Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-16


(AP).-Three hundred million
gallons of water roared out of
a gaping hole in Baldwin Hills
reservoir. leaving three persons
dead. at least $40 million dam
age-and one big unanswered
question: Why?
Investigators probed the
cause of Saturdays devastating
flood today as cleanup crews
and heartsick homeowners
moved in to clear the stricken
area of tons of muck and de-
bris.
For some. there was nothing
to be done.
Homes Swept Away
The giant wall of water from
the breaking dam swept blocks
Of homes away. only deep.
eroded gullies remained where
attractive dwellings stood. Six
ty-four homes we're destroyed
and 80 received major damage.
More fortunate residents
picked among the ruins of
their shattered homes, hoping
to salvage items left behind
when the order to evacuate dis
rupted the tranquil neighbor-
hood.
The big 19.5-acre reservoir,
owned by the Los Angeles De-
partment of Water and Power.
burst Saturday afternoon after
a small leak developed earlier
IN the day.
The ground shook as huge
chunks of earth from the dam
collapsed into the hole created
by the rushing waters.
Cover of Mud Left
The flood smashed through
an expensive canyon residential
area, hit a garden court apart
ment development, spread
through two business districts
and another residential neigh
borhood, then piled into a flood
control channel and found its
way to the ocean about five
miles away.
Up to 10 inches of thick mud
covered everything in the path
Of the water.
The many-faceted investiga-
ton starting today will attempt
to answer:
Mayor Samuel Yorty, who
wants to know why the dam
broke.
Thousands of flood victims.
who want to know who will
pay for the damage.
Thousands of other resi-
dents. living below similar res
ervoirs, and wondering. ...
Mayor Yorty has asked
Franklin D. Murphy, chancel-
lor Of UCLA; DR.. Norman Top
ping. president of the Universe
ty of Southern California, and
DR.. Lee A. Dubridge, president
Of Caltech, to name members
of a blue-ribbon fact-finding
board to study the tragedy.
Representative James Roose-
welt, whose area includes the
reservoir site, is scheduled to
arrive from Washington today
to inspect the disaster area.
Edward McDermott, director of
the Office of Emergency Plan
ming under the President, will
accompany Mr.. Roosevelt.
Other disaster experts are al
ready meeting with police and
other officials to discuss the
damage. The Small Business
Administration declared Bald
win Hills disaster area, max
ing available long-term, low-in-
terest loans for flood victims.
Some facts and theories are
already being advanced.
Holes in Inner Surface
Max K. Socha, chief engineer
Of water works for the depart
ment, said the dam was of the
most advanced design. But he
said that with the reservoir
now empty, a long series of
ragged holes can be seen in the
asphalt inner surface Of the
dam.
The holes lead in a straight
line from one side to the big
break in the wall and may
have been the leaks that
caused the dam to collapse, Mr..
Socha said.
Other possibilities mentioned
included earth tremors, subsi-
dence from oil drilling, and
cracking and stretching Of the
whole area.
Payment for damage proba-
hIv will hinge IN a court deci- !