In California

If water were an animate being, its most significant characteristic would be the herd instinct. Man and Mother Earth have conspired to keep water cooped up in bottles, pipes, dams, lakes and oceans. But whenever Man or Mother Earth makes a slip, a Water runs madly to meet fellow Waters. Last week there was a revolt of Water in the San Francisquito Canyon and the Santa Clara Valley, 50 miles north of Los Angeles. The St. Francis dam had long been a symbol of hate in Southern California.

It was completed two years ago, as an important link in the system that supplies Los Angeles with water from the mountains. The fruit growers and ranchers in the Santa Clara Valley fought in vain against its construction. They wanted the water for their lands. In the southwest, where water is scarce and tempers are hot, a dam has never been built without an argument between agriculturalists and city folk.

The Break. At 1 a. m. one night last week the St. Francis dam broke at each end, although the centre section (200 ft. high) held fast. Twelve billion gallons of water in the form of a wave 75 ft. high went charging down the San Francisquito Canyon, into the Santa Clara River. By the time it reached the Pacific Ocean, 75 miles away, it was little more than a malicious trickle. But behind were the wiped-out towns of Newhall, Saugus, Piru, Fillmore, Santa Paula; 305 dead humans, thousands of dead animals; little white flags designating corpses found by rescue parties; muddy-yellowish slime and jagged stumps where once were orange blossoms; rotting carcasses on the $500,000 ranch of Cinemactor Harry Carey; total estimated property damage of $20,000,000. The revolting waters had tossed one sleeping farmer in a lean-to shack to the top of the canyon, saving his life. But his brother and niece in a nearby cabin were sucked into a watery death. At Newhall a morgue was established in a dance pavillion; 50 bodies lay in rows on tilted boards; an old sign over the door said: "WELCOME."

The Cause. There was scarcely a man in southern California who did not have his own theory concerning the breaking of the St. Francis Dam.

1) A minor earthquake several days before the flood caused a shifting and a weakening of the dam's foundations. Engineers had little faith in this theory.

2) Road workmen set off unusually potent charges of dynamite near the dam on the day before the break. A few Los Angeles residents even hinted that the dam was intentionally destroyed by country bumpkins to spite the city folk. Officials pronounced this speculation ridiculous.

3) The most plausible cause of the disaster was the dam itself. "It is admitted," said Coroner Frank A. Nance of Los Angeles, "that the dam was not anchored to hard rock. One end was fastened to shale and the other to a conglomerate formation." Water had gradually seeped into this bed, softened it; and last week when the dam was filled to its maximum capacity, the foundations crumbled. Residents reported that they had noticed small leaks about the base of the dam ten days before the break.

The Investigations. Eight investigations to fix the blame for the disaster were under way last week, by state, county and city authorities. Mayor George E. Cryer of Los Angeles said: "Los Angeles cannot restore the lives lost, but the damages should be paid. . . . We of Los Angeles must face the responsibility." Fruit growers and ranchers, bitter, agreed with the mayor.