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<br />LONGMONT TIMES
<br />
<br />CALL
<br />
<br />Longmont, Colorado
<br />
<br />Monday, June 6, 1949
<br />
<br />35 RESCUED AS ST. VRAIN
<br />
<br />GOES ON RAMPAGE HERE
<br />
<br />ALL BRIDGES RETl'lfEN LONCJlONT AND LYONS ~lADE nlPASSADLE BY
<br />WEEK END FLOODS-I!011ES. HIGHWAYS ^~D FIELDS INUNDATED-RIVER
<br />CLIMBS TO 6,700 SECOND FEET-WATER LINE DAMAGED AND TRAINS
<br />DELAYED.
<br />
<br />A spring flood, which caused the St. Vrain river to
<br />burst its banks ~ade all bridges between here and Lyons
<br />useless, delayed trains, inundated highways, fields ~nd
<br />houses, and necessitated the evacuation of 35 men, women,
<br />and children, struck here with force late Saturday night and
<br />early Sunday. The river had reached flood stage aQain :1onday
<br />afternoon.
<br />
<br />As a result of week end heavy rains in this district and
<br />in the mountains, the St. Vrain went on a rampage Saturday
<br />night ,after rising slowly...
<br />
<br />River.Up to 6,700 Second Feet
<br />
<br />A total of, almost three inches of rain fell here
<br />during the sto~, according to records at the experimental
<br />station of the sugar company.
<br />
<br />During the high point Saturday night the St. Vrain
<br />was flowing sone 6,700 second fee~ of water. Comnissioner
<br />Cal Maier reported. Flood stage is from 2,000 to 2,500
<br />feet when the river starts leaving its banks. In sumner
<br />flash floods, previously, as high as 10,000 second feet has
<br />been measured.
<br />
<br />ElectriC-Department Busy
<br />
<br />Frank Uoraan, superintendent of the city electric
<br />department, announced that his crew was at work early
<br />Sunday morning anc at times throu~hout the day, as well as
<br />Monday morning, replacing and resettin9 poles which were
<br />loosened or destroyed by the washout, mainly in the canyons.
<br />
<br />County road crews cautioned motorists that all
<br />bridges to Lyons are impassable. Arterial highway bridges
<br />were still intact, but were under constant surveillance
<br />by road workers...
<br />
<br />Bridges Out
<br />
<br />The "old iron bridge,~ east of Lyons and just below the
<br />Longrnont filtration plant at the Ruski place, finally succumbed to
<br />flood water. 7his bridge had wit~stood many floods over the years,
<br />but always r~mained firm until Sunday morning when it gave way
<br />in the middle.
<br />
<br />For several hours uprooted trees, logs and bedris of
<br />all kinds pounded against the bridge which was unable to with-
<br />stand the strain...
<br />
<br />South St. Vrain Road Closed
<br />
<br />South St. Vrain canyon road was closed as a precautionary
<br />measure, O. J. P~mey of Lyons said shortly before noon today.
<br />Harry Lowe, county road employee, who has been workinq the canyon
<br />for many years, notified T. G. Stern at Raymond's resort to
<br />barricade the road there and turn traffic back to the North St.
<br />Vrain road frOM Estes Park.
<br />
<br />The river on many of the sharp canyon turns frequently
<br />undercut~ th0 roadbed, creatinq a hazard which would not be
<br />visible to the motoriat. ralling rocks from the embankment
<br />above the p).ld also were u<:!cmed hazardous, althouth the road
<br />is not viuuLly cl08cd, P.am~y said.
<br />
<br />Traffic from Estes Park and AllenB Park, through the North
<br />St. Vraln c<lnyon, w",s nor/ll;~l, the Lyons rn"1n sald.
<br />
<br />The nurl1n'Jtan railro,vl trar;:k to I.yons was rendcrC!d usolcs8
<br />when tlin ;,l, Vr.1in npillrd over its b,]nk~ and washed away tho
<br />railroad bed in tho section caRt of Lyons...
<br />
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