, 1889-06-13
roo MUCH INDIFFERENCE.

NOW tuWJ tUt REtd'tNt W N'0""
tsrs has been recorded among the actual
events Of the present, II is easy to hear
universal condpm nation of the careless
ness and Indifference that led to this
aw ful affair. Ii 10 now very freely assert
ed that it was almost il not quite criminal
carelessness TO allow the South Fork dam
to exist Ia condition that placed the
lives of thousands Of people IN danger. 1t
may be said by some and believed by
Others that this great calamity was one
taat could not have been foreseeu and pre-
vented; that 1t was occasioned by an un'
exampled pressure Of water caused
by rainfall rather than the de-
fec:ive human structure to which
the disaster Is usually attributed,
But the fact stands out in contradiction to
this theory that serious consequences had
been predicted from this dam for q year
or two past, aad that the attention of the
authorities and others had been repeated y
called to it, One resident Ia the unfortu.
nate valley attributes the disaster to a
variety Of human causes. including the
defective condition OF the dam, the mar
ro wing and changing of the river and the
improper construction OF railway or oss
ings. These latter causes may have agg,a.
vated the consequences Of the breaking of
the dam, but the primary cause OF this
terrible disaster Ia trsceable to the defect
i've dam itself and this defect in the dam
represents what seems to be modern
indifference TO the endangering of human
life.
Some statements have been put forth
that the dam was perfect structure, built
in accordance with approved plans. and
that il was being closely looked after and
kept in good repair, and that constant re.
gard was had for the safety Of those whose
lives were In the breach below. This
statement does not appear to be verified.
The lake back of this dam was a mile or
40 in width and several miles long, and in
depth it was in places as much as hun
dred feet. The lake or reservoir was con.
structed in cleft or ravine at great ele-
walton above the valley and neces-
EARLY was the receptacle for any
amount Of water that might be
suddenly precipitated on the sur
rounding water shed. To resist such
a strain it would seem that the first
thought, even of a layman, would be the
very strongest walls of masonry capable of
being devised--walls of great width and
height and imbedded an immense depth
-. 1a lpofau1 nE ofr PM nf
this character it seems that the dam was
largely of earth aud shale. and
that tho rough stones piled up on each
side of the wall we're not even cemented
together. Even the rude waste gates that
might have been used to good advantage
were out of order and out of use.
1t is of course not to be presumed for a
moment that those owning and controlling
this diminutive ocean of destruction ever
suspected that it would be the means of
perhaps never seriously reflected upon the
subject and herein lies their fault. There
is too much indifference to the possible
loss OF human life. Perhaps the laws re-
lating to criminal neglect will have to be
so enforced as to produce a auickeuing of
the public regard in such cases.
This disaster should cause all those upon
whose preliminary care and caution lives
are dependent to use greater care and
more constant thought as TO possible dan
gers. Railroad companies should know
that their bridges are all sound, that tres
ties are in condition of thor
ouRh repair and that every rod Of
road is as safe as human skill
can make IL. The owners of vessels
that may possibly he unseaworthy should
refrain from taking the rick Of leaving
port. In fact, every man at his post
should take this disaster as warning to
be on the alert and to DO his duty by
giving the alarm at the proper
time. II is not often that human
or indifference would
result az disastrously as in this case, but
the greatness of the disaster is not the
measure for the necessity of caution where
the loss OF life is involved. The loss of q
single human being through the careless
ness ot another is a serious matter that is
viewed too lightly in most cases.