Page 8 - sfdcoronersverdict

Conditions Immediately PRIOR TO Failure:

Even though the failure of the dam was either

caused by or greatly assisted by saturation of the foundation

materials wi th water from the reservoir, the total leakage

that was observed at any time up to within a few hours of the

failure was remarkably small, considering the critical con-

dition existing under the dam, and less than is commonly

present in dams that are considered safe and have stood for

years.

There had been reports by subordinates and others

who claimed to have observed increased leakage and muddy water

coming from the dam a few days before the failure. In con-

sequence of these reports, the Chief Engineer and his principal

assistant inspected the dam about twelve hours before the

failure and found that the water was coming out clear but

picking up surface soil in flowing from the points of first

appearance, to the afterbay pool below the dam. This agrees

with the testimony of all witnesses who made observations at

sufficiently close range to see the water where it first

emerged from the ground.

The amount of leakage and its character were not

such as to cause apprehension of those in charge of the dam

and to cause them to doubt their previous faith in the safety

of the structure, If they had concluded that the dam was in

danger of destruction 9 the only safety measure possible at

that time would have been to warn everyone in the possible

path of the flood to move out, since 9 with all gates wide

open, it would have taken many days to have drawn the water

low enough to remove the danger.

There is ample evidence to show that no alarming

symptoms were observed up to within 30 minutes of the first

break, and that the entire destruction of the dam was completed

in a very few minutes.

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