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<br />Flood Descriptions
<br />Following are descriptions of known large floods that
<br />have occurred ~n tha ~urgatoire River in the vicinity of Trinidad,
<br />including excerpts from locally published news accounts,
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<br />that direct and indirect damages amounted to $400,000. TOday, tne
<br />flood of April 1942 ranks as the second largest of record in Trini-
<br />dad's unenviahle flood history.
<br />May 19, 1955 - This flood's disastrous effects were
<br />exceptionally severe at Trinidad and nearby Starkville; early area
<br />damage estimates reaChed as high as $4 million. OVer 141 residcnccs,
<br />businesses, and public buildings were damaged, and seven residences
<br />were destroyed. ~ajor damage occurred to transportation facilities,
<br />utilities, and river bank protaction works. Most tragic, however, a
<br />youth of 18 and an adult WOman lost their liVes.
<br />Considerable urban damage occurred at Starkville from
<br />Raton Creek where 19 residential units, four businesses, and a church
<br />were damaged. The water lines supplying the town were damaged and
<br />water had to be hauled in for about two months.
<br />On May 20, the editorial page of the Trinidad Chron-
<br />icle News offered the following thought-pro~king commentary:
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<br />September -10, 1904 - During this flood, the Purgatoire
<br />River attained an estimated peak discharge of 45,400 cubic feet per
<br />second, the grf'atestdischarge ever recorded at Trinidad. Regional
<br />communication, transportation, and publio utility installations were
<br />severely damaged and essential services were interrupted. Within
<br />Trinidad, the floodwaters overflowed both residential and commeroial
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<br />areas, washed out four bridges, and swept the Santa Fe Depot entirely
<br />away. Estimated losses in the city ranged from $350,000 to $500,000.
<br />July 22, 1925 _ According to the Trinidad Chronicle
<br />News on July 23, 1925: "Trinidad was swept by the most thrC<\tening
<br />flood of 20 yearS'between the hours of 6:30 and 9 o'clock last night
<br />when, after a series of_cloudbursts here and up the river, the Purga-
<br />toire river...inundated a fairly large area of the city... Scores of
<br />people along the river course were forced to leave their homes. The
<br />Santa Fe Depot and Cardenas Hotel property were under water... Pine
<br />Street and ~evada ~venue became a lake and hundreds of people Were
<br />marooned with hundreds of autos and cut off during the period of the
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<br />flood. ...aggre9..ted"'''''''lefromthe.floooi,,'l<-....t...themost''''vere
<br />"ince190<1,..
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<br />The flood that has ravaged the Trinidad area this week
<br />should be the flood to end all floods. In its widespread
<br />effects it Was without doubt the most devastating one in
<br />the community history, although sorne of the older citi~ens
<br />recall that the flood of 1904 was One they re~ernber for
<br />the da~aqe done...
<br />...;rnat "1;;d".d" oUt to the credit of our city is the
<br />remarkable mobilization of manpower ~hich was rushed into
<br />action... Police, firemen, highway patrol, sheriff's staff,
<br />doctors and all service agencies responded, and assistance
<br />was made available or offered by o~tsidc communities...
<br />OUr citizens pitched in and did whatever was needed to be
<br />done. The somewhat grim irony of the disaster is that only
<br />a few days ago folks Wert hoping "nd praying for rain to
<br />come as a blessing to the dUst-plagued land. When the rain
<br />did cOme it came Like a monster seeking what it miqht dc"troy.
<br />We haVe viewed the tragedy of a flood. There should
<br />be a way to avert another one.
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<br />April 23, 1942 - "Torrents Rage Thru Channel to Sub-
<br />merge Upper End of Cityt:nder tayer of Mud..nd Water," said the
<br />Trinidad Chronicle News' leading article caption of April 23, 1942.
<br />"...1'WooftheprincipalbridgesinTrinidaddernolished,others
<br />undermined--highways and railroad lines washed out, and train and
<br />motor traffic halted in all directions: telephone and ot~r public
<br />services damaged and seriously interrupted; uncalculated damage to
<br />important business property...the city water service system sustained
<br />damage..." Afterthefloodwatersoubsided,adam<>gesurveyihdicated
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<br />Scenes of da~ages inflicted by historic floods of the
<br />past "re .b;.wn io Figures 2 through S on pag"~ that follo....
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