davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

lv small portion of this area Ihe totai
volume of water which passed tueno ne ono
has been roughly estimated at lVp,uoV
acre feet Probably half of this volume
came from less than 500 square h,iles l,s
of drainage area between Hardscra opie
Creek and Pueblo. In this respect tne
storm which caused the flood was tai
from a maximum, and 1t is pronaoie
that rainfall of equal intensity 70
that between Hardscrabble Creek aho
Pueblo might easily extend over an
area of LOCO square miles, resulting ~
in a run-off over three times that OF
the recent flood. q
In studying the rainfall records or
the 'fscent storm and other storms IN
the Arkansas Valley, it is noted Una
the average rainfall increases quite
uniformly with the elevation oil me
drainage area Curves showing the
average rainfall in - hours at differ
ent elevations of the drainage area IN
Colorado will be found on Diagram
No. 4 for the May, 1894 and June lssl
storms. This diagram also shows
curve OF assumed maximum ralnial
irr 72 hours based on 40 per cent OF the
greatest recorded rainfall In the storms
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

July 1s. 1921
James Mum and ]. L. Savage.
Engineers.
Chief Engineer, Denver. Colorado.
Report on flood of June 8 and T. 1921,
covering damages. reconstruction cost
and flood protection for the City of
Pueblo and the Arkansas valley, in
Colorado.
1. BY telegram OF June IL. 1921. and
by subsequent letters. Director A. P.
Davis instructed that an investigation
and report be made of the damage
done by the Pueblo flood OF June and
4. 1871. particularly in and around Pu-
eblo and the Arkansas valley IN Col
orado, the report to cover the DANA ge
to irrigation works and other property
cost of reconstruction, and possibilities
for food protection. On receipt of
these instructions feld examinations
we're started as soon as We could reach
the ground and were completed on June
o3rd. Subsequently on July and 10
accompanied by Chief Engineer. F. L.
Weymouth. held examination was
made which covered the important fea-
lures of the problem. The intervening
time not occupied by other pressing
duties has been spent IN preparing this
report.
2. A complete study of the problems
involved will require much more time
and more accurate photographic and
topographic data than is now at hand,
and also much detailed engineering
work: therefore only preliminary
studies and estimates on which to base
conclusions are possible at the present
time This report is submitted accord
insly.
Synopsis and Conelusions
this report. together with a sta tement
OF conclusions. follows:
There Is dearth OF accurate topo-
graphic and other essential data on
which to base even the most prelim-
mary studies of flood control works,
and a careful Investigation OF the DIFF
ferent alternative plans will involve
considerable detail survey work before
accurate designs and estimates can be
prepared.
The food of the Arkansas river was
caused by heavy rains which fell quite
generally over the part OF tho drain
age area lying in Colorado below Canon
City. The heaviest rains covered the
area between Canon City and Pueblo
and these were especially heavy on
tho tributaries from the south between
Eardscrabble creek and Pueblo. and
OIL Fountain creek from the north.
The loss of life as far as acertained
Is given below:
Number of known deaths. .1,s
Number known to be missing........ ~
Number not accounted for.......... %
The property damages are estimated
as follows:
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
p.eon.truction and Flood Control

