Arizona republican., 1922-05-18
TOWN Of RIPLEY IS BURIED.
UNDER SIX FEET Of WATER.
WHEN RIVER LEVEE Breaks
800 Persons Made Homeless and 10000 Acres
Of Farming Land Inundated wifh Estimated
Damage 81 200, 900; Blythe Red Cross and
Civic Organizations Aid Flood Victims

Flood waters of the swollen Colo
RADIO river pouring through a 200-foot
break in the dirt levee on the Cali
fornia side of the river eight miles
below Blythe, Calf, have inundated
the town of Ripley, and more than
10000 acres of the farming lands OF
the Palo Verde valley to depth OF
from three to six feet. All of the
residents of the town of Ripley, num-
berinc about 800 people, and a large
number of ranchers in the flooded
area were forced to flee from their
homes and seek shelter in Blythe or
other higher ground.
The break in the levee occurred late
Saturday night, and although the en-
tire district was under water IN
very short time. the people caught
By the flood, were able to reach
higher ground without the loss of any
lives. Many of the people were able
to move their personal effects, cloth
ing and bedding from their homes be-
fore the crest Of the flood was
reached. The break in the 20-foot
dirt levee was caused, according TO
engineers, by a sand bar forming IN
a curve of the river on the Arizona
side which threw the force of the
current against the levee.
The estimated damage that will be
done by the flood before the waters
recede is placed in the neighborhood
of 81, 600, 900. The new hotel at Rip
ley. recently completed at a cost OF
nearly 100000, is standing in three
feet of water and it is feared that the
foundations of the building will be
undermined to such an extent that
fa11 rrf
store buildings. dwelling houses and
railroad property in Ripley are flood
ed TO a depth of three or four feet.
Ripley is a new town in California
and is the terminus of the California
Southern Railway, a branch of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, run
ming north to Rice, distance of Al
miles. The tracks Of the railroad are
under water for a distance of more
than four miles toward Blythe.
Many head of live stock and poul-
try have been lost in the flood and
all of the loose article about the
ranch houses and the houses in Rip
ley have been washed away. Many
of the growing crops in the district
have been destroyed by the flood
waters. and it is estimated If the
area remains under water for several
will be a complete loss.
The Red Cross at Blythe has been
caring for the flood sufferers with
the assistance of the Blythe chamber
of commerce and other Blythe civic
organizations Help has been asked
by the Blythe chapter of the Red
Cross from the Los Angeles and the
state Red Cross chapters.
On Tuesday the waters OF the
river had reached point within two
feet of the highest previous flood
water mark and for a period of II
hours, the depth had not increased.
Neither had the waters. receded any,
which leads those familiar with the
river TO believe that the crest of the
flood had been reached. The main
through the break in the levy and |
after flowing across the ranch lands |
enters the main channel of the river |
about 10 miles below the break.
The break in the levee cannot be |
repaired or closed until the flood |
waters of the river have receded |
which is estimated to be from six to |
eight weeks hence BY this time, it |
is feared by some that the main |
of the river will be cut across
Pa.o Verde valley which will throw |
a part of the Palo Verde land on the |
side of the river.
Waters Approach Blythe
The waters of the flood have /
reached within about three miles of |
Blythe, which is seven miles north of |
Ripley. There is no danger that the /
waters will reach Blythe as it lies I
about six or seven feet above the
level of the highest water mark ever I
CONTINUED on Page Two)