Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-07
THE BROKEN DAM,

COnSlderaDle dlScuSSlOn Is now gong on in the press of the country in rela ton to the condition of the Conemaugh dam previous to the great disaster that let loose it's impounded waters last Fri day to carry death and destruction in their mad course through the valley. Serious talk is being indulged in, and there is an evident disposition to fix the responsibility for the break where it belongs. It is beginning to appear from the partial investigations already made that the dam was neither properly con- structed in the first place nor properly guarded or cared for afterwards. Being maintained as pleasure resort for cer- tain wealthy gentlemen with Waltonian proclivities little heed was paid to the condition of the dam except by a few cautious individuals whose repeated warnings of it's insecure and unstable character were hailed as the ebullitions of cranks. Had their remonstrances been needed in time the terrible disaster that has spread its gloom over the key stone state might have been averted.
 The club to whom the broken dam belonged, as told by one of the cor respondents on the scene, is social org anization recruited from among wealthy residents of Philadelphia and Pittsburg. These gentlemen formed a company, with shares at S1, 1000 each, purchased ground on the banks of the South fork and proceeded to improve it. With reckless disregard of danger to the city below it they filled up gap in the old dam with stones and rubbish to form an artificial lake. Instead of intrusting the work co competent engineers and con- sulting the safety of the city the club got through its work in a perfunc:ory manner, leaving the dam without even sluice gate. Shale and clay took the place of solid masonry in the embank- ment, and straw was depended on to stop the leaking water while the work was going on. Remonstrance after re- monstrance was made to the club by residents of the valley, and all alike wel @ contemptuously ignored. It is alleged however, that before securing the char ter to build the dam the club was obliged to file an indemnity bond of S3, ,000, GOO to insure against damage likely to result from the structure. If this is so there would seem to be an opportunity to se- cure some small reparation at least by the seizure of the bond. No amount of money can repair of course the awful waste of human life, but it is gratifying to know that some of the property losses can at least be made good.
 When the responsibility is properly fixed, and there seems little reason to doubt that much of it is located rightly at the doors of the South Fork fishing club, there ought to be prompt work in meting out punishment. If criminal action cannot be taken against the wealthy anglers, they ought at least be made to pay to the amount of their in- demnity bond for the losses of property their carelessness has caused. The men who built the dam and the men for whom it was built are equally guilty of the blood of all the thousands who per ished in the awful disaster, and there should be little disposition to shield them from the consequences of their terrible negligence.
 It is time for stern and unforgiving measures.