The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-22
Waters Break Loose From the
Large Reservoir and Sweep
Down the Canyon.
LIVELY LITTLE CITY is
PARTIALLY UNDER WATER
Business Houses Inundated and
Large Stocks of Merchan-
disc Ruined.
Special TO The Tribune.

| Special TO The Tribune.
! PAYSON. MAY 2l.-One of the most
exciting and damaging misfortunes that
has happened to Payson in its history oc
| CURED this morning at O'Clock. when the
| waters from one OF the reservoirs In the
canyon (the exact one is nor YET known
broke loose and a torrent OF water rushed
down upon the inhabitants and caused
! much damage The excitement was in
! tense during the force OF the flood, but,
| fortunately nobody was injured. save in
| financial way. and the damage will prob
ably run up 10 SIS 600.
The water flled up cellars on Main
| street which ere stocked with goods and
/ which Will be almost total loss. \ good
! thing for PaySon is the fact that about
Two thirds of the water went west when
! the headgates were washed out at the
| mouth OF the canyon. or the story would
have been decidedly different from what
! Il is. The losses are quite heavy as IL
is and will be severely felt by many.
Situation of Town.
Payson is. builded on two ridges and
a hollow stretching between them. The
! five reservoirs are on an eminence about
! eight miles to the southeast. The warm
weather. which melted the SHOWS on the
mountains. filled the reservoirs and beat
against the dams.
Without warning. at an early hour this
! morning one OF the dams broke, and for
canyon and into that part Of the town
occupying the hollow. II Is there many
of the business houses are located
rushed for other quarters, bu, i, was
soon seen that actual danger of loss OF
human life was small.
Losses Sustained.
There was heavy loss OF small stock.
! however. The greatest sufferer In this
regard it is believed. Is J L. Townsend.
a poultrymar. More than 100 chickens
in his yards were drowned.
II is feared that a number of horses.
a.. a Al al
drowned, but the extent OF the loss OF
stock cannot be known until more re-
ports are received from the district be-
! tween the reservoirs and the city.
The general store of J. :. Page. Jv..
was flooded. and practically his entire
stock OF goods is believed TO be lost.
Al noon foot Of water still stood on
the first floor
The Cooperative Mercantile company
! lost $500 worth OF sugar. besides other
provisions. Its store was in the direct
| line OF the stream,
The Gem saloon and billiard rooms were
flooded and large part OF the furnish
ings badly damaged.
Postoffice Wrecked.
The postofice was practically wrecked
II is thought that Uncle Sam suffered a
loss OF several hundred dollars.
The damage TO William DiXon's store
also Is estimated at several hundreds
Dixon's stock consisted largely of dry
goods.
Other heavy losers are Mrs Gubhen
|
Few dwellings were damaged. and none,
1t is believed, seriously. No buildings
were washed off their foundations. al
though the foundations Of many were
greatly weakened.
Some one in making the round in the
northeastern portion Of town awakened
arouse the household of Herman Tagge,
and his residence was caught in the flood
With a great deal OF difficulty and the
assistance OF some neighbors the family
carried SlfGtN.
Vast Section Under Water.
For a mile and a half TO the north OF
town water covered the ground TO Il
depth OF several feet, and to the west
for two or three miles. The streets OF
the town were all flooded and the In
habtants OF the city were compelled to
shut UP their houses TO keep out the
For number of years past the city
has maintained a number OF reser-
yoirs in the mountains east of town.
situated at distances from the city vary
ing from eight 10 twelve miles. And
while the danger from floods has al
ways been recognized. a constant watch
has been kept until recently on the
reservoirs The dams were all strongly
built and were capable of great resist
ance. but the very warm weather of the
past few days has melted the mountain
SHOWS so rapidly that the reservoirs
were unable TO contain the inrushinS
waters and as a consequence the banks
oycr!lowed and the dams were washed
out and the waters were preclpitated
into the valley.
Received Small Amount.
Payson proper only received about
one third nf the quantity OF water con-
tanned In the reservoirs. as at the mouth
of the canyon above town. a wash is
maintained for tho reception OF food
waters aud two-,hirds Of the water
went out through this wash Otherwise
the damage and loss OF lIfe would nm
doubtedly have been enormous. Even
as il was a number Of people barely got
out with their lives,
, Inhabitants on the eastern side Of
town who were not already awake
when the water burst upon them. were
who made the ride warning people OF
4 the approach Of the waters. William
Z. Dickson had Just gone out to har-
ness his horse when he heard Of the
rushing food. and had byrely time to
| run back 10 his house and get his fam
: ! iy out before the water reached him.
: Most Disastrous,
, The food Is the most disastrous IL
= the history Of the town Many OF the
< inhabitants have been rendered prac-
Is tlcally homeless and many farmers
O cattle and property OF all kinds. anc
: upon these the loss will he the hcavI.
est. for 1t was all they had
+. As soon as the waters sufficiently sub.
I side a force OF men viii be sent 10 tn,
reservoirs 10 make repairs and To TAX,
o steps to guard against recurrence ~
:. this mornings disaster
Men have been sent up the canyon tc
q make a thorough examination OF the 9th.
y er four reservoirs 70 make sure they ar,
y safe.