Reconstructio, work rs already uu-
der way in the flooded districts and
good progress has been made along
temporary llncJ in repairing portionl
OF the damage and renewing busino
activities. The program of safe PEI
manent reconstruction, particularly "a
the City of Pueblo. is however yCTa-
largely dependent on the formulate
OF comprehensive plans for tutuls
flood control works and for this re
sen permanent reconstruction, iu
many Instances, can net be economl
ally undertaken, pending thorougl
study and final solution OF the flood
problem,
Unfortunately there is a dearth NJ
accurate topography and other g.
most preliminary studies of flood con-
troll works, AMI a careful Invests
tlon OF the different alternative plan
win involve considerable detail surv""
work before accurate d. signs and e.
Inmates can he prepared.
Based on the frasmentary da h
available at this tim. it appears that
careful consideration should be given
10 three alternative plans for cor-
trolling or limiting the damage from
future floods on the Arkansas kiNcr
NJ follows
Plan A-Flood detention storage fin
sufficient capacity to limit the fow
through Pueblo to the present chan
mel capacity OF about 25.oco second feet
Plan B.-Channel endorsement thru
pueblo OF sufficient capacity to pas
the maximum peak flow.
Plan ca combination OF flood de-
tentiou storage and channel enlarse-
ment. .
The preliminary studies eusgest the
careful consideration of four alterna .
tive plans for limiting the damaEe
from future floods in Fountain Creek,
az follows:
Plan D.-Flood detention storage
Plan E.-Bank protection alons hoth
banks OF the flood plane.
Plan F-Channel enlargement.
Plan CA combination OF food
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Heavy crop losses are inevitable,
particularly on lands under the Bes-
scmer. Rocky Ford High Line, Fort
Lyon and Fort Bent Canals. also on
lands under many. OF the small bitches
and on the Beaver Land and frrlga-
tion System where the Schaeffer dam
was destroyed and the storage supply
for 1900 acres was lost. The irrigated
area thus affected aggrer~cs about
1871 acres. or nearly half tho total
ar.n OF all the systems suffering from
the flood. . These prospective crop
losses may be lessened by prompt re
pair work. by unusual river flow or
by timely rainfall: on the contrary
conditions will greatly
increase the crop losses. An estimate
of the prospective crop losses is given
by Mr.. 5 IL. Sawhill, County Agent.
U. s Department OF Agriculture In
Exhibit c..
The damage to farm property In
cluding land. buildings, crops. live,
stock and equipment is given In detail
In Exhibit &C.. referred to In the
paragraph above. This damage rs
sum narixed by counties. as follows'
p,r,~ne To Fnrm Property
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

