO the present time the nlmsier
1t is. Although the lower reservoir did not break
down so utterly rs the upper one, yet the water
which dashed over and through its shattered dam
did great deal OF damage.