Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-02-02
HUGE DAM BURSTS
so DEAD
AND MANY MISSING
Wall of Water Sweeps Through
Otay Valley South of San
Diego Bodies Car
ried Out to Sea.
PROPERTY DAMAGE HEAVY
California and Entire Pacific
Slope Swept BY Most Dis
astrors Storm In Years
Rivers Rising.

Rivers Rising.
San Diego. Cali. Jan. Sl.-Relicf
parties in automobiles and a process
sion OF motor trucks left here today
for the stricken Otay valley. 15 miles
to the south. where the bursting of the
$1,000. ooo. 0oo gallons of water upon the
!itrle streak Of arabic land between
ridges of hills and drowned probably
40 persons. The motor trucks carried
provisions 70, the survivors in the
valley, tools ana pontoons for fording
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 it's foot, remained cut off.
"a Diego. tby radio to Los Angeles),
Jan. 29.-No change had been made
early today in estimates fixing at so
the loss of life in the Otay valley flood.
When the lower dam of the Southern
California Mountain Water company
broke late Thursday. it released a flood
the populous valley. which lies just
south of here. devastating an area Is
miles long and tw" miles wide. The
property damage. it Is believed, will
reach 81. 600, 900.
Another dam continued today near
the breaking point, threatening add
tioi,al ruin to the valley.
Scores Are MISSING.
Scores of persons were reported
missing and il was believed that a
number of bodies We're carried out to
| sea.
Rescue parties We're striving to reach
the scene. approach to which is ex-
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streams and the fac that all of the
bridges between a Diego and the lit
tie valley have been carried away by
the flood waters of the last two weeks.
All roads arc virtually impossible.
Hundreds of families cut off from
communication with the outside world,
We're believed TO be threatened with a
food famine. Suffering among the
homeless was said 10 be intense.
Plans We're being. made here to send
relief supplies into the flooded district
as soon as possible.
One report stated tina 25 Japanese
including men, women and children,
We're killed when the dam broke, re-
leasing a wall of water 30 feet high.
Twenty-Five farm houses were
Known to IA been swept away by
the waters.
Warning Not Needed.
The heavy rains Curing the past two
says filled the lower Otay dam for the
first time i'll its history. Realizing the
dam vas Weakening under the great
pressure of water, warnings were sent
TO the people i'm the valley to flee for
their lives.
1t was unheeded by many. according
to reports here. the residents in the
valley preferring to remain and en-
1eavor to protect their property.
Although the emptied reservoir was
the principal source Of the San Diego
,tty water supply. there was no danger
of a water amin here. 1T was said by
officials. as there are other sources
from which the city can draw an ample
amount.
There has beer no means of COM
municatton with The valley, either by
and rain storm. which swept this city
early Wednesday morning. For this
reason. it has been impossible to oh.
tain but meager details.
Engineering parties and civil au-
thorities joined the rescue parties
lower Otay dam. II miles southeast Of
here. An investigation OF engineering
methods will he made. it was stated.
and will be of particular interest in
this case. because the lower dam was
Of unusual construction.
An Unusual Dam.
The dam vas 100 feet high and was
IOI Liz iOOSe TUCK Type, WITH concrete
side walls. In the center was imbedded
a core of riveted steel. the object be-
ing to a a water-tight dam, with.
out building a solid concrete one. The
masonry structure. III fact. was first
intended and foundations were laid
for 1t. The change created consider
able Interested specula! ION among en-
gineers at the time. ard one text on
reservoirs. discussing it. declared that
unless the dam had filled and remained
filled for q considerable period, no one
would be able to say whether or not
the design would be a success.
Whether any money was saved by
making the change. the same authority
said could not be determined.
The dam stood 100 feet from founda-
lions. The outlet. however. was at As
foot contour. making only the upper
~ feet effective for storage of water.
l. h 'ty. some Is 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. com.
Ing largely from the system of which
the W. Otay dam was q part. was
~lcurtailed today and National City and
lChulavista. suburbs. were reported cut
off from usual water sources alto.
gether.
Persons familiar with the country
said today that the loss of life and
greatest damage undoubtedly occurred
close to the dam. and that in the lower
valley. which il broad. property dam.
age would be great. but loss OF life
unlikely.
Lord Selborne IL England's most no.
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