La Junta tribune., 1910-08-06
On. Fin. Lag. Rain.


ritory in the state Of Colorado Thurs
day night. Experts from Fairmount,
Benton, La Junta, and even Swink.
asservated to the effect yesterday
that the rainfall for the twelve hour
period from sundown Thursday night
until sunup yesterday morning broke
all previous records for the last 100
years. The testimony as to the
amount OF precipitation varied from
three inches 10 four and one-half
inches, and Director Craighead. OF the
Otero Irrigation District, says the
precipitation a, the headwaters OF
Crooked arroyo was at least three
feet. increasing in quantity the fur
ther up the arroyo you ascended-all
same Bitter Creek. Every one admits
however, that 1t rained In great gobs
and copious quantities.
All OF the bitches and most OF the
were put out OF business By
the deluge OF rain. Bridge No. on
Crooked arroyo and 600 feet OF track
west OF Benton were washed out.
Thursday nights No went south on
time. but ON reaching the washout
had to return 10 La Junta and start
ed TO make a detour by way of Pu-
ebio for Trinidad. The train got
half way to Swink and had 10 come
back to La Junta once more. the
roadbed from a point one mile west
being three feet under water for a
distance OF another mile.
Three hundred men were at work
at Benton yesterday morning repair
Ing the damage done by the flood
waters. and a transfer Of passengers
from Nos. and was made during
the morning hours. the latter train
being able to leave La Jun,a for the
east about noon. No. was held In
La Junta until O'Clock. and left for
Denver at that hour with fifteen
coaches behind one lone engine.
Considerable damage was done to
the bitches that are crossed by
Crooked Arroyo. although 1t was i'm.
possible TO secure much definite in
formation as to the extent OF the
yesterday morning. The nume
of the Fairyie~ Land and Canal Com
pany ..over Crooked arroyo. was wash
I'd out. as was also the temporary
dams on the O,ero canal at Crook.
ed arroyo spillway. The contract for
the permanent work at this point
has not as yet teen let
The headgate of the Benton Canal
and Reservoir Company. near Benton.
withstood the severe test that WAS
made upon IL, although the headgate
was at one time six feet under water.
The banks of the Benton ditch suf-
fered somewhat by washing. but no
particular damage was done. Frank
Day says that all OF the dry farmers
In that section OF the country will
have TO harvest their crops In boats.
and In a few years will have TO
change the front name Of their agri.
cultural classification.
There were probably a number OF
farmers who suffered considerable
damage TO crops. Sig Thomason har-
vested his crop OF oats Thursday part
Of 4, being shocked. and the waters
Of Crooked arroyo carried away a.ou,
200 bushels OF the crop
A. H. Ward reports the entire loss
Of fifty acre field OF alfalfa seed.
Last year he harvested s5.5 worth of
seed from this same fifty acre field.
and this year his prospect OF n crop
Was twice as good as last year. His
loss is the mos, serious that has yet
been reported.
In the Holbrook country about one
inch OF rain fell. and even that Was
no, needed. AS they have been hav.
Ing rain In the Holbrook country al.
most every day for a week
A new county bridge near A. NJ.
Hiils ranch In the rairmount country
was washed away. and there wer.
proba ly several others not yet re-
ported.
No particular damage was done In
la Junta. although the principal
streets were raging rivers from Z
until II O'Clock. The rain OF one
week ago. the night Of the fire. was
about three inches. and the one OF n
week later four inches-seven inches
In all In n period of eixht days ot,whf