Semi-weekly herald., 1909-09-09
FLOOD
NEWS
ss
tsrom Mondays Daiiy.)


OF the skies have opened and this en-
tire southwest section delused. Old
timers have records since 1851 and
no one ever saw or heard OF the Ami
mas river being as high as 1t WIS for
a time this morning. Tho same is
true of the Florida and other streams
OF the county.
As is we'll known, the ground is
soaked--lias been soaked--for weeks,
bat especially so the last ten days.
Saturday afternoon rain set In and
there was a steady down pour until
nearly noon Sunday. 1t was not
gentle rainfall, but regular down
pour. Al Hermosa T. A. Kerr report
ed rainfall Gf over three inches dur
ing the night and morning. The rain
fall as kept by the government office
in Durango since Saturday night TO
this morning is 2.T5 inches.
The Animas river began rising rap
idly yesterday morning and in the
afternoon had reached the high wa
ter record of last spring where it
WIS hoped it would remain stationary.
but the stream continued to rise until
this morning when 1t reached from
Is inches 10 feet higher than any
record heretofore made.
Word came from the upper Animas
valley yesterday afternoon that the
portions of the valley were und0r
three TO five feet of water. This
means great damage to crops, hay,
grain, potatoes and other vegetables
The Animas valley people expect high
water in May and June, but this does
not Interfere with maturing of crops
as n rule, the spring freshet being the
the present rise means great hard
ships and loss to many.
As stated above, the heighth OF the
flood reached Durango early this
morning and flooded the residence oi
quite number living in the vicinity
OF the old water plant and north oi
Main street. Water was three to five
feet high in some of the houses
which means the complete ruinatlor
of bedding, wearing apparel, eatables
etc. Mayor Goodman was on the
scene early looking after the unfor
tunate ones and the city is takint
care of possibly forty to fifty wht
have not found places with friend,
or neighbors on high ground. 1t vii
be desolate homes these people will
return TO when the water subsidies
and will call for liberal aid from thos,
able to render assistance.
The fish hatchery lake dam wa.
taken out, also the bridge leading t,
the hatchery and the only way the oc
cnpants have OF reaching the city II
by climbing the high hill back o
the hatchery. The lake contained
large number of large trout--spawn
ers, and as the river is flowing owe
the land and through the lake tn,
trout will undoubtedly all go dow
stream. Water is within few fee
of the residence of Superintendent
Hamor. but the building is safe unless
there Is a much greater rise, also tn,
trout under the hatchery and abov,
are all right. The hatchery site wa
selected. supposing to be absolutel,
beyond high water.
Sunday afternoon word arrived tina
Bakers bridge across the Anima
had gone out and one or two span
of the Williams bridge crossing tn
river adjoining the Hansen and Am
bold ranches.
Junction creek was surely on tn
rampage. 1t began assuming alarm
ing dimensions during the forenoon
and by o'clock was stopping owe
the Main street bridge. Mayor Good
man, Street Commissioner Dupra,
and several of the aldermen and othe
city employees were on hand and too
up considerable flooring and assis
ed opening the passage way by cleal
ing dead wood. The house across tn
stream from the Frank Lake res
dence was surrounded by several fee
of water but the substantial ston
foundation prevented any damage
The high stone wall adjoining tn
Lake property cayed in, and severa
small bridges OF private Individual
as well as stone curbing were swep
away. Down the stream the bridg,
leading TO the S. W. Pingrey resi-
dence was swept away like SO mucl
kindling. This bridge had been II
place 25 years and never In danger
Mr.. Pingrey says the stream was /,
inches higher than he ever saw 1t
Practically the same damage WA
done TO Harry Schrader's place OF
Junction crock as to the Lake resi-
dence. The force of the waters ant
driffwood undermined the foundation
of the stone wall. washing out a ter
raced bridge, and the wagon bridge
across the yard. II will cost several
hundred dollars to repair the damage
The river is about two feet lower
at o'clock this afternoon.
There was continual stream OF
people going and coming from to
a'a1nok md tb.. als. f,u,,, 49,.