Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-06-12
The Danger from Dams.
Erom the Now York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
In December, 1857, half q million of pso
pie were destroyed by the overionIng of
the yellow River Ia China and a whole DIS
triot of tie Empire was laid waste. 1t was
calamity which seemed to US to be posi-
bic only in a country that had not reached
the high development of civilization pre-
vaiing here.
Yet if the region devastated by the Con-
emaugh food last week had been as dense
ly populated as the Chinese prcvince OF
Honsn, the loss of life might have been as
great. II Jchnsto~n had been q communi-
ity as numerous as many communities In
that fertile Chinese district, the multitude
of those who persisted would have been in
creased by tens OF thousands. For the tor
rent was irresistabIe, and the loss of life
would have been measured by the number
of people dwelling along its course.
We see, therefore, that .even Western
Civilization and Western engineering have
proved no more capable than the Oriental To
stay and control the forces of nature in
such emergency. II il not possible 10
determine yet whether sDysconsti uction ot
the North Fork dam or any carele.sn-ss lin
its m. .intainance coptributsd TO bring abo o
the awful catastrophe but the damage
wrought by the .prlng frsshets in maLy
parts OF the country last week suggests a
reasC nable doubt whether blame can be
Justly laid on the shoulders Of the engi neers
and the custodians OF the ;structure. Per
ksps II might have given away under the
tremendous, the iunforseen snd the eItraor-
dInary strain 10 which it was subje cted, no
nesring precautions, sccordiag to all th-
rule, and calculations of the lbest practice
of the profession. But we may properly
doabi the wisdom of buil3ing any great
dan in a situation like that chosen for tss
Nsrih Fork dam.
The question is of importance and perth
Dese TO the people of New York At -hi-
time because there is now7s proposition TO
bald by far the greatest cam in the world
to the north OF the town for the purpo,s of
holding the waters of the Croton basin, 80
that they may be sent to the city through
| ,hs new aqueduct. undoubtedly the
scheme has the support of the highss; epgi
neering talent and experience and II has
/ been considered in 81 its bsar;Egs for
many years The engineer of the old sque
duet and Mr. Church, the present consult.
/ ing engineer, under whose supervision the
new squsduct has heen built we,e in entire
agreement that the dam offered the best 30
luton of the problem OF q watsT supply 70,
New York. Nor do We knos of sny hy-
dEaulic engineer in this couzirv Of superior
professional standing, Who ass not gissn
hIs assent to the project a. feasible and as
desirable. 1--we are to rely on the 0Totor
basin for our sniire water supply there may
be no doubt that the construction OF The
dam is e.seatial- That II can be bnilt at
cost that is hardly salc ulable, and that wbel
il 10 built it will oe one OF the wonders o
the world, 10 not less doubtful.
} Yet after the experience Of the bursting
J OF the Mil River dam in MASSACHUSETTS L
, years ago, and OF the Conomaugh dam il
. Pcnesy Ivanis last, will rot engineers hest