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P[W<~ ~J ~ Riverside reservoir in Morgan county today was releasing water, to relieve any possible strain from large flow from a creek emptying into the reservoir. This fact, it was believed, gave rise to rwnor of a reservoir break. No great difficulty has been encountered at any reservoir, -water men said. From THE STERLING ADVOCATE on Friday, May 31,1935.... :BRUSH IS UNDER 181 N C H E S OF,W ATER; FORr MOR~lN :IS WITHOUT POWER AND LIGHT Ri ver Reported by Aviators To Be Running About Three Miles Wide South of Merino, with Farm Buildings and Great Mass of Debris on Surface; Many Think Water W:ill Not Reach Sterling Homes; First Wave E,,<pected After 5 O'Clock A flood of unprecedented proportions, spreading the South Platte river near Merino to an estimated width of three miles, was bearing down upon Sterling this afternoon. Pe:rsons familiar with river conditions estimated the first wave of the flood would reach this city at sometime after 5 o'clock. While some of the best informed persons watching the progress of the flood declared that its probable performance could not be forecast, County Commissioner T. F. ~)ore and L. E. Smith aeroplane pilot, expressed the opinion that the water is not likely to reach into the business or :residential district of the city. Mr. Smith was engaged by The Advocate at noon today to make an aerial survey of the flood situation and to determine for The Advocate if there was immediate dange of loss of life in the Sterling region, or -if it might be advisable for Sterling residents to seek higher ground. Hi\, observations, made with Paul Young, student pilot: were thani many reports had been exaggerated but that there will be loss of livestock and doubtless of much propel:-ty. There was, he asserted, "an awful lot of water." Mr. Moore sent highway crews out at 2: 30 0 I clock this morning to observe conditions and to prepare to protect bridges and roads. One bridge which may go is th~~ at Atwood, which has been weakened by high water for several days. Mr. Moore late this afternoon had called highway workers out of the river basin, to prevent possible loss.