Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-28

anu prepared tpem iof tue fush VI /
waters. While this was going on the |
people residing near the river banks |
in both North and South Durango
were being notified Of the danger and
IT is easy to imagine the CONSERVATION
that prevailed. Men. women and child
ren dressed hastily and some half
clad sought places OF safety, many
fearing that ihc water was close at
hand. Along Mexican fats there was
great excitement, families bewilder-
ed and half afraid 10 try and save
their personal belongings. Express
wagons were early on the scene and
the moving OF household effects he
gan and continued with much energy
for an hour or so.
shortly aftor the first alarm came
the information that the rush Of
wates had passed lockwood This
was followed by information that the
little stream flowing from the reser-
volr country had risen six or eight
feet and out of It's banks but tnat no
food was coming from the reservoir
and in about an hour tension was
greatly relieved to the effect that
there was no apparent increase in
the aow. Chief Engineer H. r. Hen
derson was eagerly sought and he said
he could not believe there was any
danger. that the flow was no greater
than would he occasoned by one OF
The nesdgates being opened and it
was given out later that the reservoir
superintendent had opened one Of
them.
AS the day began to dawn and the
water at lockwood had not increased
anxiety lessened and people returned
home for breakfast.
At II o'clock Mr.. Henderson called
at The Herald office and furnished
the following particulars; In the con
strIction of the dam the pillng was
supposed To rest entirely on rock bot
tom 1t seems that in driving some
OF the piling frozen ground was taken
Tor rock. This ground was in broken
chunks and in thawing out had evi'
| IDENTIFY settled. thereby causing "A leak.
II was through this leak the water was
coming at the rate Of about loo feet
ner second. that the leak could not
and would not endanger the rest OF
the dam owing TO its solid construct
ion. Mr.. Henderson further stated
hat tho plans of the dam had beer
approved by the state officials and The
best hydraulic engineers in the coun
try for safety. He also assured u.
that in case the dam gave way the
volume of water In the Animas coult
not possibly be Increased to exceed II
feet at this point and only those liv
ing on very low lands and adjoining
the river wer. in the least danger A
ll:I5 a special train was made NJ
conveying Mr.. Henderson and other'
to lockwood from which point the,
viii he taken with all possible speef
10 the dam
t While the statements Of MIR. Hen
ierson are reassuring, at the SAINT
, time the people Of Durango and th'
, Auimas valley have been given
scare from which they will not sool
recover as it reveals the great dan
, ger in case the dam should give way
True. the width Of the Animas vale,
would provide storage for the vas
, volume and The Herald does not ap
; prehend that any great damag
would be occasioned Durango. in th'
way of loss OF life, but IL would h,
hard on the valley people who's,
homes were flooded. It will be born
In mind that there is only marrow
passage way just above Animas Cit,
, which would confine the water to al
most the regular channel.
The Herald sincerely trusts ou
people will never have another sim
lar scare.
i. r, C. Grsden telephoDed from Rock
wood about one o'clock that all dan
ger was over
Mr.. Henderson did not get ava
until this afternoonh the train convey
. ing him reaching lockwood at 3: :3C
The Herald called lockwood a
2;45 this afternoon, Just before goini
to press and was informed that a mes
sage from Sam Henderson, who Is a
the dam. states the leak has beel
stopped and that all danger is over
The little stream at lockwood ha
assumed its natural trend and all /
well onre more. The above informa
tion was also conveyed to The Heral,
office from the company's Duraug
ONCE few minutes later.
The Herald congratulates the pee
: pie of the Animas valley and tn
power company on the outcome.