Imperial Valley press., 1916-01-24
Yuma Has Suffered Immensely, But
Brave Citizens Have Already Begun
Clearing Away Debris for Better
Structures.

Inc greatest IlOOQ IN Jne history OF Cne COlOraQO
river apparently reaching 10000 secondfeet 90O0-
600 miners nches is subsding and at noon today I'M
peral Valley had apparently escaped damage from the
flood entirely.
The fact that there were critical hours with stream
that reached such tremendous proportions does de-
tract from the victory that has again the
river.
There were three dangerous points in the protective
works in facing the great ood-at Hanon Heading at
House and at Volcano Lake.
Hanlon the first point where the danger became
apparent the water Saturday coming within foot and
half of overtopping the evee which prevented by
force of 100 men working under Engineer Chester Allison
Sunday the river took to cutting quite badly at Mar
shas evee House and 100 feet of this evee gave
way, but the railroad levee back of the Marshall evee
saved the day and the water did not get into the valley
Volcano Lake levee is the last point where trouble
could develop, and this morning it stood six feet above
the water with the latter rising very slowly and with
weakness developed
This morning the Colorado river at Hanlon Heading
had fallen 7a feet relieving the situation greatly at all
other points, and indicating that the water will soon begin
to recede at Volcano levee.
The river today is still at high flood, but through
securing out of the channel and considerable shrnkage
in the volume of water presents much lower surface
and consequent reduction in danger
Had it not been that the Volcano Lake evee was
raised feet year ago. it would now be overtopped,
and the river will deposit silt back of the present
evee will probably be necessary to raise it higher to
be prepared to meet equal emergency in the future
The situation along the river is most spectacular The
"YeoW Dragon is noted for it's Wildness at time OF Hood
but at this time it is wicked in its aspect than ever
before with great whrpOos chasing another though
the stream and with immense sand waves following in
succession the water strs the underlying silt founda-
ton in its efforts to get deeper channel:
Occasionally house some household fixtures have
dfted by to tell OF some tragedy that the stream has en-
acted higher the river its tributaries for along hun
dreds of miles of it's there have been tragedies
most of which will be given to the world in detail
IHrof thn
levee had broken. This traced down and found to-
refer to the break in the Marshall levee which did not
imply damage to the valley Yet the rmor was the means
of frightening many persons, and many were the calls
which for information fro mall parts of the valley
The lure of the river called many to view the
great flood yesterday Among those who went by train
Solomon, Mr.. and Mrs Sam w. Dunaway, Mr.. and Mrs
Charles E. Hersee, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Moore Mr. and Mrs
Major Cook, Mr.. and Mrs William Allen A. M. Nelson
Fred Place and Ernest Poston.
E. w. Vessey and others went to the river in autos
and able to reach the railroad while those who went
by train able to get far north Pilot Knob, all
having magnificent view of the tremendous stream and
gaining comprehension of it's awfulness at such
One of the effects of the flood is expected to be spe
cal efforts to get emergency appropriation from Con-
gress for river CONTROL in accordance with the recon-
mendaton of the department. 1t is understood that
Yuma will crowd this proposition, and all Imperial Val
ley interests will cooperate with her to that end IN all
probability.
Secretary Berry of the Irrigation District yesterday
maintained exchange, being in touch with all
points along the rve1.and the evee and answering nn
merabe inquiries by phone and in person. In that way
the valley kept Informed throughout the day of the
situation and nothing that might be called great excite
ment developed.
It seems probable that the effect of the flood on the
credit of Imperial Valley will be beneficial for the
papers telling of the entire escape of the valley from
the greatest flood in the history of the river and having
escaped damage in such emergency the world will nat
uraly have greater confidence in it's future stability