The Rock Canyon reservoir site To-
Gated on the Arkansas River eight
miles west of Pueblo offers the best
known site for lood detention stor-
age.
The best possibility for flood deten-
ton storage on Fountain creek is be-
ll.ved to be at a site about 10 miles
above Pueblo. which has been desig-
mated the Steel Hollow reservoir site
All Of the alternative plans which
include flood detention storage would
benefit property interests in the Ar
kansas Valley below Pueblo.
The alternative plans embracing
only channel enlargement or bank pro-
lection through Pueblo would not bene-
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Total actual damage .sie.0so.ooo
The above summary OF property
damage, amounting TO about $4,000.
600 Is supported to large extent by
more detailed figures contained in
Exhibits C to ] inclusive. accompany
ing this report. However. the total
estimate includes various items not
supported IN the Exhibits. These
items have been secured from other
sources or from n general knowledge
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Company has added si,25o.ooo TO
their estimate of direct property loss
rs originally listed in Exhibit I and
the above estimate OF damage to rail-
roads includes this amount This
company has also estimated tenta-
lively n damage of Si.5oo.ooo to prop
erty in transit on its system, which
amount IS not included In the esti-
mate OF $Io.oso.ooo. a similar dam
age would obtain on other railroads
estimated at 100000. In addition to
the actual damages as estimated
above, there are intangible losses
which are not covered in the esti-
mates. For instance. the Denver and
Rio Grande Railroad Company has
estimated tentatively a loss of $3.50
600 from the suspension of business.
loss of traffic and other miscellaneous
losses which are due to the tie-up on
its system. Tho loss TO Public utili-
ties and to manufacturers. merchants
and business concerns generally. from
the suspension of business. Will ag-
gregata "A very large sum. Likewise
the losses from depreciation OF prop
erty values both within and outside
of the flooded districts would. II sus-
ceptihle of estimate. add very ma
tcrially to the actual losses
In connection with the depreciation
Of property values. II should be noted
that ultimate dnpraCiat ttnu Will
depend to n large extent on the scope
of the flood prevention measures
finally adopted. II heroic measures
are undertaken and the City OF
Pueblo and other interests down the
valley are made safe against future
floods. the ultimate depreciation of
property values will be comparatively
little. However. II adequate flood
protection is not provided the depre-
citation of values will undoubtedly be
very great In addition to the in
tan Tible losses mentioned above. there
are large prospective crop losses from
water shortage on account Of dam
aged irrigation works which may.
under the most unfsvorablc condi-
tions. amount up into the millions.
1t is safe to say that the ultimate ac-
tusl loss will probably exceed s21.-
900. 900 and that intangible and pros
pective losses. not susceptible OF eso.
mate at this time. may add several
million dollars to this figure.
The City of Pueblo suffered about
ls1o,oOo.O0O actual loss out of the total
Of s1g.0sO.O0O. The effect of this loss
can be realized by comparing It with
the City's assessed valuation of s3S,-
600 900. Besides suffering these stag
eering losses The Sity has been left
with n very expensive cleanup Job.
| Fortunately the War Department has
undertaken extensive sanitary work
including the cleaning away of mud
and debris and the repairing Of dam
age to city water works system. In
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Thi, loss VA. mainly in the lower
bottom land. some OF which was
h,ehlv improved although the greater
nortIon consisted of pasture ihhu'
Most OF this area was e~cp, cleah,
ali fences and improvements pohs
destroyed. x.,,,,.
Probably the bes, estimate OF ths
peak flow and the volume OF the floou
that can be made with the data ,hus
FAR available is contained In preh'ili-
nary report to the State Engineer snS
Mr.. r. O. Hosea. Deputy state hh
p,ncer A copy OF MIR. Hoscas report
is attached n- Exhibi, r. On pages .
and I OF his report Mr.. Hosea shows a
table entitled "Quantitauve Estimate
of Pueblo Flood from which the fol-
lowing quantities arc taken:
Peak flow Arkansas River at
Pueblo i.5o \. ". June 9Th ico.""s T.
Flood volume. $3.50 p. "
Juno End to io.So \. NJ
June ith ...............s.s 'e'VVN n l.
Flood volume tnain part OF
floodD $500 r ~. June sd
TO 1880 A VI. June ith Is.las n I.
Al 1890 A. N. June 18th the river was
stiI flowing 1000 second feet. as est-
mnted by Mr.. Hosea. There Is how
ever. no information on which TO pase
added after this time. II Is probahlC
that fully 10000 acre feet was added
and that the main part OF the flood
starting at 500 =. NJ. June Sd and end
ing sometime in the night OF June ith
,otaIed about 100000 acre feet.
II ls impossible TO calculate either
the peak flow or the flood volume OF
Fountain Creek due to lack Of data
The penk flow has. however. been
guessed at about 10000 second feet ana
the flood volume at 5000 acr. toct
Drsirnue Arc mud WnirfHli Data
The drainage area which contributed
to the recent flood in the Arkansas
River through Pueblo embraces lao
square miles, located between canon
City and Pueblo The tabulated areas
of different tributaries embraced In
this drainage area are shown In Table
No /, accompanying this report. The
drainage area tributary to Fountain
Creek, which Joins the Arkansas River
lust below Pueblo. includes $50 square
miles Tho drainage areas consist
largely Of barren land ranging from
elevation 1900 to 1000 feet above sea
level The areas n, different elevations
are shown by the following:
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Estimated property damage s1s,oso, ,ooe
Property lost In transit on the rail-
roads, prospective crop losses thru
shortage of water and. other losses of
an intangibls kind may add several
million dollars to the total property
damage
The City of Pueblo suffered more
than $1o,oo000o loss of the total prop
erty damage.
The food peaks were approximately
a follows:
Arkansas river at Pueblo 100000 sec. TT
Arkansas river at Lamar 10000 sec. TT
Fountain creek at Pueblo. sc, 900 sec. IT
The flood volume OF the Arkansas
river at Pueblo was about 100000 acre
feet and of Fountain creek at Pueblo
about $4,000 acre feet.
The Weather bureau records show
the daily rainfall in inches at different
points on part of the tributary drain
age area above Pueblo to be as fol-
lows for the storm of June. 1921:
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
PAGE EIGHT-SUNDAY, AUG. I, 1921

copy Of the report of United States Government Reclamation
engineers who visited Pueblo and vicinity Immediately after the flood
investigate possible methods of flood CONTROL has been
by the City Commissioners The report voumnous and detailed
containing 43 pages of typewriter and of and
photographs The Chean prints below the report full
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

addition to furnishing funds. the War
Department detailed for this work
company Of engineers equipped with
trucks, tanks and other equipment
In examining and estimating the
flood damage. particular attention
has been given to the damage suffer-
ed by irrigation works. All the prin-
cipal canal headings were visited in
company with Mr.. A. A Weiland,
Consulting Engineer of Pueblo, Colo
rado whose special knowledge and
intimate professional relation to irri-
CATION works in the Arkansas Valley
We're OF inestimable value in securing
data for this report. The estimates
of damage submitted by local engin-'
eers and canal company officials were
as rule very conservative, and 1t is
believed that there was general
tendency to underestimate rather
than over-estimate these damages.
The damage to irrigation works is
covered In detail In Exhibit II, which
is considered substantially correct eN-
cept In few items. A summary of
this damage is given below as cor
rected:
Damage To Irrigation Works
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Arkansas river above Pueblo 1900 %. m.
Fountain creek .............. 800 50. m.
Based on the fra smentary data avail
able at this time. It appears that the
City of Pueblo. and TO a varying extent
property interests on the Arkansas
river below Pueblo. can be protected
from future flood damage by combin-
ing alternative plans for food control
works on the Arkansas river with sim
liar plans for works on Fountain
creek as follows:
ArkRnsRs River
Plan A.-Flood detention storage OF
no 900 acre feet with such repairs to
present levees and channel as are re-
quired to provide a safe capacity OF
IS 900 second feet thru Pueblo. Eso-
mated cost. S17,5oo. 600.
Plan B.-channel enlargement thru
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
Acres
47io
sssTs.Oss

