Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-29
Dam Near San Diego, Cal,
Breaks and Valley Is
Devastated.
WALL OF WATER
THIRTY FEET HIGH
Thirteen Billion Gallons Of Water Sud-
denly Released, Devastating Area
Fifty Miles Long and TWO Miles in
Width Some Of Bodies May Have
Been Carried Out to Sea - Rescue
Work Made Difficult.

San Diego, CAL, Jan. 29.-lBy raolo
to Los Angeles.]-Fifty lives-probably
more-were lost in the flood of the
Otay valley on Thursday, when sheet
of water thirty feet high swept down
the valley, according to estimates of
the coroner today.
When the lower dam of the Southern
California Mountain Water Company
broke it released flood Of 10000, ,000,-
900 gallons into the valley, which lies
just south OF here, devastating an area
fifty miles long and two miles wide.
The property damage, it is believed,
will reach $1,000,000.
Another dam today is near the
breaking point, threatening additional
ruin to the valley. Scores Of persons
were reported missing and it is be-
lieved that a number Of bodies were
carried out to sea.
Rescue Work Difficult.
Rescue parties are attempting to
reach the scene, approach to which is
difficult owing to swollen streams and
the fact that all of the bridges between
San Diego and the little valley have
been carried away by the flood waters
of the last two weeks. AL roads are
virtually impassable.
Hundreds Of families. cut off from
communication from the outside world.
are believed to be threatened with a
food famine. Suffering among the
homeless is intense. Plans are being
made here to rush relief supplies to
the flooded districts. s
Failed to Heed Warnings.
Twenty-five farm houses are known
to have been swept away by the
waters The heavy rain during -the
past two days filled the lower Otay
dam for the first time in its history.
Realizing the dam was weakening un-
der the great pressure OF water, warn
ings were sent to the people in the
valley to flee It was unheeded by
man, according to reports here.
There has been no means OF COM
municating with the valley either by
telephone or telegraph since the gale
and rain storm which swept this city
early Thursday.
Autos Carry Relief.
Relief parties in automobiles and a
procession of motor trucks left here to-
day for the stricken Otayt valley, fif-
teen miles to the south. The motor
trucks carried provisions Tor the sur
vivors in the valley, and tools and
pontoons for fording swollen streams
where bridges are out. The pace of the
relief expedition, it was thought, would
depend upon the slower vehicles All
communication with the valley and the
little town Of Otay at its foot, re-
manned cut off,
The city, some fifteen miles up San
Diego bay from the entrance of Otay
creek, was in no direct danger from
the flood at any time, but its water
supply, coming largely from the sys-
tenn Of which the lower Otay dam was
a part, was curtailed today and Ma
tional City and Chula Vista, suburbs.
were reported cut off from usual water
sources altogether.
Damage Near Dam Greatest.
Persons familiar with the country
said today that the loss Of life and
the greatest damage undoubtedly oc.
CURED close to the dam,' and that in
the lower valley, which is broad, prop
erty damage would be great, but loss OF
life unlikely.
The dam is one Of series Of dams
and reservoirs by which q magnificent
water supply was assured the city of
San Diego, not only for the present
but with provisions for decades Of
growth and expansion. This system.
considered among the. best, comprised
four dams and reservoirs. Of which
three had been built Behind the lower
dam was built the upper Otay dam of
reinforced concrete. The upper Otay
dam, eighty-four feet high, had wa
ter shed of only twelve square miles.
while that Of the lower Otay was 100
square miles, including that Of the
upper Otay.
The lower Otay, below the confluence
Of two creeks which form otay creek,
received not only the full drainage OF
this watershed but also waters brought
north from Cottonwood creek.
The augmented burden in the unpre-
cedented rain, was too great.