The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1909-09-11
RAILROADS ARE TIED UP AND
TOWN PRACTICALLY SHUT
OUT FROM WORLD
ONE DEATH IN WATER
COLORADO NO LONGER cLAssEp
AS A DRY STATE AND HAS
RAIN TO SPARE.

ceeding year, and the state no longer
appears In the dry column" Down
pours have been frequent and general
all over the state all this year. and
waterways and reservoirs have been
calities much damage has been done
to crops and lands by floods. Within
the rast few days floods have been
general. The greatest damages are
reported to have been done on Sept
Z. Following dispatches tell the
story:
Prcblo.-The heavy rainfall which
accompanied q severe electrical storm
caused damaging flood in sections
OF South Pueblo. both the Bessemer
ditch and Lake Minnequa overlooking.
Fer hours water ran through the
streets from one to two feet in depth.
and hundreds of Easements in the
residence district were flooded.
The water In South Pueblo contin.
ued to rise until 10 O'Clock. when it
began gradually to recede. The Ar.
kansas river at midnight began to re-
cede. having reached point three
feet higher than at any time this year.
1t was then q mile wide and within
seven feet OF the bridges in the cen.
trail part OF the city. Railroad ties and
much driftwood were being brought
down. The Denver & Rio Grande re.
ports unusually high water between
Pueblo and Florence with prospects
OF several washouts. Up to midnight
the company was still able to keep
traffic moving but all trains are run
ming on slow orders.
The rainfall in Pueblo for the first
seven days Of September has ex.
ceeded all records. The new record
IL 7.Sl inches. which is twice as much
As the record for the entire month OF
September in any BE- year.
Swallows-The Arkansas river IL
three feet higher at this place. little
station west OF Pueblo on the Denver
4 RIO Grande road. than II has been
thir year and doing much damage to
tho railroad. a cl0udburst In the
hills. fifteen miles west OF here.
started the trouble.
This flood breaks the record for the
Arkansas river this year.
Telluride.-The original reports OF
the floods OF Sunday and Monday In
the San Miguel valley are approx
mately correct accordlag to the best
Information available tonight. Con.
sentative estimates piacs the damage
tn crops and property 1t between
S4e0. 900 to $500. 900. -
Reports from Placeryille say that
the town itself did not suffer AZ Sc.
verely a. At first reported but that
tho lower valley as far ~ Naturita has
been practically swept clean Of crops
and other property Not bridge over
the San Miguel river was left. II Is
thought that II will require at least
month to place the Denver 4 Rio
Grande Southern In condition for traf.
fic.
Between Telluride aud Durango one
OF the largest bridges on the whole
Rio Grandc system was swept away
and several miles OF the roadbed dc.
strcycd. II will require at least six
weeks 10 put this section Of the road
In shape for the running Of trains.
The little hamlet Of Sag Pit. which
was reported entirely de1troyed yes.
tcrday. suffered but little damage.
Trinidad. Colo.-Damase estimated
at over 100000 has been caused In
Las Animas county ~ the result. Of
floods within the past twenty.four
hours. But one life was lost no far ~
IL known. The victim vas Mrs. John
Sola. the wife Of wet1.kn0wn resi-.
dent OF 5tarkvillc.
Nearly every bridge belonging to
the county west and north Of Trinidad
haS been damaged. and Il 10 estimated
that II will require at least go. 900 10
repair this damage. II ID Impossible
to estimate the losses Of live stock CT
the damage done to irrigatioo bitches.
Biiverton. colo.-silverton during
thu past two days has suffered the
worst floods In its history. In that
time nine serious waahouts on the
wagon roads and railroads have cut
of the town from the outside world.
The Red Mountain road from Silver.
ton to Ouray suffered the least dam.
age. and II II thought that Il will be
open TO traffic again Ia two weeks.
Il will require over 4 n,o0th 70 repair
thA washouts on the railroad line. No
mall has left SilvsSton o. besn re.
ceivsA there for two days.