White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-09-16
HIGHWAY HIT BY CLOUDBURST
BETWEEN |bAPAH AND T|PPETT


pah and Tippett stood the test against
one OF the heaviest cloudbursts
known in the region for years Thurs
day afternoon, about the time that
the fast moving black clouds gath
cred over Steptoe valley east of Ely.
The road was overfowed in num-
erous places and washed out in sew
In one place there is somewhat
lengthy detour upon the mesa, but
outside of little roughness II does
not Interfere with traffic.
Stone piles have been erected in
the highway as danger signs on both
approaches to any wash-out that
might cause the breakage Of springs,
so that by careful driving and watch
ing the danger is at minimum.
The cioudburst was first reported
in Ely Friday evening by William
McCurdy, ranchman from that re-
gion, who said it was one of the
worst of its kind seen there in many
years. He told of several wash-outs
in the highway beyond Tippett, but
from that station this way it was not
so bad
Yesterday the Boyce Moto Meter
man in coupe drove in, their car
spattered with mud and water, but
while they said the road required
care in driving it was not impassa-
BILE. as their arrival in good time de-
noted.
They came through from Salt Lake
and say that numerous reports
brought from that direction by tour
lists of debris having filled stone or
brick buildings to the second story
and filing the roadway so that the
excavations made for cars to pass
being as high as the cars, originated
Mt Ogden, where such flood hap
pened, but that there was nothing of
the kind this side of Salt Lake.
Most of the road between Tippett
and Deep Creek is natural roadbed,
a lot of it on long curving grade
that looks like It was made for a
railway track, though It was done in
prehistoric times by the forces of na-
ture. This is the route of the old
| overland stage road and 4 good one.
Water coming down in this cloud
| burst is described as being measured
by feet rather than inches. 1t filled
| every depression and with a less
secure roadbed great harm would
have been done to the point of hav-
ing made the road impossible.
When the clouds showed up east
of Ely they created feeling resem-
bling the forerunner of panic
which did not materialize 1t was
feared that 1t would lodge against
the side of Ward peak and burst
forth as did the one last year that
caused the Ely flood. The clouds
gathered too soon and too far to the
northeast for that to happen. But
rain fell heavily in the valley.
Friday evening there was a cloud
burst southeast and east of Garri-
son. on the Milford road, SO tourists
report. The center of its greatest
sweep is claimed to have been about
twenty-five miles beyond Garrison.
which would take it out into the
region of Antelope valley or Pine
valley. this side of the Wah Wah
summit. One tourist informed the
White Pine News that he saw water
ten feet deep by the road in a wash.
One carload of Illinois tourists ar
rived last evening at o'clock. com
ing by the Grand Central trail, told
of water along the road between here
and Hinckley, which place they left
yesterday morning at $50. making
=, 1t in less than twelve hours, but they
said there had been no cloudburst on
that route. When they were pass
Ing through Eureka. Utah. Thursday,
J they saw the clouds to the north
and west that We're doing business
over the Lincoln route
WOrkmen on the highway grade
out by Illipah, arriving yesterday.
said there was much water in Jake's
valley. but il appears to have been
less than the cloudbnrst there OF
three w..ks ;ge.
The occupants of car from Tono
pah said they drove through water
Tor several miles off and on in Rail
read valley. 'ayord Currant creek
but while difficult the road was far
from being imra ssabIe.
They said the day they were in
: Tonopah there was food that surg
ed down Main street, which would
-. have flooded the stores had not
boards been used to turn 1t into the
cutters in some places.
Billy Cnlpman and Top,