Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-11
Volcano Lake Levee
Breaks and Flood
Starts for Salton Sea

In line with the prediction made in
the Press two days ago that it
seemed inevitable that the overflow
water of the Colorado would find its
way through the levee at Volcano
lake, there was break in that levee
last night, which is considered of a
quite serious nature, though the ex-
tent of the damage to be done cannot
yet he estimated
On receipt of the news at an early
hour this morning a special train was
made up at Calexico and loaded with
workmen to be rushed to the scene
and everything possible was done to
fill the break.
The break occurred near the east
end of the levee and the water ran
to the westward toward New river
down which it is being discharged in
to Salton sea. In line with this dis
charge there is the flume that carries
the water over New river for use in
water districts 6, IL and 8, while
practically all the cultivated land on
the delta in Mexico will also be af-
fected. The possibility of crop loss
is therefore great, though this is
simply a possibility and the flume may
not be destroyed and the crops not
be affected even in case the break is
not closed.
In line with the discharge of wa
ter are also all the county bridges
and the Holton Interurban Railroad
bridge at Seeley. The latter bridge
is built high on substantial piling,
and it is not believed it will be af-
fected, but the county bridges are low,
and they may be taken out. Their
value is estimated at 100000.
There is ground for hoping that the
inpouring of theRverflow water will
not bring the current of the Colorado
river into the valley, and should the
current not set in in this direction
the water will be shut off from the
valley so soon as the flood subsidies.
The current of the river is south
of the summit of the divide, flowing
~ to the southwest, and the overflow
waite. will divide, a portion coming
to the north and the remainder 60
ing south to the gulf.
If the water should continue to come
into the valley long enough, chan
mel would be formed leading from New
river back to the channel of the Colo
rado, but it is not believed that will
develop, as the flood will probably re-
cede before the channel can be cut.
~Walter Hamilton telephoned from
Calexico, where he had gone, this
morning, that the break in the levee
was reported forty feet wide, with
four-foot head of water, at a point
where there was no dry earth avail
able for filling sacks to dump in the
crevasse.
The levee is riprapped with rock
and it is believed it will not cut away
rapidly.
The situation is such that infor-
nation from the break is long time
getting through to telephone or tele-
graph communication, and consider
able change might take place several
hours before the fact becomes known.
There should be a large force of
men available for work today on the.
levee and undoubtedly as much of a
fight will be made as possible.
Crest Has Passed.
For the last three or four days
there has been a drop of about an
inch day in the river at Blythe,
and last night the river fell an inch
at Yuma. This is taken to indicate
that the crest of the flood has passed
that point and, as no other high crest
has been reported from up the river,
it is hoped this will prove the high
cob PoiHC VI tiiC oCdoOiI, COluSl ioI oo
high as the prediction of the weather
bureau called for.
Cool weather on the upper Colo
RADIO is believed to be responsible for
this favorable condition.
A report from the Imperial Valley
river levce this morning showed that
the river there had begun slow fall,
while the current was in the middle Of
the channel, and there was practically
no cutting.
Damage May Be Small.
Hope is expressed today that dam
age from the break may be held down
to low point, if the crevasse is not
considerably enlarged, as the volume
reported this morning as coming from
the delta is not believed to be suf-