The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-19

remained ag Q danger zone in the Hoods of the past week.
 Water was reported receding in Harrington river valley and along the Ehetucket river, where relief workers today brought aid to hun- dreds of homeless families whose belongings were carried away by breaks in Greenwood dam at New Hartford and partial collapse of the WillimAntic pumping station.
 The West Thompson reservoir dam threatened to give way but late last night the water washed over the banks and inundated the center of West Thompson. The home of Joseph Lavoie was carried away and smashed against tree. About T5 families were without shelter.
 Putnam Red Cross workers dis tributed food and clothing to refu- gees ct Putnam and West Thomp- son who were quartered in the town hall and private homes.
 Warnings Sent On
 Warnings were sent throughout the river valley to be prepared for higher waters and lowlands were being inundated rapidly.
 RowboatS were being used at East Hartford and in the river section to remove marooned families.
 Fears were felt for the safety of dams at Scotland, Stafford and at other points along the Shetucket and Quinnebaug rivers.
 Hundreds Homeless
 Collapse of Greenwood dam at New Hartford yesterday morning and partial collapse of North Wind ham dam, left hundreds homeless.
 Two feet of the top of Windham dam was carried away. The Willi- mantle pumping station was un- harmed, despite persistent reports to the contrary.
 More than 50 families evacuated their homes in the -Middletown- Portland area when the river over flowed its banks early today and blanketed the highway. Traffic was rerouted through Westfield. Throughout the length of She tucket valley families spent sleepless night fearing the Scotland dam would go out. The power house at the dam was destroyed last week at . loss of $100,000.
 2 Steel Bridges Shaking
 State police reported steel bridges at Thompsonville and Windsor Locks weakening on their founda- tions. The Collinsville bridge threatened by the Greenwood dam break, was opened early this morn ing.
 The menace of polluted water brought a warning from the state board of health to boil all drinking water.
 aThe first drink may be fatal" said Health Commissioner Stanley Osborn, who also advised that wells be- estreated.
 At daybreak investigators left for areas most seriously affected and national guard trucks were ready to begin moving supplies to stricken families.
 Four Inches an Hour
 Along the Housatonic river, where the first force of the flood was felt a Neek ago, the water was reported rising four inches an hour. Police said there was no cause for alarm.
 Bennington river valley, flooded bys collapse of Greenwood dam, was recovering from the deluge. The hinhway from Hartford to New Hartford was opened to traffic and waters were gradually receding. The loss to homes, livestock ana property, was roughly estimated at between $300,000 and $500,000.
 Lowering waters prevented shortage of food supplies. There was no loss of life in the valley which experienced the first dam collapse
 Evacuation at Derby
 Evacuation orders were issued at Derby where the river rose more than eight feet above normal. Two score families left their homes. The locomotive and tender of a 75-car freight train were derailed at Derby station where the track was under mined by water.
 Reports that Stevenson dam on tie Housatonic was weakening were vikorously denied.
 Shortly before 8 a. m., the Con- necticut river had reached within 21rinches of the 1927 crest at Mid dletown and water was beginning to flood the power house of the Con- necticut Power company. A s,ls- pension of power service was feared within three hours.
 One Foot an Hour
 The river at that point was rls- iYk one foot an hour. The power plant is a redistribution for the Hartford Electric Light Co.
 To the north. at Windsor Locks, the water already had passed the 1927 crest and a carpet factory at Thompsonville shut down.
 In the badly affected areas man. ulacturing plants closed and school sessions were suspended.
 Railroad and bus schedules were either cancelled or delayed and many were rerouted.
 This situation existed particular lys in the northeastern section of the state which experienced difacul- ties for the first time last night when the two dams went out.
 State troopers patroled the food