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<br />8 THE ARKANSAS RIVER FLOOD OF JUNE 3-5, 1921.
<br />
<br />flood while trying to reach higher ground, cars were overturned, and
<br />several lives were lost (PI. II, B). Th(! 2,000 cars in the yards
<br />during the flood suffered enormous damage; many were floated away
<br />and overturned or crushed Iby the impaet or pressure of debris,
<br />Some cars were floated great distances and were never recovered.'
<br />The total property loss in the city WIIS estimated at $10,000,000.
<br />
<br />PROGRESS OF FLOOD CREST TB:ROUGH ARKANSAS
<br />VALLEY.
<br />
<br />The streams that enter Arkansas Riyer between Canon City and
<br />t~e mouth of Chico Creek, Ie. miles below Pueblo, were the source
<br />of the flood, and in that sectioll of the river the flood crest increased
<br />r~pidly as it proceeded downstream. Below the mouth of Chico
<br />Creek the riyer received practically no additional flood discharges.
<br />The approximate time of the flood crest at several points, as ob-
<br />tained from local observers, and the maximum discharge at points
<br />where it was measured are given in the following table. As the
<br />crest flattened out, it became less sharply del5ned, and the exact time
<br />of its arrival at different points was more difficult to. detennine.
<br />
<br />Progre,.,. of flood crest through Arkanso" Valley,
<br />
<br />ximate time oC ores't. Rate of Crest Duration
<br />progress. flow. ot crest
<br /> fiow.
<br /> ~ \
<br /> ,
<br /> ..Ilnl,., prr
<br /> hfmr. S."r.-fl.
<br />June 3.. .............. .......... 3,710
<br />n.JlIll~ 3._.. .......... lit.O 9.(l(>()
<br />,t Juno 3........_..... 10.0 103,000 G min-
<br /> ute..<r.
<br />n. Jonn I.............. .>;.5 ..........
<br />lU. J1I116 -1............. ,'j.O ..........
<br />Juno 1..0............. 3.7 2001.0(1) 45 min-
<br /> utes.
<br />June 4...0..'.....,.. 3" ..........
<br /> lune 5............. 402 170,000 3i hours.
<br /> June , .........,... 2,1 ....-.....
<br />: Juno 6,..(............. 2.3 120,lXXl
<br />--2. '
<br />
<br />Point DC observation.
<br />
<br />Distance
<br />between Appm
<br />points.<<
<br />
<br />Afllc8.
<br />Canon City.................... .......... f' p. m.
<br />Florenoo....................... R 8.30 p. I
<br />Pueblo........................ 3.i MidnigJ
<br />
<br />J\fanzanola........ ........._...
<br />Rocky Ford. _.................
<br />La Junta. _. ...................
<br />
<br />Fort Lyon.....................
<br />Head o"! Amity canal. .........
<br />Lamar... .............. ........
<br />Holly..o...o.o..o..o.oo.....oo,
<br />
<br />';2 9.30:1. 1
<br />10 11.:'~fl '!:t.
<br />J3 3 a. In.
<br />
<br />28 II p. ill1
<br />2:1 4,ilOa.m
<br />1 1.30a.m
<br />30 8,30 p, m
<br />
<br />(J :Measured along riV"er.
<br />
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<br />The table sho'l'l's that the rate of progress: of the flood crest de-
<br />creased as it traveled down the river. Aboye Pueblo the decrease
<br />was due chiefly to the decreased slope of the river, but this could not
<br />have had much effect in the lower part of the valley, as the mean
<br />slope decreases only from 8.3 fl!et to the mile between Pueblo and
<br />La Junta to 7.5 feet to the mile between La ,Junta and the State line.
<br />Below La ,Junta the chief factor in retarding' the progress of the
<br />
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<br />
<br />2 Data on ral1rond losses taken trom Ra.thvay Age. JUDe] 7. 1921.
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