Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-09-29

out. Communication is open from
Douglas to Tombstone, but no farther
west. The Pickwick Stages left
Douglas for both the east and west
Tuesday, hut the westbound stage
will turn back at st. David after it's
passengers are transferred across the
San Pedro river by means of tenn
porary hand bridge that is being
CONSTRUCTED.
Although the San Pedro river is
said to have reached the highest
flood stage in its history, no re-
ports of persons being drowned have
yet reached Douglas. However, the
impossible condition of the roads and
the interrupted telephone con:munica-
tion makes it impossible to get re-
ports from many sections. 1t was
reported in Douglas Monday that
many ranchers in the San Pedro
valley were moving out OF their
homes. Great sections of the rich
farming land in the valley were com
pletely covered by water.
The Southern Pacific bridge across
the San Pedro at Benson was a huge
steel structure that stood some 20
4
The fact that this bridge was swept
out indicates the terrific volume OF
water carried by the river. The Fair
banks steel bridge, the bridge 1T
Bisbee Junction and others at Naco,
and on the Fort Huachuca ana Co
chise branches have completely
paralyzed the operation of the South
ern Pacific for the present.
/ Railroad officials are making val
liant efforts to restore service on
the damaged lines. Two work trains
were operating between Bishee and
Douglas Tuesday morning, and others
are being rushed to other points.
1t is believed now that the south
line of the Southern Pacific will be
restored to service before the north
line, with the result that all traffic
of the railroad will go through
Douglas.
All telephone toll lines from Doug
las west were put out of commission
when the st. David bridge went ouF
Monday night. Long distance lines 20
the east are still intact and the tele-
phone company is doing its best to
route it's long distance calls over
those lines Many of the city tele-
phones that We're out of service Mon
day night have already been repaired.
The Western Union reported Tuesday
afternoon that it's lines were still
intact. Manager A. A. Sundin, or
the telephone company, was able TO
re-route one line Tuesday afternoon
SO that the regular service of the
Associated Press to the Douglas Dis
patch could be maintained.
Motorists who have been stalled on
the highways and roads leading to
Douglas, some of them since sunday
night, began to make their way into
the city Tuesday A few were able
to extricate their own cars from the
mud AFTER the high water receded'
but the greater part had to have the
assistance of farmers with teams
and service cars One motorist, A.
J. Hamliny Of San Diego, who arrived
in Douglas Tuesday afternoon, crossed
the St. David bridge just few
minutes before it went out Monday
night. t.I felt it break loose at one
approach while my car was still on
it," Hamlin stated.
While the damage in the city was
lcomparatfvely small, "a number or
business houses and homes were serl-
ously damaged. Chief among these
were the former office of the Doug
las Daily International, the grocery
of MRS ]. A. Soto, sos Seventh street.
the international hall, on Sixteenth
street, and number of small adobe
houses on Railroad avenue.