Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-06-12
THE HOLE IS NOT LARGE
LATE THIS AFTERNOON 1T WAS
ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN oRDI-
NARY-sIzED MANS BODY
LITTLE DAMAGE is DONE
PECos ARROYO, HAVING FALLEN,
PROVES ABLE TO CARRY
AWAY THE WATER

At 12:45 o'clock this afternoon the
Camfield dam on the Las Vegas grant
which has been threatening to breai
| for the past few days, finally gave
way, allowing water to run through
the earth structure. The breach
] however, amounted only to an area
of about one by one feet, but the
water gradually washed away the
dam until this afternoon it had clear
ed a space of about four feet wide
Luckily no serious damage resulted
The heavy rainfall Of the past three
days filled the dam almost to the tor
OF the embankment. The water reach.
ed within eight inches Of the top
Although the outlet under the lam,
which is six by three feet in dimen-
sions, has been running continually,
it was unable to prevent the water
rising. The pressure Of the water on
one of the weak places in the struc-
ture was so great that the earth gave
way.
On receiving notice Of the break the
Santa Fe Railway company sent out a
string af cars loaded with coal to re-
scue the bridge that spans the Arr oyo
Pecos through which the water from
the dam ran The Santa Fe feared
rush of water, but as the stream
did not rise rapidly the cars were
brought back to Las Vegas.
Almost as soon as the news of the
breach reached Las Vegas crowd of
people gathered at the Arroyo Pecos
to watch the water come down, but
after waiting for several hours, they
finally left the place, disappointed at
eeing nothing spectacular but decided
ly relieved. Nothing serious can re-
suit from the break, it is said, as the
water will not escape in a sudden
rush. The pumping plant that was
stationed at the dam is under water,
but will not suffer any serious dam
age. as one of the engines has been
removed.
It has been several years since
such excitement has been exhibited
in Las Vegas, and every person who
heard the news of the break spread
it until the whole city was agog.
People were scattered from the Santa
Fe depot to the Harvey dairy on the hill
north Of town. and from the Coors
Lumber company establishment to the
top Of the hill east Of the bridge
that spans the Pecos.
It is probable that there will be
little damage to the dam, engineers
say. and consequently the structure
will be easily repaired. 1t can be put
| in condition to resist the attacks Of
more high water in case of more rain.
The amount Of water in the dam as
estimated by a local engineer was
enough to cover $40 acres OF land
to a depth of one foot Thus it may
be seen that if the entire dam mad
broken it might have resulted in the
washing away of a number of bridges
and also the destruction Of property
/ The portion OF the dam that was the
weakest measured about 25 feet IN
width, and it was in this section that
the break occurred. On either side
the break stands hard ground which
probably viii not be washed away
The workings belong to the Camfielc
Development company. and the part
ly constructed dam IS valued at ap
proximately s60OOO
Engineer Narramore, who is sta
toned at the dam, said late this aft
ernoon there is little danger Of th'
structure being damaged. he sal
the hole in the structure was wide1
ing gradually. It is likely the hol
win be enlarged by the engineer
late this evening. The fact that tn