feet through Pueblo. similar study
Of tn. Fountain Creek drainage area
results in n probable maximum run-off
OF 1900 acre feet and probabl. peak
flow Of iio.coo second feet.
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
,sss.ooo sI.27s,soo


Of May. 1884, and June. 1921. II Also
shows a curve OF assumed maximum
run-off based on the following as
sumed percentages 81 run-of for dit-
ferert elevations OF drainage area;
p,Ieyn,ion Percentage of Run-of
4 oOn To 8 COZ ...... IS per cent
5000 5000 to to 200 .......... ... IS per cent
1000 to T. 600 ........,. s. per cent
Using the same storm area that con-
trihuted to tho recent flood In the Ar
kansas River. viz. l.7io square miles
between Canon city and Pueblo. and
applying the assumed maximum run
off rates as shown on DIAGRAM No.
TO the respective areas FOR different
elevations of the drainage area,
value OF $4,000 acre feet has been OBJ
tained for the probable maximum run
off through Pueblo. This Is equivalent
to a run-off OF 3iz inches over the
storm area Of I 40 square miles Based
on this total run-off a hydrograph has
been constructed of similar shape to
TN" hydrogrsph of tho recent flood as
plotted from tho notes given in Mr..
Hosoa's report which indicates n prob
able peak flow Of about les 900 second
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Pueblo to 1ss.Ooo second feet capacity.
Estimated cost s5,50o,000.
Plan C-Any one of the following
combinations of flood detention stor-
age and channel enlargement:
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

The drainage areas tributary to the
Arkansas river at Pueblo are as fol-
lows:
Arkansas river above Canon
City ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5000 50. m.
Arkansas river between Canon
City and Pueblo ............1.T4o 50. m
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

kinds OF debris. subsequent leNeis
showed a maximum gage height of
24.66 and the peak discharge has
been roughly estimated at 100000
second feet. The river. after over
flowing at s:45 P, NJ on June 3. con
tinued to rise until about 1880 A. Nj.
of June 4 when 1t began to recede.
At 4:3o A. NJ. 1t had fallen to gage
height of about is feet with an esti-
mated discharge of about $4,000 sec
ond feet.
Some time during the night of
June n flood came down Fountain
Creek, the high stage reaching Pueblo
Channel Enlargement. Cost
5000 6. +. ........,............ $S,eoo'ooD
$4,000 $. (. ........ ..........., sS,5co,coo
on the morning of June 4. The peak
of this flood has been roughly es-
timated at $4,000 second feet AL
though the flood receded quickly it
did considerable damage along the
stream to Its junction with the
Arkansas River and no doubt added
greatly TO the damage In the Arkansts
Valley below Pueblo.
On Sunday. June 8, at about 500
P. NJ. another flood in the Arkansas
River swept through Pueblo adding
somewhat to the damage and causing
caused by the destruction of the
Schaeffer dam on Beaver Greek,
which released about 3.100 acre feet
of reservoir storage.
The flood in the Arkansas River
below its junction with Fountain
Creek at Pueblo was augmented 10 a
considerable extent by floods in some
of the tributaries. The St Charles
River added probably 10000 second
feet and this stream did considerable
damage along Its own course. At La
Junta the<flood peak In the Arkansas
River was probably between 10000
and l75.oOO second feet Below La
Junta the accretions were negligible
and near Lamar at the Amity Canal
diversion dam the peak flow was es-
timated at 10000 seond feet
While the flock peaks, as estimat.
ed. are very high the duration OF
these high peaks was not great ana
consequently the flood volumes are
Rough estimates indicate that a totsl
volume of about 100000 acre feet
passed through Pueblo from me
Arkansas River and that about 5p.Vuo
TO $4,000 acre feet was added by the
Fountain. St Charles and other
streams down the valley during the
period OF the flood.
Flood Lssses
Will. It is too early TO get accurate
estimates of the damage done by the
flood preliminary estimates have
been made which are believed TO be
conservative. Following Is a sum
mary of the losses in life and prop
erty:
Number Of known deaths .l.o
Number known to be missing ~
Number not accounted for ...... 30
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
Arkansas river

