The Springfield herald., 1911-10-13
PEOPLE ARE ON HALF RATioNs.
ALL MEANS OF TRANsPoRTA-
rioN HAS BEEN CUT OFF.
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT
100000 LOSS IN SAN JUAN. ~
100000 IN NEW MEXICO; IN
DIAN SCHOOL RUINED.

more placing the stricken city in rum
ming order they are faced with men
ace of greater suffering than that
caused by the flood-a shortage in
the food supply.
While it has not reached the famine
point as yet, the supply Of flour and
potatoes is growing slim and sugar
has become almost an unknown
quantity. There is a large flour mill
here. but the total absence of wheat
renders it of no assistance now. The
grain must be brought from the San
Luis valley and until the railroads
resume traffic this will be practically
an impossibility.
Dealers have not raised the prices
on their wares, but have issued
warnings to the people to econo-
mize.
Pack trains can bring in limited
amount of supplies. but the difficult
ties encountered would make the
prices prohibitive for many of the
people.
The Denver & Rio Grande is now
building a spur of track from its line
streets of the city to the river in or
der to recover two box cars that
were on the bridge when it was
swept away.
The Rio Grande Southern succeed
ed in getting train from here to
Mancos, thirty-one miles. The COM
pany expects to get to Dolores,
twelve miles farther, within two OF
three days. A combination train car
rying passengers. mail. baggage and
freight, will be run from here east as
far as the washout at La Baca.
1t is reported In Durango that one of
the rescuers was drowned in Telluride.
His body has not been recovered. On
the Pennington branch of the Rio
Grande. during the progress of the
flood, bridge after bridge went out aft
er the last train had passed.
AS reportScontinue to come in from
the flooded district it is evident that
the destruction will be greater than
anticipated. The most conservative
estimateh now place the loss at 49,
900, 900 in the San Juan valley.
During the height Of the flood on
the Animas river. a section man on
the Pennington branch of the Rio
cabin containing a man and dog
floating down the stream. Both were
lost The idendity of the man has not
been ascertained.
A stage line has been established
between Durango and lockwood,
distance of eighteen miles. From Rock
wood the travellers take saddle horses
to Silverton and from there to Ouray
to the railroad. The famous Red
Mountain toll road from Silverton to
Ouray is SO badly damaged that 1t is
impossible except on horseback.
Trains now can operate from Den
yer to Lumberton, N. NJ. seventy-five
miles east OF Durango, and from Du.
range east distance of thirty-one
miles. leaving a gap of forty-one miles
over which trains can not cross.
Alamosa, Colo. The Shiprock
agency of the Navajo Indians, thirty
five miles west of Pennington. N. M,
was destroyed totally and the build.
ings erected by the government at a
cost of 100000 carried away by the
flood and probably score of the In
dians drowned. according to reports
that reached here. 1t has so far been
impossible to make count of the In
dians to learn the exact number that
perished, but it is declared that the
number will not be less than twenty.
1t is estimated that the total dam
age done by the flood in the devas-
tated district, comprising an area 100
miles north and south by seventy-five
miles east and west, will reach to-
tai of $4,500,00O. 1t will require be-
tween 100000 and 100000 to repair
the Denver & Rio Grande narrow
gauge from Durango to Silverton.
and the time required in making the
repairs will necessitate the closing of
the Durango smelter several months.
Durango is connected with the out
side world by telegraph. the Western
Union sending messages by telephone
to Ouray, where they were placed on
the company's wire.
The principal towns and cities that
are entirely cut off from railroad com.
munication with the outside world are
| Dul ah6o, oilNSIlolp L al lOu, hlCO,
Telluride, Pagosa Springs and Aztec.
Indications are that all lines in Colo
RADIO. with the exception of the branch
from Durango to Silverton, will be
| opened this week or early next week.
| AS further information is gained of
the damage wrought by the flood, the
railroad situation grows more serious,
and it il now stated there will be no
through train from Denver inside of
| two weeks.
| The southern branch, leading to Du-
range, is open as far west as Chama,
N. NJ. The damage between Chama
and Durango is heavy and it cannot be
stated definitely when it will be
opened. The Rio Grande Southern is
open between Durango and Dolores,
but the section between Dolores and
Placerville Is heavily damaged and it
will be several days before trains can
be operated. The worst damage to
the tracks occurred between Durango
| 4