OCR Text |
Show ANOTHER RE3ERV01R DISASTER, DISAS-TER, Spring field, Majs., K. Keports reach here of a great Mood in Hampshire Hamp-shire County, caused by the breaking of, the reservoir at Jliddleficld. The reservoir covered nearly one hundred acres, and though built nearly thirty years was considered safe. A largo number of farms, gardens and mills along its course were inundated by the llood. The heaviest loss is at Chester. Dr. Hem.ms Lucius estimated esti-mated his damage at $10,000, the water having swept through one story of his emery mill, aud carried oil n large amount of emery. Tho water I tower at the Uauum edge tool com pany is entirely destroyed. The farms of Mr. Luiais and Newtou Cowlcs lire badly damaged. Several buildings lit Kited ell' imm their foundations foun-dations or Hooded. The high water continual at Chester nearly two hours and the heaviest loss is experienced in the destruction of roads and bridges. brid-ges. To replaee tbo bridges will cost about $10,000, besides several thousand thous-and dollars to repair tho roads. The Boston and Albany railroad is very badly damaged for a distance of nearly near-ly twenty miles. Every bridgo between be-tween Middictield and Huntington is wholly or partially destroyed. The road bed is also washed out in many places, and travel between this city and Albany will be suspended for several sev-eral days. The wires arc still down beyond Chester, and no definite information in-formation has been received as to the los3 of life at Blush Hollow, which it is now thought must have Ebeen con siderable. Special to the in regard to the lloo.l. About twelve years ago the second reservoir was built, three miles further up too stream, by Cburoh Bro's. This was smaller lhau the lower quo, and covered from fifty to eighty acres. Tho upper reservoir, reser-voir, with an immense volume ol water, btvke, making a break ofj ;vl tout four rods in the highway dam of the lower reservoir. The upper reservoir was built of earth, and the whole dam suddenly gave way. Harry Meaeham; was at the reservoir and speedily warned the people at Blush Hollow. His warning, and tho fact that only part of the lower reservoir daiu gave way, prevented loss of life, aud alco very nni. h levelled thctlaiti-agc thctlaiti-agc done. The Boston and Albany railroad sufiers heavily. At Middle-licld Middle-licld the switch ami the lung two arched stone bridge under which the Middleliekl brook and turnpike r.ni: , w;is swept away. Al;- considerable length of track, amounting Lo -'A1 lect. . ft will cost about fcdO'SOOO lo rtpair this break, and will require considerable between the Middletieid switch and Chester depot. There are eight railroad bridges, live of which art) cither unharmed or but slightly injured. Two of these are stone,cost-ing stone,cost-ing each 75,000. Of the three bridges which are badly damaged as to need to be entirely rebuilt, one is a stone bridge costing $40,000: the two others arc tho?c next to Westchester, one of which was to have Itecn replaced this fall by an iron bridge. The loss on these bridges is about l-!i,000 each. The damage to the companv's bridges and road will amount to10X),000,and the loss from the idleness of the road much more. The highway between Blush Hollow and tho Jliddleficld switch was entirely obliterated and six bridges carried away. No lives were known to have been lost, though several persons are missing. Heavy rains have been prevailing in that section, which was the immcdiute cause of Uie break. |