The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-15
BIG DAM BREAKS.
1t was Completed last Year at a Cost
Of $4,000, 900.

the great dam at Houser lake. on the
Missouri river Is miles north of this
| CITY, partially gave way yesterday af-
| ternoon causing a damage estimated
| at $3.50, 600. No lives were lost and at
O'CLOCK last night SO far as can be
iedrneu' no serious damage has been
caused by the volume of water, esti-
mateo at about 25 feet, which was pre-
| cipltated INTO the channel below the
structure. The narrowness of the river
ana ITS interwinding course has i'm
peueu the progress of the water and no
great loss OF property is anticipated In
city.
The Houser lake dam, 70 feet high
and $50 feet long, was completed last
year at cost of more than $2,O0O000
! ana developed horse power of $4,000
| which was utilized In operating the
various power plants in Helena and
| the Butte mines and the Amalgamated
Copper company's smelter plants at
Anaconda. The break in the dam site
| will not interfere with the operation
| is being furnished from the Canyon
| Ferry dam and the company's sub
station in Butte.
Word was received by Manager Tay-
lor OF the Western Union at 1890
O'Clock from Cragin TO the effect that
the water was six inches above the Is
| foot railroad bridge at that point The
town having population OF 400 is
| entirely deserted. All wires OF the
Western Union are under water and
messages are being sent by way of
Havre and Spokane. Train service on
the Great Northern to Great Falls has
been suspended.
Largest Smelter in Danger.
Helena, Mont, April 15.-Early to-
day an uncontrollable food is rapidly
| advancing upon Great Falls, city of
| $4,000 population and It is believed
the Boston & Montana smelter, one
of the largest in the world is doomed
| to destruction. 1t is built on the
river banks and fears for its safety
are felt at each recurrence of high
! water. Its employees number more
than 1900 men. The employees have
| engaged all night in the construc-
ton of wing dams" around the
| smelter. Preparations have also been
made to dynamite the dam at Great
Falls, from which the smelter Sc
cures its power. and this may be done
| at a last resort.
| Craig. Mont, probably has been
wiped off the map, although as far
! as is known all Of the 400 inhabitants
population, 50 miles from Helena and
% miles north of Craig, is now under
| water, and in danger of being swept
away.
| A relief train and inspection party
left Great Falls this morning to in
| L
loss of life has been reported, al
though the river is thickly strewn
with the debris of ranch houses and
| hay stacks, and with live stock. The
| loss of the power company, according
to Mr.. NJ. H. Gerry. jr.. manager of
| the local plant, will range from $780,
600 to $350.000. -
Immense Lake Is Drained.
| Helena, Mont, April 15--Later de-
velopments in the bursting of the Lake
| Hauser dam near here yesterday indi-
cate that the first reports were not
exaggerated and it is now estimated
1 that the financial loss will exceed $780,
| 900. The immense lake covering 20
! square miles in the valley below Helena
| had been completely drained at an
early hour today. Below Craig and as
4 far as Ulm, the Great Northern tracks
| are under water. Because of the fact
| that Geographic and telephone wires
are washed out, no further details are
| obtainable at this time, but ample
warning has been given all residents
thought that there has been any loss
| of life. Great Falls is prepared for
| the oncoming waters.
| The entire village of Hauser lake was
swept away, together with the belong
| ings of the families of 80 EMPLOYEES At
OK Bow, a third dam in process of
construction was only slightly dam
| aged, but dozen cabins were wreck
| ed. A number of houses in Craig and
| Cascade are reported to have been
| washed away. The Hauser lake dam
| across the Missouri was completed last
year and furnished electric power for
| smelters and manufacturing plants at
Helena, Butte and Anaconda. The
| Western Union Telegraph company also
derived part Of its power from this
source. The break in the structure,
according to Manager Berry, was
caused by the "Buckling of steel plates
near the lower expansion joint" After
| the first break was noticed nearly Is
| minutes elapsed before the center of
the structure gave way with a terrific
| crash and in a few minutes $50 feet
| of the structure had been destroyed.
leaving about 125 feet at either end
intact. Five dwelling houses, the Of
| flee building and stable were swept
away, but the occupants had been
given sufficient warning to escape. The
| power house was only slightly dam
| aged. Officials of the company say the
| dam will be rebuilt at once.
| Smelter May Be Saved.
| Butte, Mont, April ia special to
| the Inter Mountain from Great Falls
at IL o'clock says that the flood wa
| tiers from Hauser lake have reached
| Ulm, "a miles up the river, and are
not expected to reach the Boston &
| Montana smelter for several hours.
Early this morning Carl Ide a work.
| man employed by the smelling COM
pany on work incident to the expect
| ed flood was swept over the Black
| Eagle falls dam and drowned. So far
as known this is the only casualty
incident to the flood. Superintendent
Wheeler is making every preparation
| to take care of the flood waters and if
! the river does not rise more than
| eight feet he believes there will not
! be any loss of consequence at Great
Falls. A wing dam has been built to
protect the smelter.
Helena. Mont, April ia great
body of water, released from Hauser
| lake, by the bursting yesterday of the
| dam across the Missouri river, is miles
below Helena, Is now pouring down
| the Missouri river. The little village
| of Craig and Hauser lake have been