The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-06-27
Floods DESTROY

been occasioned by an oyersunnlv
OF water, and the fear has more
often been that there would not he
sufficient supply of moisture at
the proper time for growing crops.
However, there has been little occa-
sion for that fear during the pres
ent season, and the great perciplta-
tion and continued rains has result
ed IN considerable damage to crops
IN the low-lands. To just what ex-
tent this has been the case is vet
TO determine, but there has been a
large area Of the low land that has
suffered.
Ihe continued rains and the i'm
mense precipitation has resulted in
serious local damage in the destruc-
Ton OF bridges in the county and to
the city and railroad company in
the destruction of the dam from
which the local water supply has
been secured.
Ihe water came pouring down
the milestone from the hills, and
Saturday morning between six and
seven O'Clock the water in the dam
burst over the south emba nkment
and washing its way through, made
torrent that came pouring down
south Of the AL Smith residence
and crossed Diggs avenue near the
Ed johnson, Gus Swanson and
Harry Blood homes. Mr.. Swanson
probably suffered the most from
this overflow, which swept over his
garden and surrounded his large
chicken house with several feet of
water. and he was obliged to move
out from the first floor Of his house
IN very rapid manner, but the
| flood soaked carpets and other furn-
ltnre that he was unable to get out
in time, and he To- large number
OF his chickens as we'll as the de-
struction Of his garden.
Mr.. Blood was putting new foun-
dation under his house, and the
sa1iaing was On screws for that
purpose. The tiood swept away
several loads Of sand and destroyed
the cement that be had for his
foundation walls, besides ruin
ing his garden.
The fiat where the stock build
ings are located, just north Of the
creamery, and the base ball ground
adjoining We're covered with several
feet Of water when the aoad was at
Its height. and the rushing torrent
in this locality was probably half
mile wide.
The flow Of water over the east
embankment Of the dam had COM
menced to make several openings
underneath the roadbed on Satur-
day, but it was believed the dam
would hold as the pressure of water
was becoming less, but Sunday
morning about o'clock some
fifteen feet on the north side of the
east bank gave way. the willow
trees and huge chunk of earth
around the roots being carried
down well on to the flat by the rush
Of the waters. This made certain
the draining Of the dam, and by
Monday morning about the only
water left was that, running
through the original creek bed.
Sunday was fishing day. while the
water was draining out Of the dam
parties with forks. nets and their
bare hands were taking the fish as
they got into the shallow water,
and some fine catches were made.
one man having several black bass
that must have weighed seven or
eight pounds each.
It was feared that the city water
supply would be interfered with.
but so far this has not been mater
ally affected. and with the early re-
pair of the dam there will probably
be no great difficulty from this
source. The railroad company al
ready has q force Of engineers and
workmen on the ground. and we
understand large pile-driver come
menced the driving Of piles in the
repairing Of the dam.
Perhaps the most serious loss to
the community is the destruction
of bridges in the county. We
understand that but very few Of the
bridges either north or. south OF
town were left intact. some of them
being entirely swept away, while
the approachers to nearly all were
washed away or made impossible.
One of the difficulties in making
even temporary repairs at the pres
ent time is the scarcity Of bridge
timber. but little being carried on
hand now by lumbermen. because
so much Of the bridge is now made
Of concrete.