El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-02
FRANKLIN CANAL
HAS BAD BREAK
East Ell Paso Residences
Are Damaged by Flood
Of the Water.

Many Mexican families living south
OF Alameda avenue were rendered
homeless, scores OF Easements were
flooded and streets made impossible
Thursday night at ESQ o'clock when
the Franklin canal flowed through
80 foot break in its banks just below
the Rayner street bridge in East Ell
Paso- The damage as far as can be
determined was caused by the making
Of small hole in the bank TO insert a
box for the purpose Of obtaining ir-
risation water. A negro was granted
the privilege Of running the box
through the bank several days ago,
members Of the city council were told.
still Under Water.
The entire residence section from
the canal north to Pera street and east
TO Palm. between Walnut and Grama
streets is still under water. Three
adobe houses have begun TO crumble
and one has collapsed a dozen OF
more Mexican families have moved
from their homes in fear Of accident.
Friday morning at II o'clock there
was about one and one-haIf feet OF
water along san Antonio. Piedras and
O1Ve streets Mexican children were
padding about in the water. using
Wasnlubs and boards as boats. Spring
gardens are ruined where the water
swept over them and the few houses
U lhat section that had cellars were
flooded
Headgate Closed.
G. B. Hall, who is in charge OF the
heaQsate, stated Friday morning The
gate was closed as soon as I was no.
titled that there gts q break in the
1enhs OF the Canal. IL is suu closed.
a. IL.
In Il and what spilled over the flooded
section was back water"
Mayor pro TEN R c. Sempls and the
councLlmen went 20 the flooded dis
trlct at 1880 o'clock Friday morning
and looked over the situation. al the
time the break in the canal was be-
ing worked on by the men from the
reclamation service and the gap was
almost tlled- The water had recedetf
several feet in places and the alarm
that was felt during the night was
passed Mr. Semple said From what
l can judge, there has been about
5000 or $4,000 worth Of damage done.
Lnls Is merely a rough estimate. All
the adobe houses that had their foun-
cations soaked viii fall The flood
extended almost to Washington park
Break Is Repaired.
Irrigation manager 7. ". Perry, OF
the reclamation service. was notified
shortly after s o'clock Thursday night
that break had occurred in the ca
nal bank and he Immediately ordered
the headgates OF the canal shut near
Harris mill He hopes 10 have water
Few hours
after ordering the headEates
closed. I had a crew Of men assem-
bled. who worked from shortly after
s o'clock until midnight repairing the
break in the dam" said lIr. Perry.
naH
break was caused by a negro who had
made small hole in the bank in an
effort 10 get water for irrigating his
land. The hole rapidly became larger
and developed into a break about so
feet wide. This has now been re-
be running in the canal within the
next few hours"
Jones Home Flooded.
The basement Of the home Of Thos
A Jones. BIB Rivera street. is typical
Of the damage. tt was flooded with
five feet o. water. which seriously
damaged some furniture and other
household goods belonging 20 a neigh I
Dor. which had been stored there. I
The water was discovered by Mr..
Jones about $50 o'clock and h was able
TO remove but few contents OF the
cellar before IL bad flooded the base
ment. which IS seven feet deep ana
about "A feet square The water
came up very suddenly" said Mr..
ZONES. 4 did not know anything about
Il until woman ran up to my home
and told me- Rivera and Pera streets I
were completely covered with water
from the break IN the bank OF the ca
nal
Considerable damage was done TO I
the homes OF many Mexican families
in the district the adobe walls crum- I
bling underneath the pressure Of the I
water Il seemed like that the break I
had been caused by the insertion OF Z
wooden box or trough through the {
bank Of the canal in an effort TO OBJ |
tain water and which had not been I
strong enough 20 resist the pressure /
Of the water. one Of the trouEhs was ]
washed away from the canal and could l
be seen Friday morning"