Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-05-03
AT THE RIVER.
TIE BULLION STREET BRIDGE
COMPARATIVELY SAFE.

FLOAT IL V0-A Snort 00ukoe00 e00S
Shonld 10 Leugthenel- Water
Up to the Axles Of Wagoss-etc.
Tho volume Of water flowing in
Wood River is steadily increasing.
1t is greatest about 10 or II o'clock
At night, and leas. in the morning.
To-day the surface OF the water was
within four feet, by actual measure.
ment. OF tho under side Of the
stringers or long s,mhers to winch the
flooring Of the bridge is nailed. The
bridge 10 therefore not endangered
by the water At present, and IL not
likely to be, 10 = raise Of four feet
would ju.t bring the water to the
bottom Of the stringers, which are on
. level with the base of the bench
west Of River street. This would 70.
quire Eve to ten times tho quantity Of
water now flowing in the river.
But although the water may not
raise sufficiently to wash the bridge
away there is danger to b apprs.
hended from driftwood that may
lodge seainst it and throw i. from it,
foundations. There 10 already . log
caught in the dam that may be the
nucleus for IN avalanche of driftwood
that would sweep everything before
It. II = few more logs catch on this
and the whole E. t. loose 1t once and
thrown against tho bridge it will
break il about tho center and carry
every vestige of it down stream with
almost hghsn,ng like rapidity.
There is 4 bulkhead At The east end
Of tho bridge which has proved the
salvation Of the bridge, and has paid
for itsrl' 10 times over by saving the
from washing away. 1t
consists Of about half.a dox pies
and 100 feet Of inch boards, and was
put in by Lew. Dorsey when Road
Supervisor. This bulkhcsd is almos,
tight, and confines the water to the
banks OF the River At that place.
But for this tho bridge would have
gone, any time that the water has
risen foot or two. II this bulkhead
could BE- extended to the end Of the
dam, it would make the approaches t,
the bridge still moro secure by keep.
ing the water out of the depression
between tho Bullion street road and
the bridge, Ut the last turn to get to
the bridge. This would be very do
sirable, - tho water in that hollow
already covers the axles of the wagons
drawn through it, and it the water
raises another foot it will be ,mpos-
'ibIe to haul anything through it in
wagons without wetting it thoroughly.
On the west side of the river the
condition Of affairs seems to be salts
factory to the electric light people
and others interested. Mr.. Burkhart
Ems to he very sure that the water
cannot raise high enough to damage
his ditch to any extent, nor his mill,
nor the electric light works, nor the
houses thereabout. He has made 4
roadway or emhankment between the
river and his ditch, and be believes
that this will be as good as levee on
the Mississippi river. He fears for
the dam, however, and most people
who know anything about the con-
dition Of affairs will agree With him.
The water has scarcely begun to
raise yes, ~ tho snow in the mountains
10 not melting. Tho water 90 far has
come from Croy, Deer, and Indian
Creeks and tho East Fork Of Wood
River, comparatively little coming
from Kstchum and above. But
during the next six or eight weeks the
snow in the mountains will melt, and
BY the middle or end OF June the big
food may be expected.