The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-03-19
HEAVY rain :
CAUSE Image
WAGON BRIDGE IS WASHED AWAY
Railroad Tracks and Bridges Washed
Out.-Paralyze Traffic on
Railroads,

The warm rains which started Fri.
day and continued until Sunday night
rsised the water in Hood River twelve
feet above low water mark and caused
considerable damage at different
points, and Monday morning the
wagon bridge across Hood River cul-
lapsed, the entire bridge being carried
down stream to the mouth OF Hood
River, where 1t lodged on the sand
bar.
| Sunday morning the water In the
river reached the danger point and
caused the electric light company
considerable uneasiness. The pres
sure OF the water was so great that ii
forced a stream six feet above the
stand pipe at the lower house and
washed out large hole at the en-.
trance to thu water wheel, threatening
to undermine the power house. The
pressure was relieved by opening large
valves in the pipe and turning on the
water wheel all 1t would stand, and no
further damage was done.
Sunday night the water cut a new
channel In Hood River south of the
bridge and the whole force of the cur
rent went against the west bank, soon
undermining the concrete pillars
which support the steel bridge, and
large section of the wooden approach
fell into the river about three o'clock
In the morning. The steel bridge
gradually settled ON the west end until
about 1880, when it went down with
crash, crushing like an egg shell In
n
bers and planking of the bridge to
float 1t down the riva
lie orioge IS pI obab,y a total loss,
ss 1t is doubtful II much of 1t can be
saved. 1t Is very unfortunate, % it
stops all traffic across the river until
the new bridge can be built. The
bridge was built about seven years
ago at cost of $500. Whether the
city or county will have to replace the
bridge Is still undecided, but In any
event 1t will be built with county
money, as the city male a PROPOSE
tion to take over the bridges and
roads In the city limits provided all
back taxes levied by the county for
road improvements, under the three
mill tax law, be paid back to the city.
Under this arrangement there will be
several thousand dollars due the city
for building the bridge. A tempor-
ary structure will be thrown across
the river for traffic, which can be
completed in short time, and then
allow sufficient time to put In the
permanent steel structure.
From evidence at hand, by those
who saw the bridge put In, the iron
tubes for holding the cement piers
we're put down put a few feet, allow
Ing them to be easily undermined by
the high water. The whole course OF
the river changed, about twenty feet
OF the west bank washing away into
The river, so that the wooden approach
was the first to go. and the collapsing
OF the round piers, which were set on
The loose boulders, was the result.
The bank OF the river Is dangerously
close to the Mt. Hood tracks, the
loose sand constantly caving back, un-
I'll there 10 pocket formed In the
bed Of the river where the current
sweeps against the foundation Of the
wooden approach for a distance CT
nearly 100 feet. The protection OF
this bank may mean the building OF
a log crib along the former river
channel to confine 1t to its original
place.
The dam at Dee did not suffer from
The high water, the new work recently
put In withstanding the force of the
water. The dam of the electric light
company also remained intact, al
though the company was Obliged to
shut down the water wheel Sunday.
here being no lights until Monday
forenoon.
The Mt. Hood railroad suffered from
Rashouts and slides, there teing sew
'ral bad places In the track along the
'oad. The high water at the dam
Washed out the track Tor a short dis
ance and slide on the switchbaek
'ntailed considerable work TO clear
way.