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Show VIRGIN RIVER DAM GOES OUT WITH FLOOD Weakened by the constant undermining under-mining and unable to withstand the terrific pressure of the flood waters wa-ters which swept down the Virgin river Monday, the dam ut the Narrows, Nar-rows, constructed for the torir,g of water for the irrigation of lands in the neighborhood of Littlefield and Me-tuite. went out with a roar at 12:30 Monday afternoon. Water raised to the 100 foot mark on the 140-foot structure, and at 12 o'clock a grinding within the dam was heard. The water continued to rise and the entire fill gave way a half hour later. No one was injured and no machinery ma-chinery was lost at the dam. It is estimated that $2000 damage was ,lr.n of T ;tHof;lH TK irritrrition ditch was destroyed, crops were ruined by the flood waters and Un head of cattle on pasture near the river have not been located and are believed to have drowned. Littlefield was the only community communi-ty that suffered to any extent, no damage whatever being reported from Mesquite and points along the river. The high water overflowed th bridge at Mesquite, holding up traffic traf-fic for a short time, but the crossing cross-ing was found intact after the flood subsided. This wa3 the only point at which traffic was interfered with. There were no washouts and travelers travel-ers report the highway to Las Vegas in better condition than before the storm. The wrecking of the Narrows dam is a blow to this section, two years and a half having been taken to put the project in shape. Many thousands of dollars have been spent in that time. Work commenced the latter part of January, 1927, the object being to impound water for the irrigation irriga-tion of several thousand acres of otherwise practically worthless land in the Virgin valley. Included in the projects were the dam, canals, hydro-electric plants, etc., and wag undertaken un-dertaken by. the Foundation Bond & Mortgage Co., of Los Angeles, with A. L. Harlow, president. The Virgin River Development Company was incorporated in March of the same year and work has since been pushed rapidly. Whether or not the dam will be rebuilt is not known at this time. News, St. George. |