New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-06
AN INVESTIGATION NEEDED.

The Conemaugh massacre has had an ex-
ceptional history in the fact that the hrSt re-
ports greatly underestimated the destruction
of life. The figures bounded upward for days
and even now, nearly week after the catastro-
nbe il is not certain that the highest numbers
q;ven thus far will not need to DO increased.
Tho public has apparently been enlightened
with regard to the causes of the disaster much
in the same way. 1t was at first understood
that this was due to an unexampled pressure OF
water caused by overwhelming freshets, which
could not possibly have been foreseen' ana
which the work of human hands could not re-
sist. IL was given out that the dam was
splendid structure, built in the best possible
manner, and maintained with every care for tho
safety Of all. The later statements are CONNECT
ing. but enough has already been disclosed 70
raise a strong presumption not only that tho
enlargement of the dam, and the increase OF
its height, brought upon it strain Tor "hich IL
was not planned at the outset, but that as orig
inally built, it was defective, in the very char
acter of its structure, for the purpose 10 when
il WIS put. Laymcn may well exercise some
reserve in forming opinions upon large en-
cheering work which members of the probes
sion ara said to have approved but there is no
longer any doubt that the condition OF the
South Fork dam had been subject oil ANXIOUS
speculation for years and that the disaster
which has now come had been frequently pre-
dicted, though probably none OF those VINO
foresaw it had any conception OF the a"iui
dimensions il would assume.
In order TO hold back an artificial lake mile
or moro wide several miles long and in places
hundred feet deep, the South Fork dam ought
10 have been the best structure Of solid masonry
which engineering skill and money could com
mand. The statements now coming from NSrl
oils soures mise a serious doubt whether II was
really entitled TO the namo Of masonry. Mr..
William Henry Smith, general manager oil tho
Associated Press, reports tho statement OF
large mine owner in Cambria County, who pro
tested against tho dam while it was building
and frequently afterward thnt II was made up
principally OF Shale and clay. Tho statements
Of correspondents who have visited the scene
tend TO confirm these allegations. The dam Is
described as really huge earth embanKmch'
faced on both sides With heavy rough stones
which were not cenented. II IL also said that
tho waste gates, which might hove saved tho
dam and the lives Of It's thousands OF victims
had fallen into state Of permanent diSnse'
II all this DO true, this sad event IL likely to
be memorable, in part, for the carcleNsnesS and
indifference which made it possible, not only Of
those who were responsible for tho condition Of
the dam, but also Of those whose lives were
threatened by it. There will be no disposition
in any quarter to pursue with PASSION or VIM
dictivcness those persons who may now appear
to be at least negatively chsrgcablo with this
sacrifice Of human life. But when the first and
pressing duty Of relieving suffering and taking
measures to prevent pestence has been i"I-
filled there should 10 q careful and impartial
investigation into the causes aud circumstances
of the disaster.