The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-01-31
There is No Danger Under Present
Conditions.
FLOOD MAY CAUSE DISASTER
Therefore Some Work Will Be Done
at Once to Prevent the Posi-
6i'ity of a Break.

Indian creek reservoir, from which
the lands at Orchard are irrigated.
He found the reservoir perfectly
safe under present conditions, but
he is satisfied that it would be dan
eerous if another food should come
such as that of last week. Believ
ing that it be altogether indefensible
to run the risk of having the reser-
voir broken by another heavy
downpour of rain, Mr.. Ross has
taken steps to have the bank cut in
such a manner that the water will
flow off in the event of further
rise without endangering the EN-
bankment.
He has notified the management
of the company owning the reser-
voir to make such a cut and at the
same time is preparing to present
the case to Judge Stewart through
the county attorney with view to
having an order issued under which
the cutting may be done under his
direction. The matter could not be
presented to Judge Stewart yester-
day, but will be taken up without
delay. In the meantime County
Attorney Neal will consult with
Judge Beatty of the United States
court concerning the matter, as the
property is in charge of a receiver,
who is working under the direction
Of that court.
The Short Line company, which
is greatly interested in preventing a
break of the reservoir stands ready
to furnish a crew at once with all
necessary equipment to do the work
that is needed. On his visit to the
reservoir Mr.. Ross found that it
, already contained 40 per cent more
water than it held at any time last
year. This all accumulated during
the recent flood. The water had
: risen to within IS feet OF the crest
| of the dam. The upper part Of
t that dam has never been tested,
and A. J. Wiley, the engineer under
4 whose direction it was constructed,
t notified the management some time
$ ago that it might not be safe tc
r permit the water to rise to within
20 feet of the crest. The water is
b still II feet below the waste way
O but because of the possible condi
ton of the upper part of the dan
it is deemed unsafe to let it rise
any higher.
1t was Mr.. Wiley's plan to have
: the flow of water controlled by thu
q valve, drawing it off through thu
D. tunnel in case of an excessive sup
u ply. With that end in view, ht
y gave directions to have the TUNE
s. lined with brick, so that full heac
of water could be turned through
it. This was not done. however
and the tunnel remained in The
J. condition in which it was left wher
the reservoir was completed, the
y earth sides being simply plastered
T. with cement. Under these condi.
tons Engineer Ross is of the
Q opinion it will be unsafe to turn in
,, more than 40 second feet, as a
d greater flow, with its necessarily
increased velocity, might cause
+ erosion in tie tunnel and thus I'm.
), dermine the dam, bringing about
II the catastrophe which it is aimed
n to avert.
Q The tunnel would carry 80 second
J. feet if it were bricked up and would
then lower the water fast enough tc
remove danger in case of anothe,
Hood the stream flowing into the
4 reservoir carried 40 second feet
: and if the flow should again become
SO great it would lift the level O.
the water to the top of the dam il
two days.-Statesman.
e The POcateIIO Shops.