The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-05-28


Utah occurred at o'clock yesterday
afternoon, when the great Hatchtown
dam in Garfield county, went out.
The break occurred on the north side
of the dam and is understood to have
been caused by a landslide, although
definite information had not been re.
ceived at late hour last night.
The breaking Of the dam let loose
a small ocean, as the reservoir, which
was protected by the dam, contained
approximately $4,000 acre feet Of wa.
ter. In tarea the reservoir which Is
situated on the Sewer river in Sewer
canyon. is one and one half miles
in length. The water at some places
reaches depth Of forty to fifty feet.
The reservoir was fed from Mammoth
and Assay creeks. tributaries to the
Sewer river.
At a late hour last night the water
was running thirty feet deep between
the reservoir and Panguitch. eighteen
miles distant. It was reported at mid.
night that the water had reached the
vicinity Of Panguitch, but as the town
is forty feet higher than the crest
of the food, no damage is expected
in that city.
Damage viii be Heavy
Owing to the fact that the break
was quickly discovered and that the
dam went out gradually no lives are
believed to have been lost, but the
property damage will be heavy. AS
soon as the break was discovered
couriers were sent out and telephones
brought into requisition, with the re-
suit that all persons In the pathway
of the food were notified in time to
make their escape to high ground and
save their lives. although It is be-
lieved that many will be homeless as
q result of the break.
As soon as the dam went out and
the great food Of imprisonsd water
was set free the SEWER overlooked its
banks and for considerable dis
lance on each side the water averag-
ed a depth of thirty feet.
Between Panguitch and the dam,
there are between fifteen and twenty
homes, which are presumed to have
been washed away. The total Of the
Inhabitants is estimated at between
seventy-fve and one hundred.
II is also understood that the dam
age will be heavy from Panguitch
down to the Piute reservoir. but 1t
was said last night that the danger
would doubtless cease when the Pluto
reservoir is reached, as that reser.
voir can take care of large amount
of the water.
Telephone Line 10 Down
The poles Of the United States Tel
ephone & Telegraph Comany were
washed out by early evening, but
messages were gotten through from
Panguitch by private wires.
The opinion was expressed last
night that the breaking of the dam
will result In damages that win
mount into the hundreds of thousands
of dollars, as, in addition to the loss
of homes and other buildings, big
areas of farm lands will be flooded
to such an extent that 1t VIII be I'M
possible to raise crops upon them this
year.
The Hatchtown project is a state
institution and work upon the system
was begun early In 1907. The work
on the system, which includes the big
dam which went out yesterday. the
diversion dam. two miles south of
Panguitch and the canal constructed
by the state, cost approximately s175.-
900. The system was practically fin
ished about a year ago. although 1t Is
understood that some work WAS still
to be done.
The water stored in the reservoir
which was projected until yesterday
by the big dam, was sufficient for the