Ir'Hl t.SV Si. 'hii'H
The drainage area on the Arkansas
River above Canon city. embracing
5 900 square miles. contributed very
little to the flood and this area can be
eliminated from consideration in esti-
mating the run-off. While the rainfall
was aulte general over the tributary
area Of I 40 square miles, the excessive
rainfall was confined to a comparative
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07
Fountain Creek

Fountain Creek
Plan D.-Flood detention storage OF
75 90 acre feet with such repairs to
present channel rs are required to pro-
vide a safe capacity of $4,000 second
feet. Estimated cost, $1,000, 900.
Plan E,-Ban.S protection to 10000
second feet capacity. Estimated cost,
s.. 2.50o. 900.
plan F.-Chann-l enlargement to
100 second Feet capacity. Esti-
mated cost. so.50o,ooo.
Plan Glitter Of the following
combinations of ficod detention stor-
age and channel enlargement:
Combination. Storage.
No. /. e5. 600 4. T.
No. .. ................ $4,000 a. (.
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

the time of overflow the amount OF
water passing through the city can
not be accurately determined due TO
choking of the channel by falling
bridges. floating houses, trees and all
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Continued on Page Nino
Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-07

Number Of known deaths .....''l.o
Number known to be missing ~
Number not accounted for ...... sS
Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-27
.PRFn|ER,S CONFERENCE
INVITATION TO IRISH
CHIEfTA|NS PLEASfS
Last Offer Crown Can Make Sim Feiners,
London Observer Comments; Letter Counter
part and Explanation Of Cabinets Decision to
Increase Military Pressure, It Says in England.

London June surprise expressed by the
Sunday morning newspapers at Premier Lloyd Georges lnvl-
taon Eamonn de Valera and Sir James Craig to engage in
conference with representatives OF the government 1t IS
pointed out that this peace is the most liberal made thus
far though the fact that conditions imposed for the
meetings The Sunday Times refers to the proposal as the
ast offer the make to the Sim Fem and
adds:
It is political potentalty and Mr.. de Valera may
refuse accept In that the alternative of the gov
eminent is clear The of the British empire to
enforce peace not exhausted.
The Sunday Observer says the preiers letter counter
part and explanation Of the cabinets decision to increase
the purely military pressure the Sim Fem But adds
% to repressive will not be had until or
unless the Sim Fem leaders decline the offered conference
The premier declared yesterday the British to
be deeply anxious that King Georges appeal for reconciliation
in Ireland shall not have been made in vain.
His letter. which is dated June a. is couched in identical
terms both Mr. de Valera and Sir James, except for
verbal changes. It says:
The British government deeply anxious that, as
far they it, the kings appeal for reconcia
ton shall not have been in vain. Rather than allow
other opportunity for settlement in Ireland to be cast
aside they feel it incumbent them make final ap-
peal in the spirit Of the kings words for conference be-
tween themselves and representatives of southern and
northern Ireland.
Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-27
CHRISTOPHER
ROUNDUP, PLAN
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Helena. June 26.-Although it's
name might indicate that It had
been formed for the purpose of
herding grasshoppers. articles Of
Incorporation of the Grasshopper
Herding ssociation, Of Dillon,
just filed with the secretaryr of
state, show it to be formed for
the purpose of engaging in the
herding of lives took, and the rails
ing of livestock for hire. The
association is capitalized at $40
600 of which $500 has been sub
scribed for and it's incorporators
are w. s. Nash. r. F. Nay. Viii
liam Bahnish and Fl. r. Paddock
all of Bannock, and Theodore Mel
son of Dillon.
The Peoples Co operative Co., of
Ballantine, Yellowstone county.
has been incorporated to engage in
a mercantile and shipping business
with a capital Of $25, 900 of which
$4,000 has been subscribed.
The Vanada State bank of Van
ada. Rosebud county, has filed
certificate Of increase in capital
stock from $4,000 to $4,000.