Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-05-17
HIGH WATER THREATENS
TO SWEEP AWAY THE
BARElAS BRIDGE
West Span of Structure Col.
lapsed Last Night. En-
dangerlng Whole
Bridge.
TRAVELLERS CAN'T
CROSS WITH TEAMS
Many Forced to Leave Wagons
and Gross Shaky Structure
This Morning Carrying
Merchandise on
Backs.

some time last night the strong
curent, which for the past five weeks
has been threatening the Barelas
bridge, undermined the large iron
posts which support the last span of
the west end of the bridge, and that
portion OF the structure now lies al
most In the water. swift current
threatens to dash the entire central
portion of the bridge into the water.
AS soon as the damage was discov-
cred early this morning, deputies we're
placed and blocked both entrances
10 the bridge. Only travellers on foot
We're allowed to cross, and they cross
ed at great peril to their lives. Sew
eral OF the large beams which served
as braces for the upper part of the
last span, now lie on the floor of the
bridge while that portion is lowered
at least ten feet.
Inc damage to the bridge has caus-
ed much Inconvenience to the natives
from the surrounding country who
were on their way to the city this
morning. Many were forced to re-
turn TO their homes on the other side
OF Inc river while Eaapy Wh9 resided
on this side of the bridge were forced
10 spend part of the night in their
wagons, being unable to return to
thelr homes on account of the dam
gerous condition of the bridge. At
noon there were fully twenty-five ye-
hicies of various sorts on the west
end of the bridge waiting to get
across. The owners were told by the
deputy that it would be a week at
least before traffic would be resumed
on the bridge.
As far as is known. no one wit
messed the falling of the bridge
span. f. j. Gerule and F.. Garcia.
who have the contract for repairing
the bridge, were notified early this
morning of the accident and dam
gerous condition of the bridge. and
they are engaging a force of men
to repair the damage. Mr.. Gurule
said this morning that the condition
or the structure was very dangerous,
and that unless steps were immedi-
ately taken to brace the damaged
portion of the bridge. the entire
bridge might be swept into the rush
ing water below.
this afternoon, said:
THE water is six inches lower to-
day than it was last Saturday. and
has been going down steadily. The
river has been exceedingly high for
the past five weeks. higher than
have seen 1t for the past four years.
This fact has pleased us. Had the
water come down the river at once.
the bridge would probably have been
swept away long ago. The current
Is now the strongest on the west side
OF the river, at the point where the
bridge crosses, and the caving in of
that section of the structure was
caused by the undermining OF sew
eral OF the piles by the strong cur
rent. We will take immediate steps
toward repairing the damage. as de-
lay may be the cause OF the entire
central portion OF the bridge being
carried into the river by the span
which Is now about to fall"
Reports from various points along
the river are to the effect that the
river is in no unusual state at the
present time but with warm weather
in the north to melt the snow. seri-
Gus damage might be done
steps VIII be taken this afternoon
to rope the wrecked portion OF the
bridge in such a manner that the
heavy pile driver may be used. AZ
ter that span Of the bridge is severed
from the main span, the necessary
repairs will be made. Natives say
that the bridge has been threatened
for several weeks past.
Many people visited the bridge this
morning and viewed the damaged
structure which now stands ready TO
topple into the river. Many resi-
dents who We're on their way to the
city to sell their wares, were
forced to tie their teams on the
other end Of the bridge and bring
their merchandise across the bridge
on their backs.
The repairs will cost in the neigh
borhood Of $500.