Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-07
DAMAGE MOUNTS HIGHER

With the recession of the waters
from the inundated district Pueblo
citizens were able to make some esti-
mate of the damage that had been
done in their city by the angry wa
tiers of the Arkansas River and Foun-
tain River
stretching in an irregular, far-fiung
oval 80 blocks long and of a maxi
mum width of Il blocks, comprising
about $50 city blocks, the damaged
area, after the curtain of water had
been withdrawn. presented an aspect
of desolation that forced many OBJ
servers to raise the early estimate of
slo.ooo,O00 to one nearer $4,000, 900.
A number of large and important
business buildings on each side of
the area were destroyed and many
others were seriously damaged.
In proclamation issued at Colora-
do Springs, Gov. Shoup said:
1.-The havoc wrought by the recent
floods in Colorado is appalling. Many
parts OF the state have been affected.
but the greatest damage apparently
has been done in the Arkansas VAL
ley. Tho flood probably reaped its
largest harvest of human life and de-
struction of property in and about the
city of Pueblo. IL is impossible, at
this time. accurately to estimate Ell
Their the loss of life or of property,
huf the fn1l will no xar,,
Knowing that the response Will be
prompt and generous, /, as chief exc
cutive of the state, call upon the peo-
pie of Colorado to contribute 10 the
relief of the flood sufferers. The city
stress is great and their needs most
pressing. 1t will require not days
but weeks and perhaps even months
to relieve the situation.
AS governor, l have, on behalf of
the people of the state, accepted the
Oeffr of the American Red Cross to
take general charge and supervision
of the relief work. It's officials now
are on the ground and actively under
taking the Herculanean task.
From a personal inspection of
much Of the flooded area I can state
that the situation is serious. l, there
fore, make this urgent appeal for
prompt and generous response
Transportation east and north from
the city is just now declared to he
the greatest need. Governor Shoup
today telegraphed Senators Phipps and
Nicholson to make every effort to get
an appropriation of $4,000, 900 to the
state of Colorado to repair tracks and
rebuild bridges on the lines entering
from these directions.
The senator's replied that they did
not feel they could consistently make
such request for federal assistance
until facts and conditions have been
more definitely determined" g.
Whatever figure the death list f.
nally reaches. not half the bodies of
the victims of the flood will be recoy-
ered,' w. G. Breckinridgc, president
of the Pueblo Rotary Club. said today.
He based this statement on pecuIiarr-
ties OF the river channel and the drift
ing Of mud over the flooded areas.
All OF the recovered bodies are be-
Ing held in the morgues.
1t will be impossible. undertakers
say. To bury the bodies for several
days. roads to the cemeteries being
impossible.
Rain again began falling this after
noon and ]. Z. Moorhead personal rem
resentative of the governor, made the
paradoxical statement that it was a
blessing. Should the city dry up too
rapidly before the debris and mud
were removed, the result would be
disagreeable odors and probably men
ace to health. While the list of known
dead grows slowly, reports to under
Continued on Page 4-coI. 81