Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-05
THE FI.oOlb IN TIFE REo GIlANDE.
(By Frederick II. Brandenbur2, Dis
trfrt Foreraatprl

trict Forecaster)
Torrential rains over the drainage
basin OF the Rio Grande from It's
head In the san Juan mountlns al
most 90 nj Paso. Tex, on the 9Th end
5th OF October. 1911. caused a severe
flood In It's upper reaches and very
high water tor several days in the
lower part Of the river.
The san Luis valley Is rarely visited
by heavy rains: IN fact this region 10
one with the liRhtest rainfall in Col
orad0. White heavy precipitation oc-
ours nearly every year over
thu higher pRrt OF the watershed. u
comes principally IN winter In the
sorn Of snow, and such freshe:s as
occur result from too rapid melt
iug az the SNOW. As rule little or
no DAMAGE results from this cause IN
the upper part Of the drainage basin.
The rainfall on the 9Th and hth
was hedvy AZ Wagon wheef 0Ab
experimental station, maintained by
the weather bureau In cooperation
with the forest service, elevation 9.235
feet. rain began az D. m. October :
and continued steadily until p. m
Of the 5th, after which light rain fell
until midnight Of the 5gh. The total
fall at the station was SIS inches,
while near by az the mountain top
station, elevation 1886 feet, the total
fall was s.62 Inches, showing q mark
ed Increase with elevation, Mr.. Peter
keplinger or the forest service, IN
cr0aAinR the continental divide. from
tho san Juan country found trees
estimated SO years old uprooted BY
the flood In small ravines In the
northern part Of the san Luis valley
the precipitation was not excessiye.
but In costilla county on the east
eide 81 the Rio Grande, the amounts
ranged from 1.9O at San Luis 10 ala
inches al Blanca. The rainfall was
very heavy slso along the Coneioa,
the most important tributary OF the
Rio Granae Ia Colorado; at Platoro,
on the upper part OF this watershed,
the rninfals for the two days was
3.30 inches. The average rainfall, al
five stations aleng the chama in
nerth-~cntrai New Mexico was 2.as
inches. with the greatest amount, asa
Iaches, at Cumbres Pass. near which
place the chama has ita beginning.
Heavy rainfHlls also occurred along
tho trunk stream as far south as the
center 81 the state.
The damage was mostly confined 10
san Luis valley, the destruction be-
Ginning IN the upper part Of the vale
ey. Towns were inundated, bridges.
houses, and barns were carried away,
Dut there was no iOss Of life, The
'anohmen were heavy losers, but the
damage wes 20 the railroad.
All wagon bridges were
washed away and the roads left ia
an impaaable condition.
Thu loss. exclusive OF that sustained
oy the railroad. IL estimated at about
100000.
IN BIO Orande county eight wagon
1rldNts we're washed away. five miles
N raiirood track rulned and about so
nllas damaged. and hundreds 81 head
Ds cattle and hogs were lost. The
'lger eRread out. and Ia places was
from two 20 four miles wide. The
state bridge above south Folk with
stood the flood, but one steel bridge
Eas carried out aud also the state
'ridae under construction az seven
vile Plaza. In AlamosR the principal
iamaae resulted from the breaking
y a dike and the innndation OF 80
'ity blocks.
The Conejos. which Joins the trunk
.treRm near Antonite, carried away
ona Of hay and held peas and acres