Imperial Valley press., 1939-09-06


Nine mainline trains with
Ell Centro and INLAND because Of
washoutS.
All motor traffic stopped at West
morland to the north and at Dixie
land to the west.
Seventeen bridges over the Alamo
and New rivers threatened by flood
waters in the northend of the val
ley
Most country roads impossible.
State highways damaged in every
section of the county by water un-
dermining the pavement.
Two irrigation district canals out,
one at Calipatria and the other near
Dixieland.
a.. Leaking Roofs
"ooeValley residents awoke Wednesday
to find the valley Wetter than 1t has
been since the last inundation of
the Pacific ocean, before the dawn
of history.
Roofs leaked in homes, stores and
= public buildings in rural and city
sections.
While working to clear away the
mess left by the rainStorm in the
last 48 hours, threatening clouds
hovered in the north and west with
Il promise of still more rain.
Business was virtually at a stand
still with merchants and employees
fighting the encroaching water. Clad
in soaked clothing they Waded bare
foot or in rubber boots in the water,
mud and muck cloaking sidewalks
and streets.
Customers in search of necessities
were the only ones abroad.
Sandbags at Hotel
Breakfasters laughed as they tried
to keep their feet out of the water
swishing on the floors of many a
| downtown eating establishment.
The front door of the Barbara
Worth hotel was barricaded with
sandbags to save the lobby.
Every fire department in the val
ley was pressed into service to help
departments in their thus far hope
= less task of getting the streets in
shape for transportation.
Conditions changed SO rapidly
from moment to moment that 1t
was impossible to keep an accurate
check on the highway and canal
situation.
The East highline canal broke its
banks north of Calipatria because
of flood waters from the Chocolate
mountains.
The West highline canal burst
its banks in several places in the
Dixieland area. One break was
four miles south of the San Diego
highway and another short dis
tance north of the road.
Colorado Drops
The Colorado river dropped two
- feet at lockwood Gate in eastern
Imperial Valley. No flood waters
reached it from the erstWhile men,
acing Gila river in Arizona.
The Bill williams river carried
AAOON
threat. Below Parker dam only
1900 second feet flowed.
The flow from Boulder dam was
cut down to the release necessary
for power plants as irrigation water
was unnecessary.
The Ell Centro sewer plant north
of town pumped to capacity tc
handle the storm water. If more
water entered it during the after.
noon it would be necessary to cul
the storm water off in order te
handle sewage.
Reseents had opened manholes
City Engineer Phil knights said, te
y carry water off their places anc
into the sewer.
A foot and half of water stooe
in the kitchen in the basement o.
the county Jail.
PhOners Busy
Telephone lines into police sta
tions and the sheriff's office Wer.
choked with calls from resident!
wanting officers to help them reach
places to work or to call on rela.
tives they were worried about.
The Ell Centro post office base
e ment was the scene of fran
tic struggle to keep the water ou
r. of the new building. sLfasG
East Ell Centro's unpaved street.
were a veritable lob lolly with waite
. standing in vacant lots, alleys ant
lawns. --.--.